No. 1
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah
Sultan/Brunei
$22 billion
Age: 61
Became 29th Sultan of Brunei 40 years ago, inheriting riches of an unbroken 600-year-old Muslim dynasty. Rules concurrently as the oil-rich land's prime minister, defense minister, finance minister and head of religion. Collector of fine jewels is also an avid polo player.
No. 2
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
President/United Arab Emirates
$21 billion
Age: 59
Hereditary ruler of tiny emirate Abu Dhabi, home to one-tenth of world's oil reserves. Trying to reinvent emirate as "cultural hub" of the Middle East; Frank Gehry-designed branch of the Guggenheim museum is set to open in 2011.
No. 3
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz
King/Saudi Arabia
$19 billion
Age: 83
King since August 2005; soon after, began construction on a $26 billion city named in his honor. More fiscally conservative than his big spending half-brother, the late King Fahd. Breeds Arabian horses. Established two libraries in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.
No. 4
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Ruler/Dubai
$16 billion
Age: 57
"CEO of Dubai Inc." shares fortune with two brothers; government holding companies bought big stakes in HSBC and Deutsche Bank in the past year; bid for U.S retailer Barneys New York. Announced plans to donate $10 billion for Middle East educational foundation.
No. 5
King Bhumibol Adulyadej
King/Thailand
$5 billion
Age: 79
World's longest-reigning monarch is U.S.-born, Swiss-educated and revered as a deity in Thailand. Family fortune includes investments, real estate mostly held through Crown Property Bureau. Environmentalist has royal car that runs on palm oil.
No. 6
Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein
Prince/Liechtenstein
$4.5 billion
Age: 62
Heads self-named country. Family, whose fortune goes back 900 years, has been collecting art for four centuries; own 33 Rubens, largest number in private hands. Also own private LGT bank, real estate and Rice Tec, a U.S. producer of genetically engineered rice.
No. 7
King Mohammed IV
King/Morocco
$2 billion
Age: 44
Nicknamed "king of the poor" for efforts to alleviate poverty and improve human rights. Palace's reported operating budget exceeds $960,000 a day; much of it spent on clothes and car repairs.
No. 8
Prince Albert II
Prince/Monaco
$1.2 billion
Age: 49
Eligible bachelor inherited tiny principality after his father's death in 2005 as well as a fortune in real estate, art and stake in Monte Carlo's casinos. This year, hosted tributes to honor his mother, U.S. actress Grace Kelly, who died 25 years ago.
No. 9
Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani
Emir/Qatar
$1 billion
Age: 55
Overthrew father in a bloodless coup in 1995. Sports enthusiast bringing events like Asian Games to tiny state. Funded Al Jazeera and its English sister station.
No. 10
Prince Karim Al Husseini
Aga Khan
$1 billion
Age: 70
Celebrated 50th anniversary as leader of world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims this year. Suave businessman runs business conglomerate from France and Switzerland; also has extensive horse farms. Currently divorcing second wife; first ex-wife received a reported $20 million.--
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