How Old Is The Saudi Prince

So, the other night, I’m at a dinner party, and someone confidently announces that “the Saudi Prince” is 87 years old. I nearly choked on my hummus. I mean, which one? Is there a single, monolithic Prince who just floats around in a golden robe, aging like a fine wine? Because last time I checked, the Saudi royal family is less of a single person and more of a small city with a very aggressive HR department.

That’s the thing, right? We all say “the Saudi Prince” like it’s one guy. But it’s actually a title shared by thousands of people, and pinning down their ages is like trying to count the grains of sand in the Rub' al Khali. It’s a fun, confusing mess, and I’m here to untangle a tiny bit of it for you.

The Elephant in the Room: MBS

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. When most people say “the Saudi Prince” in 2024, they’re talking about Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS. He’s the Crown Prince and the de facto ruler, and he’s not old at all.

He was born on August 31, 1985, which makes him 39 years old. Yeah, 39. That’s younger than your favorite millennial influencer and older than your least favorite TikTok trend. It’s wild to think that the guy who’s reshaping the Middle East is younger than my cousin who still lives in his parents’ basement.

So, if you’re asking because you saw him on the news looking youthful and decisive, there you go. He’s a spry, technocratic millennial, albeit one with a very, very expensive hobby (like, buying Newcastle United expensive).

But Wait, There’s a Whole Dynasty

Here’s where it gets spicy. The royal family, the House of Saud, is vast. We’re talking thousands of princes and princesses. I’m not exaggerating; estimates range from 5,000 to 15,000 plus. That’s not a family; that’s a franchise.

So, the age question depends entirely on which branch of the family tree you’re shaking. You have the sons of King Abdulaziz (the founder of modern Saudi Arabia), who are all in their 70s, 80s, and even 90s. These are the “old guard” you often see in the background of official photos, looking like they’ve seen some things (because they have).

But then you have the grandsons, the great-grandsons, and the great-great-grandsons—which is where MBS fits in. This younger generation ranges from infants to late 50s, and they’re all jockeying for influence, funding, and the occasional supercar.

The Age of Power vs. The Age of Paper

You have to separate chronological age from political age. For example, King Salman, the current ruler, is 88 years old (born December 31, 1935). He’s the boss on paper, but his real “age” as an active decision-maker is debatable.

Meanwhile, you have guys like Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a billionaire investor, who is 69. He’s the “old money” billionaire who’s been in the Western press for decades. He’s not in the direct line of succession, but he’s definitely the uncle who drives a really flashy car to family reunions.

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So, when someone asks “how old is the Saudi Prince?”, the only correct answer is: Which one? And why do you ask? Are you looking for a husband, a business partner, or a political rival?

Why We’re Obsessed With the Number

I think the obsession with MBS’s age is really about our obsession with the future. He’s young, which suggests he’ll be around for a long time, pulling the strings. That’s both exciting and terrifying, depending on how you feel about Vision 2030.

Also, let’s be real, a 39-year-old guy with that kind of global power breaks our brains. It’s like seeing a student body president who also happens to control 20% of the world’s oil. It doesn’t compute.

But here’s the kicker: age is just a number, especially in a monarchy where succession rules are basically “whoever is strong enough to grab the gold scepter.” MBS’s age matters less than his energy, his ruthlessness, and his ability to outlast his older competitors.

So, let’s do a quick recap for your next trivia night. If you mean MBS, he’s 39. If you mean the King, he’s 88. If you mean the 10,000 others, well… good luck. Actually, don’t even try. It’s a rabbit hole that leads to obscure blogs and questionable genealogical charts.

Honestly, the next time someone asks you this, just smile and say, “He’s old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway.” That’s not factually accurate, but it’s a thousand times more interesting than a birth certificate.

And hey, if you’re still reading this, you’ve probably realized that the question itself is the joke. It’s not about the number; it’s about the sheer, chaotic scale of a family that literally has a “Princes’ Council” to manage. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go check the birthdates of all the Kardashians to feel better about my own age confusion. Spoiler: it doesn’t help.