Saudi Billionaires Reinstated on Forbes List After 8 Years – But Mohammed Al Amoudi Still Left Out











In a surprising yet symbolic development, Forbes has reinstated 15 Saudi billionaires in its 2025 World’s Billionaires List after an eight-year exclusion that began in 2018. The move signals a thaw in the opacity that once surrounded the Kingdom’s financial elite following the sweeping 2017 anti-corruption purge. However, while the list now features a new wave of Saudi billionaires and familiar names like Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one notable figure is still missing: Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi.

Why Were Saudis Excluded for 8 Years?

In November 2017, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched a controversial anti-corruption crackdown that resulted in the arrest and detainment of hundreds of princes, businessmen, and officials. Many were held at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh and only released after handing over significant portions of their wealth.

In 2018, Forbes decided to remove Saudi billionaires from its annual ranking, citing the lack of transparency, the unclear status of assets, and the inability to accurately assess wealth amidst ongoing settlements and asset transfers. The freeze lasted for eight years.

In 2025, Forbes acknowledged that “greater clarity around wealth holdings” had emerged, enabling them to reintroduce Saudi billionaires to their official rankings.

The Comeback Billionaires: Who Made the 2025 List

Still Missing: Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi

Despite his enormous wealth and global influence, Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi remains excluded from the 2025 Forbes list.

Net Worth: $10.6 billion (Bloomberg Billionaires Index)

Global Rank: #276 (as of April 2025)

Sectors: Construction, Energy, Real Estate, Agriculture

Citizenship: Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia

Al Amoudi is the largest individual foreign investor in Ethiopia and has amassed his fortune through companies such as MIDROC, Preem, and SAMIR. Although detained during the 2017 purge, he was released in 2019. Bloomberg continues to rank him among the world’s wealthiest, yet Forbes has not reinstated his profile.

What His Absence Suggests

His absence reveals the gap between different wealth assessment platforms. Forbes relies on verified public assets, private company estimates, and direct confirmation, which may be harder to obtain from Al Amoudi’s team. Conversely, Bloomberg’s ongoing inclusion of his wealth suggests that the data is still traceable and reliable.

The return of Saudi billionaires to Forbes marks a new era of transparency and global economic engagement for the Kingdom. Yet the notable omission of Mohammed Al Amoudi reveals how even immense fortunes can be rendered invisible by data complexity and geopolitical caution. As Saudi Arabia continues its journey toward economic diversification, the question remains: Will Forbes once again recognize one of its richest sons—or will Al Amoudi remain a billionaire in the shadows?