13 Richest People in the Middle East

Everyone knows there is lots of money in the Middle East, but don't be fooled into thinking it is just from oil. Reprinted from Forbes, this list of the thirteen billionaires shows that Middle Easterners are making their money in all sorts of ways: telecom, construction, finance.

The biggest take-away is that wealth stays in the family. From Forbes:

One third of the billionaires in the Middle East are related to each other.

Egypt’s Sawiris  family and Mansour  brothers comprise seven of the nation’s eight billionaires, while four Hariri  brothers and two Mikati  siblings make up Lebanon’s ultra-high-net worth individuals.

Conspicuously missing from this list? Royal families, as they are considered to be powerful people who control a nation's fortunes, rather than their own.

Read through for the thirteen richest people in the region otherwise known as your new best friend.

Country: Saudi Arabia Net worth: $20.4 billion Source of wealth: Investments

Country: Saudi Arabia Net worth: $15.3 billion Source of wealth: Oil, diversified

Country: Egypt Net worth: $6.7 billion Source of wealth: Construction

Country: United Arab Emirates Net worth: $4 billion Source of wealth: Diversified

Country: United Arab Emirates Net worth: $4.5 billion Source of wealth: Real estate, retail

Country: Turkey Net worth: $3.7 billion Source of wealth: Food manufacturing

Country: Saudi Arabia Net worth: $3.5 billion Source of wealth: Dairy farms

Country: Turkey Net worth: $3.3 billion Source of wealth: Construction

Country: Egypt Net worth: $3.1 billion Source of wealth: Diversified

Country: Saudi Arabia Net worth: $3.1 billion Source of wealth: Investments

Country: Lebanon Net worth: $3.1 billion Source of wealth: Telecom

Country: Lebanon Net worth: $3.1 billion Source of wealth: Telecom

Country: Turkey Net worth: $3 billion Source of wealth: Finance, diversified