In October 2011, The Crown Prince, Sultan bin Abdulaziz, died, and the current King Salman began his ascent to power by becoming Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister in November 2011 and making Mohammad bin Salman his private advisor. He owns multiple opulent estates, including residences in Europe. One famous property is the Château Louis XIV in France, reported to have cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
MBS has promoted Saudi investment in tech startups, AI, and other modern industries. He is known to travel internationally, often for political or investment purposes. MBS supports initiatives in art, cinema, and sports within Saudi Arabia, including hosting international events, which indicates a personal interest in cultural modernization. Even private actions are closely monitored by both domestic and international media.
