Bin Laden Family Loses $1.3 Billion

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Dec 16th 2008 at 8:01AM

The super-rich Saudi Arabian family of the world's most famous terrorist is feeling the pinch of the staggering economy, and has seen their fortune shrink by $1.3 billion over the past year, according to a new study.

Osama bin Laden's siblings own a major construction concern, headed by his brother Sheikh Tarek bin Laden (right); due to the credit crunch, they've seen their net worth fall from $8.5 billion to $7.2 billion, according to a new list of the world's richest Arabs by Dubai-based Arabian Business magazine.

Sheikh Tarek's latest project involves plans to build the world's longest suspension bridge, linking Africa with Arabia across the Bab al-Mandib (Gate of Tears), the strait connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, at a cost of $200 billion; he plans to construct two new cities, one at each end, as well.

Elsewhere on the Arabian Rich List, which does not included royalty with the exception of those whose wealth has been achieved through business dealings rather than inheritance, Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is ranked in the top spot with a $17 billion fortune, despite having lost $4 billion in the past year as well.

Tags: Billionaires, Osama bin Laden, OsamaBinLaden, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, PrinceAlwaleedBinTalal, Saudi Arabia, SaudiArabia, Sheikh Tarek bin Laden, SheikhTarekBinLaden