Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on tour to Brunei and Singapore, strengthening nation’s relations with Southeast Asian nations. The visit signifies a milestone as it is the first time an Indian PM is visiting the country. Brunei is the first stop of PM Modi’s visit, where he will stay for two days. 

PM Modi is expected to meet the Sultan of Brunei, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. The key focus of the visit is to enrich bilateral ties and explore opportunities in trade, investment, and energy sectors. Both nations might also address regional and global issues.   

Brunei, known for its abundance in oil and natural gas, offers India potential for commerce and energy cooperation, while also presenting itself as a key partner in the Southeast Asia.  

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah  

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is currently the second-longest reigning monarch in history, after the late Queen Elizabeth II.  

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was born in Brunei Town (presently, Bandar Seri Begawan), on July 15, 1946. His father was Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddin, and mother was Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit. 

Sultan Bolkiah received education privately in Brunei, before moving to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to continue his studies. He attended the Victoria Institution, from 1966 to 1967, he received training as an officer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.  

At the age of fifteen, Bolkiah was named Crown Prince by Sultan Saifuddin in 1961.  

Once recognized to be the richest person in the world, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is known for his extravagant lifestyle and immense wealth. The estimated net worth of Sultan is $30 billion. 

Sultan’s Lavish Residence  

According to the Guinness Book of World, Sultan’s primary residence, the Istana Nurul Iman Palace, holds the title of the largest residential palace in the world. Spanning over 200,000 square meters, the palace has 1,700 rooms, 257 bathrooms and five swimming pools. 110 garages are also included in the $1.4 billion structure.  

His lavish lifestyle also encompasses a private zoo, which is home to 30 Bengal tigers, several exotic birds and a Boeing 747 aircraft.  

According to The Times, Sultan Bolkiah reportedly pays about $20,000 every trip for his barber. His barber flies from the Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair, London to Brunei to give haircuts. Additionally, according to insider, Sultan Bolkiah paid $70 million for the artwork ‘Two Young Girls at the Piano’ by French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir.  

Sultan’s Car Collection 

Famed for his opulent automative collection, Sultan Bolkiah owns vehicles worth $5 billion.  

His impressive car collection includes over 7,000 vehicles, which has 450 Ferraris, 380 Bentleys and 600 Rolls-Royces. Among these most stand-out vehicles are, Porsche 911, which has custom Horizon Blue paint and an X88 power package. 

Bentley Dominator SUV, approx. $80 million. 

24-Carat Gold-Plated Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II  

As per reports, the family of Sultan Bolkiah reported almost half of all Rolls-Royces, purchased globally in 1990s. Sultan Bolkiah is rumored to own several aircrafts, including a Boeing 767-200 and an Airbus A34—200, an addition to his impressive collection.