NEWCASTLE are reportedly close to a takeover after the Premier League was informed a bid from a Saudi Arabian consortium including billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben.
The Public Investment Fund, which is the Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund belonging to Mohammad bin Salman, will own 80 per cent of the club in the proposed deal, with a further 10 per cent belonging to Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital.
Mohammad bin Salman is one of the world’s wealthiest menCredit: AP:Associated Press
His family are said to be worth £1 trillionCredit: Alamy
But who is bin Salman, a man with famous friends, bucketloads of cash – and potentially a Premier League team all of his own?
As SunSport found out, he’s not short of material wealth.
The son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, his family are said to be worth close to £1TRILLION.
That means bin Salman, 34, has an insatiable appetite for spending his cash.
The playboy has reportedly splashed hundreds of millions in the past on a fancy yacht, a French home and even some rare art as he lives a life of luxury.
It’s meant he’s also made friends in high places, including in the White House – where he’s met President Donald Trump, who he’s called a friend.
Here’s just a snippet of his wonderful life.
WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE HOME
In 2015, the world was left in awe when an unnamed buyer splashed £230m on a stunning chateau in France, just west of Paris.
At the time, it was recorded as the world’s most expensive sale
bin Salman owns the world’s most expensive homeCredit: Reuters
bin Salman splashed £230m on the Chateau Louis XIV after falling in love with it on a work tripCredit: Reuters
Football fan Mohammad bin Salman owns the world’s most expensive home
The Serene yacht owned by bin Salman is worth £380mCredit: Alamy
Two years later, reports emerged that the buyer was bin Salman who fell in love with the 50,000 sq ft Château Louis XIV on a work trip.
The property has ten bedrooms, an indoor and outdoor pool, a library and a moat circled by an aquarium.
THE SERENE
Not afraid of splashing the cash, bin Salman reportedly handed over £380m to Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler for his superyacht in 2015.
The Serene is one of the largest boats in the world, with an overall length of 439ft 4in and a beam that’s 60ft wide.
But last year, she suffered some substantial damage to her hull at the bow when she ran aground on a shallow rock reef in the Red Sea.
HE’S ARTSY
Like any upstanding wealthy man, bin Salman loves his art. However, there’s mystery over this one.
In 2017, it was reported that someone purchased a rare Leonardo da Vinci painting for £340m on behalf of the Crown Prince.
That sum made the artwork, da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, the most expensive art sale ever.
The report was denied by the the auctioneer Christie’s. The painting is now in the Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
bin Salman reportedly splashed £340m on a rare Leonardo da Vinci paintingCredit: Alamy
Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi is on display at the Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi, UAECredit: Getty Images – Getty
Mohammad bin Salman has friends all over the world, including Vladimir PutinCredit: AFP or licensors
MATES WITH TRUMP
You don’t get much higher than the White House.
The Crown Prince travels around the world on political business, meeting some of the world’s biggest influencers.
Donald Trump might have been locked in a battle with the Saudis over the disappearance of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year, but in bin Salman he had an ally who offered him support.
In 2018, bin Salman visited the US President over the country’s Muslim ban.
After the meeting, the Prince revealed he considers Trump a true friend of Muslims who will serve the Muslim world.
Donald Trump and Mohammad bin Salman are friendsCredit: Getty – Contributor
The Queen meets Mohammad bin SalmanCredit: Getty – Contributor
FOUR PRINCESSES
Despite his public status, bin Salman leads a very private personal life.
He was said to have married Sarah bint Mashhoor, known as the “Barbie Princess” back in 2008 and they have four children.
But he doesn’t take her on his work trips.
Reports in his homeland claim that he has a total of four wives, however that’s never been confirmed.
Sarah bint Mashhoor married Mohammad bin Salman in 2008
At a press conference with Emmanuel Macron, he said he wants his wife and children to live a life away from the spotlightCredit: AFP
Reports in his homeland claim Mohammad bin Salman has four wivesCredit: Reuters
Mohammed bin Salman vs The Glazers – Saudi Prince’s wealth dwarfs that of the Man Utd owners – and they both have links to Donald Trump
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
