The 'world's richest footballer' hails from a family worth billions and also used to play for Chelsea
Faiq Jefri Bolkiah of Ratchaburi FC warms up prior to the AFC Champions League Two Group F match between Ratchaburi FC and Gamba Osaka
Ex-Chelsea winger Faiq Bolkiah in known as the world's richest footballer(Image: Getty)
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Former Chelsea academy player Faiq Bolkiah is currently playing for Ratchaburi FC in the Thai League. But the 27-year-old winger isn't just known for his football skills, he hails from royalty and his personal wealth is mind-boggling.
Born in Los Angeles, Bolkiah started his career with AFC Newbury before moving on to Southampton, Chelsea and Leicester City. He even had trials at Arsenal and Stoke City during his early teens and attended the prestigious Bradfield College in Berkshire, which costs £58,000 per year.
In 2020, he left England for Portugal, signing with Maritimo, where he played only for the youth teams for about a year before moving to Thailand to play for Chonburi FC.
After making 32 appearances for them, he moved to Ratchaburi. But throughout his footballing journey, it's his family's staggering wealth that has been the main talking point.
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Bolkiah is the nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, who has a personal fortune estimated to be around £22billion, according to the likes of Celebrity Net Worth.
The collective wealth of the House of Bolkiah, the entire Royal family, boggles the mind further, as analysts estimate this to be significantly more than just the Sultan's own fortune.
Chelsea's U21 Faiq Bolkiah during a friendly match Under 21 match between Chelsea and Burnley at the Cobham Training Ground
The winger played for Chelsea's academy(Image: Getty)
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The family's car collection is believed to be the planet's most extensive and carries a price tag of roughly £5bn. Their garage reportedly houses an eye-watering 7,000 vehicles, whilst their aviation assets boast a jaw-dropping £460million gold-plated Boeing 747 as the crown jewel.
Faiq's family wealth stems chiefly from the country's substantial oil reserves. Since 1929, Brunei has established itself as one of the globe's leading suppliers of crude oil and natural gas. The distinction between state coffers and private holdings in the sultanate is rather blurred.
A substantial chunk of the family's riches has been channelled back into equities and a varied investment portfolio. Their property empire extends to a collection of upmarket hotels and estates across London, Paris and New York.
Yet beneath all this affluence lies what appears to be a refreshingly grounded footballer, according to those who've shared a dressing room with Faiq. The winger played alongside the likes of Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek during his spell at Chelsea.
Faiq Bolkiah playing for Leicester City
Bolkiah also played for Leicester City(Image: Getty)
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Ruben Sammut, who came through the ranks with him, told The Athletic about the Brunei international and the jokes surrounding his extraordinary fortune. He said: "You would never ever have thought he was something like the 12th in line to the throne.
"You would not have thought of him as royalty. He was a humble guy, trying every day like every academy player. We used to joke he didn't need to play football but he wanted to play because he loved football.
"It wasn't a regular thing we mentioned. It was that typical banter, saying he is royalty, saying, 'What's he doing playing with us?' But we all knew deep down how much he wanted to play, so it was more good-willed passing comments."
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