The world’s wealthiest footballer boasts an astounding net worth of nearly £16 billion, a figure that dwarfs the combined wealth of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by twelvefold. However, you may not be familiar with him. Faiq Bolkiah, aged 25, holds this remarkable financial standing. Sadly, he recently endured a weekend in the hospital following a horrific injury sustained on the pitch.
Faiq is the nephew of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, a figure estimated to be worth up to £23 billion and widely recognized as one of the wealthiest royals globally. Despite his immense wealth and lavish lifestyle, Faiq, a former Chelsea prodigy, was unable to avoid injury during a recent match for Thai League 1’s Ratchaburi FC. A collision with a Police Tero player resulted in an agonizing ankle injury, leaving him writhing in pain on the field before being rushed to the hospital.
Despite receiving care from some of Thailand’s finest doctors, the promising young winger will now require surgery and is anticipated to be sidelined for an extended period. Ratchaburi president Thanawat Nitikarnchana expressed his sadness over Faiq’s serious injuries sustained in the previous day’s match and conveyed his condolences on behalf of the club. He reassured that Faiq would receive the best possible care during his recovery and expressed hope for his eventual return to the team.
Despite the setback, Ratchaburi emerged victorious in the match with a 1-0 scoreline and currently hold the fifth position in Thailand’s top league. Unfortunately for the affluent athlete, this was his first match back since being shown a red card and being sent off the previous week.
Faiq, born in Los Angeles and educated at Bradfield College in Berkshire, joined Ratchaburi from Chonburi, another Thai top-flight club, last summer. His football journey began at Berkshire non-League club Newbury in 2008 before progressing to Southampton, Chelsea, and Leicester, with trials also conducted at Arsenal.
Between 2016 and 2018, he served as the captain of the Brunei national team, during which he scored one goal in six appearances.
His father, Jefri Bolkiah, was famously known as the playboy of the Brunei royal family. Jefri lived a life of extravagance, reportedly squandering approximately £10 billion over 15 years as the head of the Brunei Investment Agency. His lavish lifestyle included extravagant expenditures of up to £35 million per month on cars, watches, erotic white gold pens, and lavish karaoke parties attended by a bevy of beautiful women. Notably, the Prince of Brunei once splurged £17 million on hiring Michael Jackson for his own 50th birthday celebration.