World's Richest Footballer, Faiq Bolkiah, Released by Thai Club
The 28-year-old nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, reportedly worth £16 billion, has been let go by Ratchaburi F.C. after a three-year stint.
Faiq Bolkiah, widely known as the world's richest footballer, has been released by Thai League 1 club Ratchaburi F.C. after making 18 appearances over more than three years. Bolkiah, 28, is the nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, and is reported to have a net worth of £16 billion.
Born in the United States, Bolkiah has had academy stints at English clubs Southampton, Chelsea, and Leicester City, but did not make any senior appearances in England. He moved to Portugal's Primeira Liga side CS Marítimo in 2020, but left after less than a year and only eight appearances for the youth and B-teams.
Bolkiah became the first Bruneian player signed to Thailand's top division when he joined Chonburi F.C. in 2021. He transferred to Ratchaburi F.C. in June 2023. In total, he has made approximately fifty appearances in the Thai first league over nearly five years.
Despite his professional football career's limited success, Bolkiah's immense wealth, attributed to his uncle's fortune derived from Brunei's oil and natural gas reserves, allows him financial security. His uncle, Hassanal Bolkiah, was once listed by Forbes as the richest man in the world in 1997. The Brunei royal family's significant economic control has led to substantial family assets, including a reported collection of over seven thousand vehicles at its peak.