It has been said the rich get richer and the poor get poorer as history unfolds from century to century. This may be one of life’s great truisms for the most part. In this era of soaring inflation, sky-rocketing energy costs, rampant western consumerism and cheap human labor exploitation the rich seem to be getting richer and richer……..or should we say, the royal rich rulers seem to fit that profile.

This list may make many people ill, as they see who really is benefiting from $4 -$8 per gallon gasoline.

Here is an overview of the list Forbes presented, as the world’s most wealthy Royal Rulers. And many of these kings and princes of men are making billions on that black, thick stuff that comes from the ground and feeds our cars, trucks and planes.

1. The richest royal in the world is the 29th Sultan of Brunei, Hajji Hassand Bolkiah. He is said to be worth over 22 billion dollars (with the total climbing daily) and at 61 years of age, will enjoy his wealth for many more years.
2. Sheikh Kalifaskin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of the United Arab Emirates, which includes Abu Dhabi, is said to be worth 21 billion. The 59 year old ruler controls 1/10th of the world’s oil reserves.
3. King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz is the King of Saudi Arabia. He is worth around 19 billion dollars at age 83.
4. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the ruler of Dubai, or as some call him “the CEO of Dubai”. He is 57 years old and reported to be worth 16 billion dollars at the moment.
5. King Bhumibal Adulyadej is the King of Thailand. His fortune is reported at 5 billion dollars and he was born in the USA 79 years ago.
6. The Prince of Liechtenstein, Hans-Adam II von Liechtenstein age 62 is the heir to a family dynasty that goes back 900 years. He rules his tiny country, collects art and manages many family businesses. When you add up all his pennies he is worth 4.5 billion dollars.
7. King Mohammed IV is the ruler of Morocco and maybe the youngest billionaire monarch in the world at age 44. His wealth runs around 2 billion dollars presently.
8. Prince Albert Monarch of the principality of Monaco is worth 1.2 billion. He is 49 years old and still an available bachelor.
9. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamed Bin Khalifa Al Thani is said to be worth 1 billion dollars. He is age 55 and overthrew his father in 1995 to become ruler of this oil rich tiny nation.
10. Prince Karin Al Husseini is know to many as the Aga Khan a hereditary title for the Imam of the Nizari Muslims of the Shia faith. He is the 49th Imam of the faith and thus a direct descendant of Mohammed. His worth is reported around 1 billion dollars and growing as the 70 year old ruler of 15 million Muslims presides over numerous international businesses.

Quite an interesting gathering of the richest royal rulers of the world, this list has changed drastically over the past 100 years, as oil became the commodity through which a new century of kings became filthy rich.

It is interesting to note that the Queen of England is the 11th richest monarch in the world today. Her Highness Queen Elizabeth the II (age 81) is estimated to be worth 600 million dollars with much of the actual wealth ties up in real estate.

So the rich get richer as they pump more oil and charge more for the black crude and the rest of us dig deeper into our pockets to pay for the fuel to get to worth too make the money that makes these folks very, very, very rich.