What Is Prince Albert II's Net Worth?
Prince Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi is the reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco and has a net worth of $1 billion. As one of the wealthiest members of royalty globally, Albert owns significant land in Monaco and France, including the renowned Monte Carlo Casino.
Born in March 1958 in Monaco-Ville's Prince's Palace, Albert is the son of American actress Grace Kelly and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. In 1977, he attended Amherst College in Massachusetts. Albert competed in bobsledding at several Winter Olympics and has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985. He received the Eagle Award from the United States Sports Academy in 1996. After his father's death in April 2005, Albert II became the reigning Prince.
Known for his playboy reputation, Albert has fathered two children out of wedlock. He married South African swimmer Charlene Whittstock in 2011 and is actively involved in Mediterranean environmental issues.
Early Life
Albert II was born on March 14, 1958, at the Prince's Palace of Monaco to Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. As their second child and only son, Albert was the heir apparent to the throne. He had dual citizenship in Monaco and the United States by birth, which he renounced in adulthood. Albert graduated with distinction from Lycée Albert Premier in 1976 and later studied at Amherst College. At Amherst, he joined the Chi Psi Fraternity and graduated in 1981 with a B.A. in political science. He also trained with the French Navy and several financial institutions like J.P. Morgan & Co., enhancing his skills in financial management and communication.
Career
Albert assumed his father's duties as regent on March 31, 2005, following Rainier III's illness and fully succeeded him on April 6, 2005, after his death. In the early years of his reign, Albert introduced multiple judicial and legal reforms in Monaco, addressing issues such as custody, privacy, freedom of the press, gender equality, children's rights, and the rights of disabled students.
Albert has focused on constructing community facilities, including social housing, railways, and educational institutions. He also promoted ethical economic activities and laws against money laundering, organized crime, and tax fraud.
In 2006, Albert established the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to support sustainable and ethical global projects, focusing on climate change, renewable energy, biodiversity loss, and access to clean water.
Albert is dedicated to charity work, serving as vice-chairman of the Princess Grace Foundation, an American charity supporting arts. He holds patronages with AS Monaco, the World Olympians Association, the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, the Peace and Sport Organization, and the Junior Chamber International.
Albert is a key advocate against climate change and has worked closely with the United Nations Environment Programme. In 2009, he embarked on a month-long Antarctic expedition to understand global warming better and has authored articles on ocean conservation. He supported the preliminary draft of the Global Pact for the Environment presented to the United Nations General Assembly in 2017 and co-created the 2021 film "Alick and Albert," a documentary about ocean conservation.
Personal Life
Albert met South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock in 2000 during a Monaco swim meet. They began dating and made their public debut at the 2006 Winter Olympics' opening ceremony. They got engaged on June 10, 2010, married in a civil ceremony on July 1, 2011, followed by a religious ceremony the next day. The couple honeymooned in South Africa and Mozambique and welcomed twins, Princess Gabriella and Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco, in 2014.
Albert has faced several paternity suits. In 1992, Tamara Rotolo filed a suit claiming he fathered her daughter, confirmed in 2006. Nicole Coste, a former Air France flight attendant, also claimed he fathered her son, which Albert confirmed.
An avid sportsman, Albert has participated in cross country, javelin, handball, judo, swimming, tennis, rowing, sailing, skiing, squash, and fencing. He competed in five consecutive Winter Olympics for Monaco in bobsleigh and is a member of the International Olympic Committee. Albert is also passionate about automobiles and planes.