Those companies are owned by Eight Investment Company, a Saudi firm managed by the head of Crown Prince Mohammed’s personal foundation. Advisers to members of the royal family say the chateau ultimately belongs to the crown prince. But his swift rise has ruffled some of his elders, especially when he shoved aside his older cousin to become crown prince. The buyer, The Times found, turned out to be an obscure Saudi prince with close ties to Crown Prince Mohammed. People familiar with the details insist the crown prince was the real buyer at the time of the sale.

Source: New York Times December 16, 2017 14:37 UTC