Another quiet year for the Saudi born international arms dealer, who was once reputed to be the worlds richest man, but with most of his wealth tied up in cash, it has stayed around the US$1bn mark.

And he certainly knows how to enjoy himself, owning 32 different homes around the globe. One, on the Spanish coast, was lent to the producers of the James Bond movie Never Say Never Again for a special shoot. Outside arms dealing, Kashoggi has got his hands into several business pies, though not with quite the same success as weapons.

The American Securities and Exchange Commission was forced to launch an investigation into his company GenesisIntermedia Inc, the marketers of infomercials and interactive advertising in retail malls, following allegations of financial impropriety. His sister Samira Kashoggi was once married to Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed.