What Is King Mswati III’s Net Worth?

King Mswati III serves as the reigning monarch of Eswatini, which was previously known as Swaziland. His estimated net worth is around $200 million.

Born Makhosetive Dlamini, King Mswati III is a prominent figure in the Swazi Royal Family. His father, King Sobhuza II, had 70 wives, though Mswati was the sole offspring of Queen Ntfombi. In 1983, Mswati was named Crown Prince and ascended to the throne in 1986 at the age of 18, making him the youngest monarch worldwide at that time. In 2004, he enacted a new constitution aimed at enhancing freedom of speech and assembly. In 2001, he introduced a chastity rite to combat AIDS and HIV, encouraging Swazi maidens to abstain from sexual activity for five years. King Mswati is married to 16 wives and has fathered more than 20 children. His household budget was allocated $61 million by Parliament in 2014, sparking criticism given that many citizens survive on just over a dollar a day. Together with his mother, he maintains an absolute monarchy.

Early Life

Mswati III was born on April 19, 1968, in Manzini, within the Swaziland Protectorate, at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital. He is the son of King Sobhuza II and Queen Ntfombi. King Sobhuza, who ruled for 82 years, had 70 wives and 210 children, of which roughly 180 survived infancy. Following his father’s death in August 1982, the Great Council of State chose 14-year-old Mswati as the next king.

Career

In September 1983, Mswati was presented as the crown prince and was crowned king in April 1986, shortly after his 18th birthday. He inherited an absolute monarchy, as political parties had been banned by his father, who ruled by decree since the early 1970s. Although Mswati can appoint key positions such as the prime minister, he must consult with Queen Ntfombi and the council. When selecting cabinet members, he takes counsel from the prime minister. While Mswati has ruled by decree, he has reinstated Parliament, dissolved by his father, allowing members to be appointed by him or elected by traditional chiefs. Closely aligned with the evangelical church, he has banned divorce and miniskirts. In 2001, he attempted to curb the HIV/AIDS crisis by implementing a chastity rite (umcwasho) for five years. However, he broke this rite by marrying a 17-year-old two months later. In 2005, he announced a new constitution allowing freedom of speech and assembly, though Amnesty International claims these freedoms are limited. On April 19, 2018, celebrating Swaziland’s 50th independence anniversary and his 50th birthday, Mswati renamed the nation Eswatini, reflecting its original name.

Eswatini remains one of the world’s poorest nations, with over 60% of its citizens living below the poverty line. In early 2021, King Mswati contracted COVID-19 and expressed gratitude to Taiwan for providing antiviral medication. In mid-2021, protests against authoritarian rule erupted. The Communist Party of Swaziland alleged that Mswati fled to South Africa shortly after the protests began, while the Swaziland Solidarity Network suggested he went to Mozambique. However, acting prime minister Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku refuted these claims, stating, “Following the false media reports circulating, I would like to take this opportunity to assure emaSwati and the international community that His Majesty King Mswati III is in the country and continues to lead in working with the Government to advance the Kingdom’s goals.”

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Personal Life

In 2024, Mswati wed his sixteenth wife, adding to his family of over 20 children. His first two marriages were arranged by national councillors. In 2002, the case of 18-year-old Zena Mahlangu drew attention when she vanished from her high school. Her mother, Lindiwe Dlamini, later discovered that Zena had been taken to the Ludzidzini Royal Village, where preparations were underway for her to become Mswati’s next wife. Despite a lawsuit filed by Dlamini to prevent the marriage, it proceeded. Amnesty International criticized the situation, stating, “The king and his agents have violated the internationally recognized human rights of women and girls, including their right not to be arbitrarily detained and the right not to be subjected to forced marriage.”

Mswati has earned criticism for his lavish lifestyle, and he banned photography of his cars after he attracted criticism for his purchase of a $500,000 DaimlerChrysler Maybach 62 and other luxury automobiles. He also owns a bespoke watch collection that is worth millions of U.S. dollars. During Mswati’s reign, he has been criticized for allegedly committing human rights violations. His government has been accused of torture, excessive force, discrimination, extrajudicial killings, and targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

Honors

King Mswati III has received several national honors, including a Grand Master of the Royal Order of King Sobhuza II (1986), Grand Master of the Royal Order of the Great She-Elephant (2002), Grand Master of the Royal Order of the Crown (2002), Grand Master of the Royal Family Order of Mswati III (2002), Grand Master of the Military Order of Swaziland (2002), and Grand Master of the Order of the Elephant (2018). In 1991, he was appointed a Knight of the Venerable Order of St John by the U.K., and in 1995, he received a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope from South Africa.