Prominent Saudi investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has significantly increased his investment in the US-based social media company Snap. Through his investment vehicle Kingdom Holding Company, the prince purchased an additional 15.2 million shares, valued at $134 million based on recent trading prices. This move elevates his total holding to 40.8 million shares, representing a 2.8 percent stake in the parent company of Snapchat.
A Contrarian Bet On Social Media
Prince Alwaleed’s increased investment comes at a challenging time for Snap. The company has struggled to achieve annual profitability since its public listing in 2017, facing intense competition from rivals like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. The company’s stock has seen a significant downturn, falling nearly 90 percent from its 2021 peak and trading 20 percent lower than when the prince first disclosed his stake in 2018. In the second quarter of 2025, Snap reported a net loss of $263 million, although its revenue saw a 9 percent year-on-year increase to $1.3 billion. This latest share purchase signals a long-term, contrarian belief in the social media platform’s potential despite its current financial performance.
Alwaleed’s Expanding Tech Portfolio
This move is consistent with Prince Alwaleed’s strategy of holding significant stakes in major global technology firms. The billionaire, who has a net worth of $16.5 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is also a notable investor in Elon Musk’s ventures, holding stakes in both the social media platform X and the artificial intelligence company Xai. The increased position in Snap further diversifies his substantial portfolio in the international tech scene, reinforcing his status as a key Middle Eastern investor in Silicon Valley.
About Kingdom Holding Company
Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) is a publicly listed investment firm based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Founded by HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, KHC has amassed a globally diversified portfolio of investments in leading companies across sectors such as technology, hospitality, real estate, media, and finance. The company is renowned for its long-term investment strategy in high-growth, market-leading businesses both locally and internationally.
Source: AGBI
