There are several well-known families, and investors believed to hold large quantities of gold, although exact data is not publicly confirmed or is subject to change.
The federal government of the United States (U.S.) holds the largest official state gold reserves in the world, exceeding 8.133 tonnes. While state reserves are clearly documented, the question of who the largest private gold owners are remains far more difficult to determine, as individual wealth is typically kept far from the public eye.
The largest private quantities of gold, collectively speaking, are held by Indian households. Estimates indicate that Indian families possess between 24.000 and 34.600 tonnes of gold, most often in the form of jewelry used during weddings, festivals such as Diwali, and other traditional events. That amount exceeds the combined official gold reserves of the U.S., Germany, Italy, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In addition to Indian households, there are several well-known families and investors believed to hold large quantities of gold, although exact data is not publicly confirmed or is subject to change.
Among them stands out the Rothschild family, the famous banking dynasty that has historically been strongly linked to the gold trade. Their influence was especially prominent as far back as the Napoleonic Wars, and at one point, they had near-total control over global gold refining through the management of the Almaden mercury mines. Over the decades, their wealth has been distributed among numerous heirs across different business sectors.
Significant gold reserves are also attributed to the Saudi royal family. The rulers of this oil-rich country possessed gold vaults even before establishing stronger business ties with the West. It is estimated that today they hold hundreds of tonnes of gold, with continuous accumulation dating back to the 1920s.
Among individual investors, U.S. financier John Paulson stands out in particular. He earned billions of dollars thanks to timely investments in gold. When the price of this precious metal surged sharply between 2011 and 2013, Paulson made a profit of around five billion dollars, as he bought large quantities of gold when its price was significantly lower.
A similar investment strategy is followed by Canadian billionaire Eric Sprott, known as one of the strongest advocates of investing in gold. His name is often mentioned as the Canadian counterpart to Paulson when it comes to private reserves of this metal.
Alongside them, other billionaires who hold significant quantities of gold include Ray Dalio, who uses gold as a means of protection against economic crises and financial market instability.
The British royal family also possesses certain amounts of gold, primarily through the Crown Jewels and the Scottish Crown Estate. The Crown Jewels constitute a collection of ceremonial items made from gold and precious stones, including St. Edward’s Crown and the Imperial State Crown. These items are not the personal property of the monarch but are kept in trust for the nation.
The Scottish Crown Estate includes rights to naturally occurring gold and silver across much of Scotland. This property is also held within a trust fund and is not used for the monarch’s personal needs.
Part of royal tradition is also linked to Welsh gold from the Clogau mines, used to craft special items such as wedding rings. A nugget of Welsh gold was gifted to the Queen Mother in 1923, and an additional kilogram was gifted to the Queen for her 60th birthday in 1986. Wedding rings for several members of the royal family, including the wives of Princes William and Harry, were made from that very gold.
