3. (S) THE MOST COMMON MECHANISM FOR DISTRIBUTING THE NATION'S WEALTH TO THE ROYAL FAMILY IS THE FORMAL, BUDGETED SYSTEM OF MONTHLY STIPENDS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE AL SAUD, MANAGED BY THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE'S "OFFICE OF DECISIONS AND RULES." THE STIPENDS RANGE FROM $270,000 PER MONTH ON THE HIGH END TO $800 PER MONTH FOR THE LOWLIEST MEMBER OF THE MOST REMOTE BRANCH OF THE FAMILY. BONUS PAYMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MARRIAGE AND PALACE BUILDING. THE EMBASSY ESTIMATES THAT THE STIPENDS SYSTEM PUTS AN ANNUAL DRAIN OF ABOUT $2 BILLION ON THE $40 BILLION GOVERNMENT BUDGET.
I'm not sure this thing isn't a fake document, but it has lots of interesting details about how members of the royal family may supplement their income by expropriating land from commoners which they know is going to be sold to the government for a public works project, or by borrowing from banks and not paying back the loan, or by importing foreign labor and taking a cut from their wages.
I'm not sure this thing isn't a fake document, but it has lots of interesting details about how members of the royal family may supplement their income by expropriating land from commoners which they know is going to be sold to the government for a public works project, or by borrowing from banks and not paying back the loan, or by importing foreign labor and taking a cut from their wages.