As it usually happens, guests of a hotel pay money to check in, but some guests have to pay money to check out. Prince al-Waleed bin Talal became one of such special guests. The King of Saudi Arabia ordered to detain him together with other princes and ministers in a luxurious hotel in Riyadh, the capital of the kingdom.
Recently, Saudi Arabia has launched a massive anti-corruption campaign, which has resulted in a number of high-profile arrests. To leave the hotel, that became a sort of a luxurious detention center with the best conditions, the prince should pay a hefty sum. The information concerning this matter varies. According to some sources, the authorities demand USD 6 billion from al-Waleed bin Talal, while other sources say that the prince is required to pay USD 4 billion to be released.
The prince is in no hurry to make a decision. If he agrees to pay the release fee, it will mean that he confesses himself guilty, but it is not so. Al-Waleed bin Talal believes that it will affect his reputation and his business. At least, this is what he claims to be the real reason. However, a source close to the situation told that the prince offered the authorities shares in his Kingdom Holding conglomerate worth $8.7 billion.
