The 'richie rich' Sultan of Brunei who hosts PM Modi in worlds's largest palace

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the 'Istana Nurul Iman', the residence of Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, it will be unlike any other residence of a head of a state he has visited during his tenure. The world's largest palace is an epitome of extravagance, spanning 2 million square feet and having 1,700 rooms and a 22-carat gold dome.

Brunei, which is strategically located on the island of Borneo, is smaller than Indian states like Sikkim and Tripura, but its Sultan's immense wealth and lavish lifestyle has repeatedly grabbed attention.

The second-longest reigning monarch in the world after the UK's Queen Elizabeth II, Bolkiah reportedly has a net worth of $30 billion. Brunei is rich in oil and natural gas reserves.

The most important aspect of Bolkiah's luxurious lifestyle that grabs eyeballs is his private car collection, valued at an estimated $5 billion. The collection includes a gold-coated Rolls-Royce, around 450 Ferraris and 380 Bentleys.

Not only luxurious vehicles, but even rare pieces like Lamborghini Urraco, Ferrari 456 GT Venice (one of only seven in the world) and a Porsche 959 occupy a pride of place in one of his 200 garages.

Bolkiah is also known for losing his purse strings, even for basic necessities. According to a report in The Times, Bolkiah regularly spends $20,000 on flying his designated barber from London to Brunei to take care of his grooming needs.

His private jets are no less than jaw-dropping, with the Sultan boasting of a Boeing 747-400, a Boeing 767-200 and an Airbus A340-200 jet. However, his prized possession is the gold-plated Boeing 747-400, nicknamed the "flying palace".

The aircraft's interior is decked in gold and has expensive chandeliers embellished with Lalique crystals, as per a report in the South China Morning Post.

However, the Istana Nurul Iman, the world's largest palace as per the Guinness Book of World Records, takes the crown, consisting of 1,700 rooms, 250 bathrooms, and five swimming pools. Each room has gold wash basins too.

The Sultan, who is also fond of horses, has reportedly constructed special air-conditioned stables. He also owns a private zoo, housing 30 tigers and various exotic bird species.