Behind the Bastards

Part Two: Prince Mohammed Bin Salman: The Tyrant of Saudi Arabia

January 22, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Mohammed Bin Salman's early life was characterized by extreme, unearned privilege, isolation from non-royalty, and a lack of meaningful discipline, fostering a sense of entitlement and a need to constantly strive for distinction. 
  • The Saudi state's catastrophic dependence on oil revenues created a system where two-thirds of Saudi men were government employees receiving benefits that inflated salaries far beyond base value, leading to financially untenable government structures. 
  • MBS's path toward potential power was significantly altered by the unexpected deaths of two older half-brothers between 2001 and 2002, allowing him to become closely involved with his father, Prince Solomon (later King Salman), during a period of vulnerability. 
  • The successor chosen by the previous leader was Muhammad bin Nayef (MBN), who was the nephew, not the son, and was identified as the first target for destruction by the future Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman. 
  • The hosts sarcastically comment on the lack of warning signs regarding Mohammed Bin Salman's character, referencing a past incident where he mailed a bullet to someone. 
  • The episode concludes with a warning to listeners about the dangers of living in Saudi Arabia, setting up the continuation of the story in Part Three. 

Segments

Guest Introduction and Contact
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Guest David Bell hosts the movie/TV podcast GameFully Unemployed and is the head writer for Some More News.
  • Summary: David Bell, a guest on this episode of Behind the Bastards, hosts the podcast GameFully Unemployed. He also serves as the head writer for the news show Some More News. The hosts briefly exchange thanks and personal anecdotes before moving into the main topic.
Saudi Economic Dependence
Copied to clipboard!
(00:04:14)
  • Key Takeaway: By 1985, Saudi Arabia was catastrophically dependent on oil revenues, with Aramco funding roughly 80% of state spending, making the state insolvent during oil price drops.
  • Summary: The Saudi state exhibited catastrophic dependence on oil revenues, with Aramco accounting for about 80% of state spending, forcing the government to live off savings during price drops. Nearly two-thirds of Saudi men were government employees, often holding lifetime jobs that functioned as welfare to prevent unrest. Government attempts to manage payrolls through complex benefit bumps rather than base salary raises proved financially untenable, costing the national budget significantly.
Government Employment Policies
Copied to clipboard!
(00:06:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Government policies designed to increase Saudi employment in departments with few Saudis backfired, actively discouraging the hiring of Saudi nationals due to associated pay bumps.
  • Summary: The government introduced benefits for departments with fewer than 50% Saudi workers, intending to incentivize Saudi hiring in those fields. However, this policy inadvertently discouraged hiring Saudis because adding a Saudi worker risked losing the high pay bump for the entire field. This illustrates a pattern of poorly conceived government fixes that often created the opposite of the intended effect.
MBS’s Early Family Life
Copied to clipboard!
(00:07:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Mohammed Bin Salman was the oldest son of his father’s second wife, placing him far down the line of succession, and his childhood was spent in isolated, unearned privilege.
  • Summary: MBS’s father, Prince Solomon, had six children with his first wife before marrying a second wife to continue having sons, making MBS the eldest of the second family. He was raised almost exclusively by nannies and tutors who could not meaningfully discipline him, leading to a life where he was shielded from consequences. Servants referred to him as ‘Tal Umrak,’ meaning ‘Your Highness,’ highlighting his separation from the world.
Childhood Discipline and Environment
Copied to clipboard!
(00:09:41)
  • Key Takeaway: MBS’s upbringing lacked external checks on his behavior, creating a ‘holodeck’ environment where he knew no one outside his parents could meaningfully punish him.
  • Summary: The environment where no one could discipline MBS created a dangerous precedent, contrasting with the necessity for children to learn that strangers might check their behavior. His only entertainment was video games, as movies and music were banned, leading him to become a lifelong enthusiast. He felt financially inferior to his wealthier cousins, receiving only $500 monthly while the wealthiest received $5,000 weekly.
Sibling Rivalry and Ancestry
Copied to clipboard!
(00:13:07)
  • Key Takeaway: MBS was bullied by his older half-brothers from the first wife’s family and was raised on stories emphasizing the family’s history of internal violence and treachery.
  • Summary: MBS’s mother’s family had a history of conflict with the ruling line, including a maternal ancestor whose group wounded the original King Abdul Aziz. He was constantly mocked by his older half-brothers, who treated him as part of the ‘B family’ due to his mother being the second wife. This environment, coupled with stories of ancestral killings, instilled a drive to prove himself and overcome perceived slights.
Early Personality and Interests
Copied to clipboard!
(00:14:58)
  • Key Takeaway: MBS transitioned from a shy, anxious boy who suffered stage fright in front of his father to a troublemaker who channeled his energy into video games.
  • Summary: As a child, MBS was so uncomfortable performing that he froze during a third-grade play, even with his father watching. His primary entertainment was video games, as television was limited to news and religious discussions, leading him to keep his original Neo Geo console. He developed a Jekyll and Hyde persona, appearing obedient to his father while acting out with petty crime and pranks toward peers and staff.
Financial Insecurity and Ambition
Copied to clipboard!
(00:29:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite immense wealth, MBS felt poor compared to other royals, leading him to pursue business ventures and wealth accumulation as a means to gain distinction and his father’s affection.
  • Summary: MBS was dissatisfied with his family’s wealth level, feeling his branch ‘sat below the salt’ compared to richer relatives. He bought a $230,000 Lamborghini as a teenager, which he promptly totaled, demonstrating reckless use of inherited funds. His early business attempts, including an asphalt import deal and stock trading, failed, but his father publicly claimed millions were made for the family from a failed Verizon fiber optic deal.
Ascension After King Abdullah’s Death
Copied to clipboard!
(00:53:34)
  • Key Takeaway: When King Abdullah died in 2015, MBS’s father, Solomon, became King, immediately sidelining the designated Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef (MBN) in favor of a more pliable successor.
  • Summary: King Abdullah’s death in January 2015 led to a smooth transition where Prince Solomon became King, despite a prior decree naming Prince Murkin as the successor. King Solomon quickly replaced Murkin with his nephew, Muhammad bin Nayef (MBN), as the Crown Prince. This move positioned MBN as the first target for destruction by MBS, who was being groomed for succession.
Succession and MBN Targeting
Copied to clipboard!
(00:55:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Muhammad bin Nayef (MBN) was selected as the capable successor over the previous leader’s son, but he was marked for destruction by Mohammed Bin Salman.
  • Summary: The leader selected his nephew, Muhammad bin Nayef (MBN), as a capable successor after the initial choice proved too old. MBN was identified as the first person targeted for destruction by Mohammed Bin Salman, who would eventually succeed him as Crown Prince. The full story of this targeting is reserved for Part Three of the episode series for Behind the Bastards.
Sarcastic Character Assessment
Copied to clipboard!
(00:55:52)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts sarcastically imply that Mohammed Bin Salman’s early actions, like mailing a bullet, were dismissed as typical teenage behavior rather than serious red flags.
  • Summary: The hosts engage in heavy sarcasm regarding the lack of perceived warning signs about Mohammed Bin Salman’s character. They reference an incident where he mailed a bullet to someone, joking that this was the worst thing he would do. This behavior is characterized as ‘real teenage edge lord stuff.’
Host Sign-Off and Pluggles
Copied to clipboard!
(00:56:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts conclude the segment by directing listeners to find Dave online and humorously suggesting listeners mail bullets to Dave.
  • Summary: The host asks Dave for any plugs, to which Dave responds that he is gainfully unemployed and directs listeners to Google him. The host then jokes about listeners mailing bullets to Dave, suggesting that a large quantity of bullets could potentially be used as currency or to pay rent, though they acknowledge this might be illegal.
Episode Conclusion and Credits
Copied to clipboard!
(00:57:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts sign off from the Behind the Bastards episode, advising listeners to avoid living in Saudi Arabia.
  • Summary: The hosts formally conclude the segment for Behind the Bastards and David Bell, wishing listeners good luck if they currently reside in Saudi Arabia. Production credits are given to CoolZone Media, noting that new episodes release every Wednesday and Friday and are available on YouTube.
Sponsor Advertisements
Copied to clipboard!
(00:58:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Advertisements promote services including Airtasker for task completion, Lenovo Pro for small business IT solutions, and Mint Mobile’s extended holiday offer.
  • Summary: Airtasker is promoted as a platform for getting anything done, including holiday-specific tasks like gift wrapping and gingerbread house assembly. Lenovo Pro is advertised for small business owners needing IT solutions powered by Intel Core ultra-processors. Mint Mobile is offering half-off unlimited wireless, requiring a three-month minimum commitment.
SXSW Promotion
Copied to clipboard!
(01:00:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The South by Southwest Innovation Conference is scheduled for March 12th through 18th in Austin, offering a discount code for innovation badges.
  • Summary: The South by Southwest Innovation Conference is promoted as an event for connecting with leaders in technology, design, business, and culture. Attendees can experience sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. Listeners can unlock a 10% discount on an innovation badge using the code iHeartInnovation at sxsw.com/iHeart.