Ahmed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Ahmed bin Salman Al Saud (; 17 November 1958 – 22 July 2002) was a Saudi royal and media executive who was also a major figure in international thoroughbred horse racing. He was the third son of Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who later became governor of Riyadh and is the current king of Saudi Arabia. He was one of the grandsons of Saudi's founder King Abdulaziz.

Early life Prince Ahmed was born in Riyadh on 17 November 1958. He was the third son of Salman bin Abdulaziz and Sultana bint Turki Al Sudairi. Ahmed bin Salman was the full brother of Prince Fahd, Prince Sultan, Prince Abdulaziz, Prince Faisal and Princess Hassa.

Education Prince Ahmed first studied at Colorado School of Mines. He then graduated from Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri.

Career Ahmed bin Salman joined the Saudi armed forces before dealing in business. After leaving the Saudi armed forces in 1985, he established ASAS, a company which specialized in maintenance and contracting. a media company with offices in Riyadh and Jeddah as well as in London Prince Ahmed also bought 80 percent of the daily Asharq Al Awsat, which is a publication of the SRMG.

The SRMG was reported to be the largest media company in the Arab world. He also achieved another dream by winning the Kentucky Derby with War Emblem in May 2002, making him the first Arab horse owner to win this race. War Emblem was sold to Prince Ahmed just three weeks before the race after the horse won the Illinois Derby. The price of the horse was $900,000.

Ahmed bin Salman also owned Spain, horse racing's all-time female money-winner. In 1994, the operation resurfaced as The Thoroughbred Corporation, with Mulhall retiring as a trainer and taking on the job of racing manager. Mulhall is the president of the operation. The pair would go on to racing greatness, both with sales purchases and homebreds. The Thoroughbred Corp.'s roster reads like a who's who of racing in the past decade, with such greats as Sharp Cat, Lear Fan, Jewel Princess, Windsharp, Military, Royal Anthem, Anees, Officer, Habibti, Spain, 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given, and this year's dual classic winner War Emblem.

Personal life Prince Ahmed was survived by his wife, Lamia bint Mishaal, daughter of Mishaal bin Saud Al Saud. His family owns three percent of Saudi Research and Marketing Group.

Death and double funeral Ahmed bin Salman died of heart failure at age 43 in Riyadh on 22 July 2002. He was buried in Al Oud cemetery on 23 July 2002 after funeral prayers at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque in Riyadh. His cousin, Sultan bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah, brother of Abdullah bin Faisal, was coming to Riyadh to participate in the funeral prayers for Prince Ahmed when he was killed in a car crash. The cousins were buried together.

Legacy Faisal bin Salman announced in 2004 that Prince Ahmad bin Salman Institute for Applied Media Training would be established to train journalists.

Alleged Knowledge of 9/11 attacks unproven In Why America Slept (2003), Gerald Posner claimed Ahmed bin Salman, along with Sultan bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah, and Prince Fahd bin Turki bin Saud al-Kabir, all had ties to al-Qaeda, and had advance knowledge of the September 11, 2001 attacks. All three died within days of each other, soon after the CIA inquired about their possible connection to the attacks. The story was strongly denied by his family, who claimed he admired the United States, spent a great deal of time at his home there in Bradbury, California, and had invested heavily in the American horse racing industry. His friends in American horse racing stated their knowledge of him and his attitudes made it impossible to believe the allegations.

Ancestry