6. House of Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein was created in 1719, by uniting the counties of Vaduz and Schellenberg. Anton Florian of Liechtenstein became the first Prince. Both the principality and the family are named after one of Anton Florian’s possessions, the Castle Liechtenstein in Austria. Following the turbulent first half of the 20th century, Liechtenstein became one of the first tax havens in Europe, offering low taxes to the growing number of corporations opening up. As a consequence, Liechtenstein has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Also, Prince of Liechtenstein Hans-Adam II is among the 6 wealthiest monarchs in the world, with estimated wealth of over $5 billion. In a process opposite to what most monarchies go through, Liechtenstein held the referendum in 2003 that saw the increase of Prince’s powers. He’s the only monarch in Europe that actually has some power, like vetoing laws passed by the parliament. He can also dismiss the government or any minister not to his liking, something other monarchs in Europe can only dream about.
