Muhammad bin Nayef Al Saud is one of the prominent members of the royal family of the Saudi Arabia, the House of Saud. As his father was one of the favorite sons of the country’s founder monarch, Muhammad bin Nayef enjoyed a privileged position right from his birth. Educated in the USA, he began his career as a businessman, and around the age of 40, he joined the service of the state as the Assistant Interior Minister. Very soon, he proved his capability in fighting terrorism, being hailed internationally as the architect of his government’s counter-insurgency program. Continuing to serve his government in various capacities, he became the interior minister at the age 53 and the crown prince at 55. He is the first person in his generation to be officially named as the successor to the throne. However, he would never be the king because barely two years after being declared the crown prince, he was forced to step aside in favor of the deputy crown prince, who happened to be King Salman’s favorite son. Muhammad bin Nayef now leads a secluded life in Jeddah, away from public adulation.