For most of the world, the era of powerful kings and queens is long passed. Today’s royals might enjoy a great deal of wealth and celebrity status, but most have no real political clout.

In the following countries, though, there are monarchs who still hold “real” power. Most of these rulers have to share the legal and political decision-making with an elected or appointed government as part of a “constitutional monarchy.” However, a few have still managed to maintain total control of every aspect of ruling their country.

1. Brunei

Brunei is small enough to escape most people's notice. It sits on a speck of land along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, almost completely surrounded by Malaysia. Its leader is known as the Sultan of Brunei. Worth about $20 billion thanks to his tiny nation's oil wealth, the sultan, whose given name is Hassanal Bolkiah, is part of a ruling family, the House of Bolkiah, that has been in power since the early 15th century. Though the country has a constitution and a partially popularly elected legislative body, Bolkiah is officially both the head of state and the prime minister, so he has the political power to move the country in whatever direction he chooses. He has been criticized, both at home and abroad, for recently moving to introduce a very strict version of Sharia law into this majority Muslim nation. 

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