What is the net worth of King Tupou VI?
King Tupou VI is the King of Tonga, a position he has held since 2012. Tupou VI has a fortune of $100 million. Prior to that, he served as the thirteenth Prime Minister of Tonga, then High Commissioner of Tonga in Australia. Tupou took the throne in succession to his late brother, King George Tupou V, who had no legitimate sons to be heirs.
Early life and education
Tupou VI was born as ‘Aho’eitu’ Unuaki’otonga Tuku’aho on July 12, 1959 in Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga. He is the youngest and third son of King Tau’eitu Tuku’aho IV and his wife Halayivalu Matahu Ahomi. For his education, Tupou attended Leys School in Cambridge, England from 1973 to 1977, then attended the University of East Anglia from 1977 to 1980.
Military service and postgraduate studies
In 1982, Tupou joined the naval arm of Tonga’s Defense Services. Five years later, he became a lieutenant commander; The following year, he graduated from the US Naval War College. From 1990 to 1995, Tupou commanded the VOEA Pangai, a Pacific class patrol boat. Among his activities, he oversaw peacekeeping efforts in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Subsequently, Topo pursued his postgraduate studies at the University of New South Wales, graduating with a Master’s degree in Defense Studies in 1997. He obtained another Master’s degree, this degree in International Relations, from Bond University in Australia in 1999.
(Photo by Edwina Pickles/Fairfax Media/Getty Images)
Career beginnings in government
Topo officially ended his military career in 1998 to join the government of Tonga. He initially held concurrent positions as Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs, positions they held from late 1998 until August 2004. These positions were previously held by his older brother Topoto, who at the time was crown prince. During this time, in January of 2000, Tupou was appointed Prime Minister of Tonga. He served as Prime Minister until his sudden resignation in February of 2006, which many speculated was in response to pro-democracy protests calling for a curtailment of the royal family’s presence in Tonga’s government. Topo then appointed Feletti Seville as the new prime minister. Remarkably, Seville was the country’s first Prime Minister who did not belong to any aristocratic Tongan families, nor did he have any hereditary estates.
High Commissioner to Australia and King of Tonga
In 2008, Tupou was appointed as the inaugural High Commissioner for Tonga in Australia. He served in this position until 2012, leaving his position when his brother, King George Tupou V, died. Since his brother was celibate and had no legitimate children, Tupou succeeded him as the new king of Tonga in March 2012. Along with Queen Nanasepao, he was crowned in 2015 in a ceremony at Centenary Church in Nuku’alofa. At the ceremony, Tupou was anointed with sacred oil and presented with a seal and a sceptre; He then received the crown from Reverend Darcy Wood, a Tongan citizen and retired minister of the Uniting Church of Australia.
During his reign in January 2022, Tobu had to be evacuated from the royal palace due to the eruption of the Hengja Tonga-Hung Hapai submarine volcano and the resulting tsunami. He managed to return to the palace two days later.
family life
In 1982, Tupou married Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho, his second cousin and daughter of Commander in Chief Baron Vaea. Together, the couple have a daughter and two sons. Their daughter, born in 1983, is Princess Latifwebeka Tokoho, who began serving as Australia’s new High Commissioner in 2012. Meanwhile, the couple’s two sons are Crown Prince Topu Ulukalala, born in 1985, and Prince Atta, born in 1988. The former son is married to Senitakala Vakavanua, daughter of the late leader Kinkinilao Vakavanua. The couple have four children: Prince Taufa’ahau Manumataongo, Princess Halaevalu Mata’aho, Princess Nanasipau’u and Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu.
[ad_2]
