Osama bin Laden, the notorious leader of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1957. He was one of over 50 children born to Mohammad bin Laden, a millionaire construction magnate with close ties to the Saudi royal family. Osama had a privileged upbringing, growing up in a wealthy and influential family.

As a young man, Osama bin Laden was heavily influenced by his family’s conservative Islamic values and the teachings of radical Islamist scholars. He studied economics and business administration at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, where he became involved in Islamist activism. It was during this time that he was exposed to the teachings of prominent Islamic extremists, which would later shape his extremist ideologies and militant activities.

Key Influences

Person/Event Influence
Abdullah Azzam Mentor and influence on militant ideology
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Radicalized bin Laden and inspired his jihad against foreign occupation