For most of his life, Mohammed bin Salman has never looked like someone who might become king of Saudi Arabia. He was one of hundreds of princes, many of whom had far greater claim than him. Yet he would achieve power through a combination of ambition, brains, and brutality. Western observers and Saudi Arabian insiders give first-hand accounts of how he has outwitted his rivals to rise to the top.

As the years passed, Mohammed bin Salman slowly consolidated his power. In 2015, King Abdullah died, and Salman’s father reached the throne. His son was given a number of important ministerial positions. But he was not the next in line to succeed his father. He needed to promote his profile so started a campaign to liberalize Saudi Arabia. But would his power grab prove successful?