
Sultan menerima pendidikan sekolah menengah di sekolah utama Lembaga Victoria Malaysia di Kuala Lumpur, di mana ia bergabung dengan Korps Kadet (band). Setelah menerima pendidikan swasta di Brunei, Sultan menghadiri Royal Akademi Militer Sandhurst pada Oktober 1967 namun kembali ke rumah untuk menjadi Putra Mahkota beberapa bulan sebelum kelulusan. Meskipun pemborosan pribadinya, ia telah berusaha untuk berbagi kekayaan minyak negara itu. Di Brunei, mengejek dijuluki "Shellfare Negara", merujuk pada pengaruh yang signifikan dari Shell Oil Company, Brunei memiliki pendidikan gratis dan layanan kesehatan. Ada tidak pajak pribadi maupun perusahaan di Brunei.
Kediaman resminya adalah Istana Nurul Iman, dengan 3.400 kamar, 290 kamar mandi, mempunyai 7000 lebih mobil dan luas lantai 2.152.782 kaki persegi (200.000 m²), undisputedly kedua istana terbesar di dunia setelah Beijing's Forbidden City (720.000 m²).[butuh rujukan] Istana adalah kediaman resmi dengan perumahan kantor Kantor Sultan dan Yang DiPertuan, kantor Grand Chamberlain, banyak departemen seperti departemen Istana protokol, Istana rumah tangga dan keuangan dan kantor Perdana Menteri Departemen. Beberapa kantor Departemen Pertahanan dan Departemen Keuangan juga fungsional sana sebagai Sultan adalah Perdana Menteri, Menteri Pertahanan dan Menteri Keuangan. The Prince Crown, yang merupakan Menteri Senior, juga bekerja dari kantor di Istana itu. Borneo Hyatt Jasa Manajemen dan HM Sultan penerbangan juga mempertahankan kantor di sana
The Sultan has been ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the world; Forbes estimated the Sultan's total peak net worth at US$20 billion in 2008. Following the death of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2016, the Sultan is the wealthiest monarch in the world. On 5 October 2017, The Sultan celebrated his Golden Jubilee to mark the 50th year of his reign on the Throne. He became the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam on 5 October 1967, after his father abdicated. His coronation was held on 1 August 1968, and made him the Yang di-Pertuan (Head of State) of Brunei. Like his father, he has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, of which Brunei was a protectorate until 1984.
The University of Brunei Darussalam and Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (UNISSA) were established. Technical and vocational institutions were also built, such as the Brunei Technological University (UTB), Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College, and vocational schools. The religious Institute Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah was established. Scholarships for study in the country and abroad were provided. The Royal Brunei Armed Forces were expanded with the establishment of three major branches of the Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy and Royal Brunei Air Force.