Although politically inactive, the members of the dynasty enjoyed immense riches, founded on the possession of properties in the capital, Cairo, and its environs, as well as commerce. The caliph himself was not above such enrichment, and owned extensive parts of Cairo; according to the mid-11th traveller Nasir Khusraw, all 20,000 shops in the city, as well as its caravanserais and baths, and 8,000 other buildings that paid a monthly rent to the caliph's private purse () or the private treasury (). Fatimid princesses are likewise recorded as being extremely wealthy, in part from estates allocated to them, and in part due to their own commercial and entrepreneurial activities. Thus at their death in 1050/51, two daughters of Caliph al-Mu'izz left estates of about 1.7 million gold dinars each, while Sitt al-Mulk is known to have employed an extensive staff of able administrators of both sexes for her far-flung economic interests.
Although politically inactive the members of the dynasty enjoyed immense riches founded on the possession of properties in the capital Cairo and its environs as well as commerce The caliph himself was not above such enrichment and owned extensive parts of Cairo; according to the mid-11th traveller Nasir Khusraw all 20000 shops in the city as well as its caravanserais and baths and 8000 other buildings that paid a monthly rent to the caliph's private purse () or the private treasury () Fatimid princesses are likewise recorded as being extremely wealthy in part from estates allocated to them and in part due to their own commercial and entrepreneurial activities Thus at their death in 1050/51 two daughters of Caliph al-Mu'izz left estates of about 17 million gold dinars each while Sitt al-Mulk is known to have employed an extensive staff of able administrators of both sexes for her far-flung economic interests