In modern Spain, aristocratic titles no longer guarantee power or special privileges. Despite their deep historical roots, being a count, marquis, or baron today is more about symbolic status than real advantage. Over recent decades, the cost of inheriting a title has risen significantly: now, this privilege comes with taxes that can reach up to 17,000 euros. For many descendants of noble families, it has become less an honor and more an expensive burden.
Official data for autumn 2025 show that Spain has 2,216 aristocrats. Among them are public figures such as Tamara Falcó, Sofía Palazuelo, and Eugenia Martínez de Irujo. However, the vast majority of the nobility remain out of the spotlight, their names unknown to the wider public. Of the total number of aristocrats, 395 hold the highest rank—the title Grandee of Spain, placing them just after the heir to the throne and the infantes.
Titles and Dynasties
The Spanish nobility holds 2,707 titles, including fourteen foreign ones officially authorized for use in the country. Within this world, there are its own hierarchies: just the ten oldest ducal houses, such as Alba, Medinaceli, or Medina Sidonia, have accumulated nearly two hundred titles. New aristocrats rarely emerge—over the past years, King Felipe VI has granted only a handful of new titles, with notable recipients including tennis player Rafael Nadal and singer Luz Casal, who became Marchioness of Luz y Paz.
However, not all titles last forever. Some disappear if their holders die without heirs and no one claims the rank. Others have been annulled under the law of historical memory, as they were granted during Franco’s era. There are also cases in which titles are restored by decision of the monarch, though over the last decade, there have been only nine such instances.
Council of Nobility
The interests of the aristocracy are overseen by the Council of the Grandees of Spain and the Titles of the Kingdom—an organization sometimes referred to as the ‘nobility syndicate.’ Since 2022, it has been led for the first time by a woman—Cristina de Ulloa, Duchess of Arcos. Previously, membership was open only to holders of the highest titles, but since 1999, its doors have been open to all aristocrats wishing to serve the country and the monarch.
The term ‘syndicate’ in relation to the Council was coined by designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, who herself holds several noble titles. She openly declares her conflict with the organization, calling herself its main opponent. The reason is her active role in changing the law that allowed female heirs to receive titles on equal terms with men. Until 2006, preference was always given to sons, even if they were younger than their sisters. After the reform, many members of the old aristocracy stopped inviting Agatha to social events.
Money and tradition
The financing of the Council of Great Spain is based on annual membership fees, which in 2024 amounted to 330 euros. According to the charter, non-payment of fees results in expulsion from the organization. However, published financial reports show that only a third of aristocrats actually pay for membership. If all 2,216 titled nobles were Council members, its income would be three times higher.
This situation suggests that even among the elite, interest in maintaining traditions and participating in aristocratic community life is clearly declining. For many, a title is no longer a tool of influence but more of a family heirloom that they may not always wish to support financially. In a society where social mobility works differently, aristocratic surnames are increasingly left out of real processes.
New faces and vanishing titles
In recent years, the ranks of the Spanish nobility have welcomed not only descendants of ancient lineages but also people distinguished in sports, science, and the arts. Paralympic champion Teresa Perales, photographer Cristina García Rodero, and biochemistry professor Carlos López Otín have all been awarded titles for their outstanding achievements. Among the new marquesses is also former head of the Royal Household Jaime Alfonsín, who received the only one of the latest titles at the highest rank.
Meanwhile, some titles remain vacant: there are no heirs, and even fewer people willing to claim the rights. The restoration of lost titles is extremely rare, and each instance becomes an event for a select few. Spanish aristocracy is gradually losing its influence, while its internal conflicts and reluctance to pay dues only highlight its identity crisis.
Cristina de Ulloa, Duchess of Arcos, became the first woman to lead the Council of Greater Spain. Her appointment marked a new chapter for the organization, which had been a male-only club for over two centuries. Cristina is known for her openness to change and her drive to modernize the institution of aristocracy, despite resistance from some of the old elite. Her efforts focus on preserving traditions while adapting to current realities, a stance that has sparked mixed reactions both within the Council and among the public.
