[1] His father was the younger son of (Friedrich) Albrecht, 2nd Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1777-1851), and his wife Countess (Christiane) Charlotte of Ortenburg (1802-1854).

Richard had two older sisters, Charlotte (1879-1968) and Hildegard (1880-1973), and a younger brother, Wolfgang (1887-1966), who all married and had issue.

On 21 November 1902, at Langenzell, he married Princess Madeleine of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg, daughter of Prince Alfred of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg and Countess Pauline von Reichenbach-Lessonitz.

Richard became head of the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg on the death of his paternal uncle, Albrecht (born 15 March 1834), the 3rd Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, who died unmarried and childless on 9 November 1904.

He died as the result of a traffic accident in Hanau on 25 April 1925 at age 42.