The Chearavanont brothers of the Charoen Pokphand group were named the richest people in Thailand in the latest version of Forbes Thailand’s 50 Richest list for this year.
Their combined wealth was estimated to be around US$34 billion (1.19 trillion baht) — up by US$7.5 billion from last year’s figure.
The fortune is shared among three brothers — Dhanin, Sumet and Jaran — and other relatives of the late Montri Chearavanont, who passed away in August last year.
Coming in second place was the Red Bull energy drink tycoon Chalerm Yoovidhya, 72, with an estimated net worth of about $33.4 billion, which he shares with his extensive family.
Red Bull co-founder, Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, who along with Chalerm’s late father Chaleo, created the iconic drink, died last October at age 78.
Ranked third is Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, 79, who owns Thai Beverage, Thailand’s largest brewer, which is known for Chang beer. His wealth is about $13.6 billion, up from $12 billion last year.
In fourth place is the Chirathivat family ($12.4 billion), followed by Sarath Ratanavadi, 57, ($11.3 billion) in fifth place. Mr Sarath is the CEO of Gulf Energy Development, one of Thailand’s largest power producers.
Sixth on the list is Vanich Chaiyawan, 91, a former rice trader and now chairman emeritus of Thai Life, Thailand’s second-biggest life insurer by total premium income. His wealth is $3.9 billion.
He is followed by Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, 90, ($3.8 billion) who co-founded Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, Thailand’s largest private hospital operator, and Bangkok Airways, followed by Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and family ($3.5 billion), Somphote Ahunai and family ($3 billion) and the Osathanugrah family ($2.5 billion).
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is ranked 13th on the list, with $2.1 billion.
According to Forbes, Thailand’s 50 Richest list was compiled using shareholding and financial information obtained from families and individuals, stock exchanges and analysts, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and regulatory agencies.