Thailand's 50 Richest 2025: Collective Wealth Led By The Red Bull Family Jumps 11% To Cross $170 Billion

Forbes

02-07-2025

No. 1 Charlerm Yoovidhya. clive rose/Getty images
This story is part of Forbes' coverage of Thailand's Richest 2025. See the full list here .
Thailand's economy is growing at a slower-than-expected pace amid trade tensions and mounting political uncertainty. While a stronger baht mostly offset the 14% decline of the stock market index from a year ago, a huge boost in the fortunes of the top three propelled a more than 11% rise in combined wealth to $170.5 billion.
Overall, the net worths of nearly half the listees were up with the biggest dol­lar jump—$8.5 billion—recorded by the Red Bull family, led by Chalerm Yoovidhya. In the No. 1 position for the second year in a row, their wealth skyrocketed to a record $44.5 billion as annual revenue of the energy drinks giant rose to €11.2 billion ($12.9 billion) in 2024 on worldwide sales of nearly 13 billion cans.
The Chearavanont brothers of the Charoen Pokphand group retained their position as the country's second-richest with their net worth up by 23% to $35.7 billion. The group is doubling down on digital infrastructure, investing $1 billion with BlackRock to build data centers. Its fintech unit Ascend Money recently got approval to set up a virtual bank.
Energy-and-telecoms tycoon Sarath Ratanavadi climbed two spots to land at No. 3 for the first time with $12 billion. Completing the merger between his Gulf Energy Development and Intouch Holdings and listing the combined entity in April as Gulf Development powered his ascent.
Beverage tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi's net worth was relatively flat at $10.5 billion and he slipped to fourth place. In a key move, the patriarch transferred some holdings to his five children in May but being the group founder, the fortune continues to be listed under his name.
Amid weak consumer sentiment in the retail sector, the Chirathivat family's wealth was down 13% to $8.6 billion. Last October, the group got a new partner: Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund acquired a 40% stake in British retailer Selfridges from Austria's Signa Holdings. (Central group retains 60%.)
A total of 19 listees faced a downdraft. Coffee magnate Prayudh Mahagitsiri's wealth took a hit as his PM Group's long-standing joint venture with Nestle ended.
Two patriarchs died since the last ranking: Vanich Chaiyawan, chairman emeritus of insurance giant Thai Life; and Pongsak Viddayakorn, cofounder of hospital chain Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, who went on to build a separate healthcare business under Principal Capital. Their fortunes are now listed under the Chaiyawan family and the Viddayakorn family.
Though the minimum net worth to qualify for the list dropped to $420 million from last year's $550 million, four people fell from the ranks. A notable absentee is renewable energy magnate Somphote Ahunai, whose Energy Absolute faced financial stress.
Full Coverage of Thailand's Richest 2025:
Reporting by Gloria Haraito and Anuradha Raghunathan.
Methodology:
This list was compiled using shareholding and financial information obtained from the families and individuals, stock exchanges and analysts, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and regulatory agencies. Unlike our billionaire rankings, this list encompasses family fortunes, including those shared among extended families of multiple generations. Public fortunes were calculated based on stock prices and exchange rates as on June 13. Private companies were valued based on comparisons with similar companies that are publicly traded. The list can also include foreign citizens with business, residential or other ties to the country, or citizens who don't reside in the country but have significant business or other ties to the country. The editors reserve the right to amend any information or remove any listees in light of new information.