Thailand's 50 richest 2015: Collective wealth crosses US$100 billion

[webfact]

Thailand's 50 Richest 2015: Collective Wealth Crosses $100 Billion
Naazneen Karmali Forbes Staff

(Bangkok) Amid Thailand’s economic drought, which followed last year’s military coup, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi’s Thai Beverage, maker of Chang beer, reported double-digit increases in revenues and profits in a recent quarter. Shares of the brewer are up, moving Charoen also up one spot to No. 2, with a net worth of $13 billion.

(Click here to see our list of Thailand’s 50 Richest.)

The spirits tycoon, who must now contend with the junta’s new taxes and selling curbs on alcohol, wants to double ThaiBev’s revenues to $10 billion by 2020, of which half would be from overseas markets.

Despite talk that his $11.2 billion acquisition of Singapore beverage and property conglomerate Fraser & Neave left him financially stretched, Charoen is striking deals to expand his footprint. His latest is a $1 billion bid for Vietnam’s Sabeco, the maker of Saigon beer. But he may have to sell F&N’s stake in a Myanmar brewery, after losing an arbitration battle.

- This story appears in the June 2015 issue of Forbes Asia.

Full story: http://www.forbes.com/sites/naazneenkarmali/2015/06/03/thailands-50-richest-2015-collective-wealth-crosses-100-billion/

-- Forbes 2015-06-04

[ezzra]

It would be safe to say, that most, if not all those billionaires, putting them under a magnifying glass, will not

pass scrutiny of how they obtained their mega wealth, most will be of obscure origins and of

tainted money that has all to do with their connections in high places....

[craigt3365]

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[Oziex1]

Any serious philanthropists in this lot?

[Prbkk]

Dusit Medical shares up 25% over the past 12 months and a couple of well known hospital owners on the list. Interesting. in the context of the discussion about private medical fees and charges

[kinmaew]

When Thais say "Farang Rich" Thai no money, f'ing BS mate. They have no laws or morals or controls. Same as in China. If everyone paid their fair share of taxes they would not be so "Poor" thats why I would never give them a cent they have themselves to blame for their austere lifestyles.

[webfact]

Forbes names world’s 500 wealthiest people with Dhanin coming on the 81st place



BANGKOK: -- Forbes has recently released the world's 500 richest people in the world in 2015 giving Bill Gates first on the list with US$79.2 billion net worth while Thailand's food conglomerate Dhanin Chearavanont coming on the 81st place with US$13.6 billion.

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi came on the 87th place with US$ 13 B net worth in beverages, and the Chirathivat family on the 94th place with US$12.3 B in supermarkets.

Meanwhile Forbes Thailand yesterday also released the country’s 50 richest with Dhanin Chearavanont coming on the top.

Among the first 10 richest after Dhanin are Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi (US$ 13 B ), Chirathivat family (US$ 12.3 B ), Chalerm Yoovidhya (US$ 9.6 B ), Krit Ratanarak (US$ 4.7 B ), Vanich Chaiyawan (US$ 4 B ), Santi Bhirombhakdi (US$ 2.9 B ), Dr Prasert Prasarttong-osoth (US$ 2.8 B ), Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (US$ 2.5 B ), and Thaksin Shinawatra (US$ 1.73 ).

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/forbes-names-worlds-500-wealthiest-people-with-dhanin-coming-on-the-81st-place


-- Thai PBS 2015-06-04

[ratcatcher]

It is gratifying to see that Mr Thaksin still manages to come in as a No.10 placer.

Helps him keep up the battle on behalf of the poor against the 'elites'.

[Lupatria]

Wrong headline- it may harm the country's reputation. A positive approach would be:

"Finally 50 influential's found saying there is no problem with corruption"

[Baerboxer]

It is gratifying to see that Mr Thaksin still manages to come in as a No.10 placer.

Helps him keep up the battle on behalf of the poor against the 'elites'.

Inddeed. How strange that he hasn't managed to increase the family wealth by the massive % increases achieved whilst little sis was PM. What,no bragging to Forbes this time?

Pure coincidence of course.

[Ulic]

Chang beer, lower the alcohol content to pay less tax, raise the price of the product because

of the increase in alcohol tax. A sure way to increase the profit margin.

[ratcatcher]

Chang beer, lower the alcohol content to pay less tax, raise the price of the product because

of the increase in alcohol tax. A sure way to increase the profit margin.

Brewed by the elephant for consumption by the ants. (after it has passed through the elephant, of course.)

[tbthailand]

50 people who don't care about democracy in Thailand???

Let's face it, if the people on this list wanted a democratic Thailand, we would have it tomorrow.

[Oziex1]

50 telling 65 Million to eat cake, what would the French have done? I think we know the answer to that.

[elgordo38]

It would be safe to say, that most, if not all those billionaires, putting them under a magnifying glass, will not

pass scrutiny of how they obtained their mega wealth, most will be of obscure origins and of

tainted money that has all to do with their connections in high places....

One thing is guaranteed. In coming years they will get obscenely more rich and we will get drastically poorer. My pension increase was not double digits it was barely over 1% before taxes. Unfortunately I do not know anyone higher up. I guess I will have to suffer in silence. I also do not have any obscure origins of income. The bank only wants to pay me .50% on my savings so why did I save money anyways oh yes the government told me to save for my retirement. What a gullible bugger I was.

[elgordo38]

Any serious philanthropists in this lot?

Yes they reward themselves first and foremost. They use the "Me First" rule. What is a philanthropists anyway what a long word might it be a stamp collector?

[elgordo38]

Dusit Medical shares up 25% over the past 12 months and a couple of well known hospital owners on the list. Interesting. in the context of the discussion about private medical fees and charges

Do these people take the Hippocratic Oath or is it Hypocrisy Oath I cannot remember which is right. I thought the Hippocratic Oath was to help your patients first or does it mean to help yourself to their money I am getting confused. Now the Hypocrisy Oath well that means to take the money by any means necessary to enrich ones self. Oath seems like a serious word but is it really taken seriously anymore or do they take it with their fingers crossed behind their backs. Guess the swearing in ceremony pictures are only taken from the front what a pity.

[elgordo38]

It is gratifying to see that Mr Thaksin still manages to come in as a No.10 placer.

Helps him keep up the battle on behalf of the poor against the 'elites'.

Disguised as Robin Hood methinks. Only number 10 at the bottom of the Merry Money Men list.

[elgordo38]

Chang beer, lower the alcohol content to pay less tax, raise the price of the product because

of the increase in alcohol tax. A sure way to increase the profit margin.

Ah yes the rich are never stupid. While we race to the bottom they are racing to the top. We will hit the bottom soon but the top seems endless.

[h90]

It would be safe to say, that most, if not all those billionaires, putting them under a magnifying glass, will not

pass scrutiny of how they obtained their mega wealth, most will be of obscure origins and of

tainted money that has all to do with their connections in high places....

Well it is already a cleaned list, many people are missing. The complete Shinawatra Clan is missing. Only the confirmed transparent businesses would bring several of them into the top 20.

[elgordo38]

50 people who don't care about democracy in Thailand???

Let's face it, if the people on this list wanted a democratic Thailand, we would have it tomorrow.

True these 50 outstanding rich people only get the same number of votes as 50 average people. Common sense tells us that the ranks of the rich will never explode enough to get the majority of "Democratic Votes" So other means must be devised.

[elgordo38]

50 telling 65 Million to eat cake, what would the French have done? I think we know the answer to that.

B0008711.JPG

We are not at the stage here or world wide yet to reach this measure but its coming. History has shown that you can only herd the poor so long without food and water and then somebody has to loose their head. We are getting kind of a precursor of events in the USA especially in Baltimore. Kops killing a black man was only the flash point to a larger problem young people frustrated unable to find "decent" employment. Unemployed black teens seem to be in the majority. Frustration can really bring out the worst in people.

[ldiablo]

Amid Thailand’s economic drought, which followed last year’s military coup, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi’s Thai Beverage, maker of Chang beer, reported double-digit increases in revenues and profits in a recent quarter. I wonder why? Could it be that people are getting so drunk so as they don't have to watch the current governments bs programs or listen to the bs coming outta their mouths on a daily basis. If Thai people are so much happier why would it seem that they are drinking more.

[Oziex1]

50 telling 65 Million to eat cake, what would the French have done? I think we know the answer to that.

B0008711.JPG

We are not at the stage here or world wide yet to reach this measure but its coming. History has shown that you can only herd the poor so long without food and water and then somebody has to loose their head. We are getting kind of a precursor of events in the USA especially in Baltimore. Kops killing a black man was only the flash point to a larger problem young people frustrated unable to find "decent" employment. Unemployed black teens seem to be in the majority. Frustration can really bring out the worst in people.

I certainly hope we are not at that point yet or any time soon. Governments around the world have failed miserably in engineering the social change required to manage the economy, they can never balance the books. Until they get the balls and backbone to fairly regulate the distribution of wealth they,the government and us will forever be the lackeys of the corporations and the super rich.

I'm not proposing socialism a word that is always brought up when discussing inequality, nothing wrong with becoming wealthy however as a society where do we draw the line when the rich wield excessive power. It is said in the not too distant future individuals will amass wealth in the trillions, I hope it can buy them good security, they're going to need it.

[Oziex1]

Amid Thailand’s economic drought, which followed last year’s military coup, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi’s Thai Beverage, maker of Chang beer, reported double-digit increases in revenues and profits in a recent quarter. I wonder why? Could it be that people are getting so drunk so as they don't have to watch the current governments bs programs or listen to the bs coming outta their mouths on a daily basis. If Thai people are so much happier why would it seem that they are drinking more.

Maybe the increased revenue is money gained elsewhere and put through the wash, rinse and spin cycle.

[Bernard Flint]

It would be safe to say, that most, if not all those billionaires, putting them under a magnifying glass, will not

pass scrutiny of how they obtained their mega wealth, most will be of obscure origins and of

tainted money that has all to do with their connections in high places....

One thing is guaranteed. In coming years they will get obscenely more rich and we will get drastically poorer. My pension increase was not double digits it was barely over 1% before taxes. Unfortunately I do not know anyone higher up. I guess I will have to suffer in silence. I also do not have any obscure origins of income. The bank only wants to pay me .50% on my savings so why did I save money anyways oh yes the government told me to save for my retirement. What a gullible bugger I was.

Wow, Jealousy is a nasty illness

[lostoday]

It would be safe to say, that most, if not all those billionaires, putting them under a magnifying glass, will not

pass scrutiny of how they obtained their mega wealth, most will be of obscure origins and of

tainted money that has all to do with their connections in high places....

Ya like John Kennedy and Ted Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy whose dad was a pro nazi crook, smuggler and bootlegger.

[lostoday]

Amid Thailand’s economic drought, which followed last year’s military coup, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi’s Thai Beverage, maker of Chang beer, reported double-digit increases in revenues and profits in a recent quarter. I wonder why? Could it be that people are getting so drunk so as they don't have to watch the current governments bs programs or listen to the bs coming outta their mouths on a daily basis. If Thai people are so much happier why would it seem that they are drinking more.

I think it is because they lowered the alcohol content and raised the prices so folks have to spend more to get drunk. Apologies to the guy who wrote it first. I just got done reading.

Edited June 4, 2015 by lostoday

[jackanapes]

incredible all these wealthy people in a country that's in a economic doldrum it is unbelievable .

[Praematura]

Rich generally don't pay taxes in the USA. I imagine it's the same here. There are so many loopholes and the chance of being audited is relatively low. The interest charged by government is less than the ROI by taking the aggressive position. Yea there are penalties but they have to show intent, which your expensive tax lawyer will get you out of.

Poor and middle classes pay disproportionately more in sales tax as well.