Forbes Thailand today released the country's 50 richest families in its Forbes Asia's June 2016 issue with the Chearavanonts being on the top having a combined net worth of US$ 18.5 billion.
It said four Chearavanont siblings, Jaran, Montri, Sumet and Dhanin, who control agribusiness conglomerate Charoen Pokphand group, got a boost to their wealth due to new information on their private holdings.
Under Chairman Dhanin, in whose name this fortune was earlier listed, CP continues to strike mega deals. Telecom arm True, run by Dhanin’s son Suphachai, bid a record price of more than $3 billion to acquire 4G spectrum in government auctions.
Coming second on the list is Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, chairman of Thai Beverage, at a net worth of $13.7 billion, followed by the Central Group’s Chirathivat family, with net worth of $13 billion, and Chalerm Yoovidhya $9.7 billion.
Came fifth on the list with net worth of US$ 3.25 billion is duty-free tycoon Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s King Power, which has a monopoly on retail operations at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports.
King Power reported a 12% rise in revenues to $2 billion in 2015 on the continuing influx of Chinese tourists, its biggest customers. It also runs three shopping complexes in Bangkok but will face new competition once South Korea’s Lotte Group opens its first duty free store in Bangkok later this year.
Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra came 10th on the list with net wort of $1.65 billion.
The 10 richest in Thailand and their net worths are as follow:
1. Chearavanont brothers; $18.5 billion.
2. Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi; $13.7 billion.
3. Chirathivat family; $13 billion.
4. Chalerm Yoovidhya; $9.7 billion.
5. Vanich Chaiyawan; $4 billion.
6. Krit Ratanarak; $3.3 billion.
7. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha; $3.25 billion.
8. Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth; $3.2 billion.
9. Santi Bhirombhakdi; $2.4 billion.
10. Thaksin Shinawatra; $1.65 billion.
Forbes Asia's release of Thailand's 50 richest families - Thai PBS English News