By Anna Thong March 28, 2019 
Another year, another Forbes annual World’s Billionaires list. This year’s list features a total of 2,153 billionaires, dropping from last year’s list of 2,208 billionaires. While Asia-Pacific was reportedly hit the hardest, with 60 names dropping off the list, the region still remains the richest with a net worth of US$2.5 trillion amongst its 767 billionaires. In Thailand alone, 31 of the country’s wealthiest made the list. From real estate tycoons to hospitality magnates, here are the Thai nationals who are making bank:
Dhanin Chearavanont (Photo: Courtesy of Forbes)
Networth: $16.3 billion
Ranking as the 75th rich person in the world, Dhanin is the senior chairman of the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, one of the world’s largest producer of animal feed and livestock. His father and uncle migrated from China to Thailand in 1921 and began selling out seeds and agricultural chemicals. From there the Chearavanont family went on to become Asia’s fourth wealthiest family.
Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi (Photo: Courtesy of Forbes)
Networth: $16.3 billion
Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi is the founder and chairman of the TCC beverage and real estate conglomerate. The self-made billionaire runs Thailand’s largest brewer, Thai Beverage, known for its Chang beer. His retail empire includes hypermarket chain Big C Supercenter that was acquired in 2016 for more than $6 billion.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha (Photo: Courtesy of Forbes)
Networth: $5 billion
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha’s father founded and owned King Power Duty free. After his father tragically died in a helicopter crash at the King Power Football Stadium in Leicester, England last year, Aiyawatt took over as King Power’s CEO. With an estimated annual revenue of $3.3 billion, King Power is the country’s leading operator of airport duty-free stores. The family also own a major chunk of MahaNakhon, a Bangkok development that has Thailand’s tallest skyscraper.
Sumet Jiaravanon (Photo: Courtesy of Forbes)
Networth: $4.5 billion
Jiaravanon is also a part of Charoen Pokphand Group. He is Dhanin Chearavanont’s older brother and together they run Thailand’s biggest conglomerate. Sumet is listed separately from Dhanin based on his ownership of close to a 13 per cent stake in the family’s vast assets.
Jaran Chiaravanont (second from the left)
Networth: $4.4 billion
Jaran Chiaravanont is the eldest of four brothers behind Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group. He started working in the family’s livestock feeds business in the 1950s and used to manage the Charoen Pokphand shop.
Vanich Chaiyawan (Photo: Courtesy of Forbes)
Networth: $3.4 billion
At 88 years old, Vanich Chaiyawan serves as the vice chairman of Thai Life, Thailand’s third-biggest life insurer. The company is now run by his son Chai, who is aiming to make it into a regional brand.
Prasert Prasarttong (Photo: Courtesy of Forbes)
Networth: $3.3 billion
In 1972, former surgeon Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth co-founded Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, Thailand’s largest private hospital operator. Not only does Bangkok Dusit has an upcoming $370 million luxury healthcare complex in Bangkok that will include a five-star hotel, Prasert also owns and runs regional airline, Bangkok Airways, which he took public in 2014.
Other billionaires who made the list:# 916 Somphote Ahunai—Networth: $2.5 billion#962 Chuchat & Daonapa Petaumpai—Networth: $2.4 billion#1057 Krit Ratanarak—Networth: $2.2 billion#1168 Kiat Chiaravanont—Networth: $2 billion#1168 Prachak Tangkaravakoon—Networth: $2 billion#1281 Keeree Kanjanapas—Netoworth: $1.8 billion#1281 Thaksin Shinawatra—Networth: $1.8 billion#1281 Wichai Thongtang—Networth: $1.8 billion#1605 Niti Osathanugrah—Networth: $1.4 billion#1717 Thongma Vijitpongpun—Networth: $1.3 billion#1818 Manas Chiaravanond—Networth: $1.2 billion#1818 Yupa Chiaravanond—Networth: $1.2 billion#1818 Phongthep Chiaravanont—Networth: $1.2 billion#1818 Prathip Chiaravanond—Networth: $1.2 billion#1818 Somporn Juangroongruangkit—Networth: $1.2 billion#1941 Anant Asavabhokin—Networth: $1.1 billion#1941 Rit Thirakomen—Networth: $1.1 billion#2057 Chatchai Kaewbootta—Networth: $1 billion#2057 Surin Upatkoon—Networth: $1 billion
(Related: Thailand Tatler’s Society 500 List)
