Chaleo Yoovidhya

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Chaleo Yoovidhya
Born (1923-08-17)August 17, 1923
Phichit, Thailand
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Bangkok, Thailand
Nationality Thai
Occupation Businessman
Known for Krating Daeng, co-founder of Red Bull
Net worth US$5 billion (2009) [1]
Spouse(s) Noklek Sodsri (Divorced)
Bhavana Langdhara
Children Jiravat Yoovidhya, Chalerm Yoovidhya, Suthirat Yoovidhya, Saravoot Yoovidhya, Sakchai Yoovidhya
Parent(s) Seng Saelee, Thongyoo Saelee

Chaleo Yoovidhya (Thai: เฉลียว อยู่วิทยา, rtgs: Chaliao Yuwitthaya, Thai pronunciation: [ʨʰàlǐːaw jùːwíttʰájaː]; born 17 August 1923; died on 17 March 2012) was a Thai businessman and investor. He was the originator of Krating Daeng (กระทิงแดง) and was co-creator of the Red Bull brands of energy drinks. At the time of his death in 2012 at the age of 88, he was listed as the third-richest person in Thailand, with an estimated net worth of US$5 billion.[2][3]

Background

Various news sources suggest Chaleo was born in Central Thailand at some point between 1922 and 1932,[4] to a poor Thai-Chinese family that raised ducks and traded fruit in Phichit. His father was an immigrant from Hainan.[5]

With little formal education, he worked for his parents, then moved to Bangkok. He became an antibiotics salesman, before quitting to set up his own small pharmaceutical company, TC Pharmaceuticals, in the early 1960s.[6][7] Later, after a claimed stroke of "divine inspiration", he developed an energy-boosting beverage that was first introduced in 1976. The logo depicts two large, red bulls charging each other, which are not cattle, but wild gaur, a bovine species native to Southeast Asia called krathing (กระทิง) in Thai.

Dietrich Mateschitz, an Austrian salesman for a German company, found the drink cured his jet lag,[6][7] and entered into partnership with Chaleo in 1984.[6] In 1987, the two launched an export version labelled "Red Bull," for which Chaleo provided the formula and Mateschitz the marketing. Each put up US$500,000 for 49 percent of the Red Bull energy drink franchise, with Chaleo's son, Chalerm, owning the remaining 2 percent.[7] Chaleo continued to own TC Pharmaceuticals, which manufactured other energy drinks in Thailand, and was part owner of Piyavate Hospital, a private hospital in Thailand.

Death

Chaleo died in Bangkok on 17 March 2012.[8] The Yoovidhya family co-owns the sole authorized importer of Ferrari cars into Thailand.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ The New York Times notes that three dates have been put forward by different sources: "The Nation, a Thai newspaper, reported that he was 90, while several other news media outlets in Thailand said he was 88. Forbes recently put his age at 80." The BBC states "Mr Chaleo was born of poor Chinese immigrant parents in the northern province of Phichit, reportedly in 1932, local media say"The Australian and Time say he was 89. The Telegraph and The Independent say he was born in 1923.
  5. ↑ T.C. Pharma | About
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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