Chaleo Yoovidhya | |
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เฉลียว อยู่วิทยา | |
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| Born | (1923-08-17)17 August 1923 Phichit province, Siam[1] |
| Died | 17 March 2012(2012-03-17) (aged 88) Bangkok, Thailand |
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| Spouse(s) | Noklek Sodsri(divorced) Bhavana Langdhara |
| Children | 11,[2] includingChalerm |
Chaleo Yoovidhya (Thai:เฉลียว อยู่วิทยา,RTGS: Chaliao Yuwitayaa,pronounced[t͡ɕʰā.lǐa̯wjùː.wít.tʰā.jāː];Chinese:許書標;pinyin:Xǔ Shūbiāo; 17 August 1923 – 17 March 2012)[2] was a Thai businessman and entrepreneur. He was the originator ofKrating Daeng and co-creator of theRed Bull brand ofenergy 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.[3][4]
Various news sources suggest Chaleo was born incentral Thailand at some point between 1922 and 1932.[5]The New York Times notes that three birthdates 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."BBC News states, "Mr Chaleo was born of poor Chinese immigrant parents in the northern province of Phichit, reportedly in 1932, local media say."[6]The Australian andTime say he was 89.[7][8]The Telegraph andThe Independent say he was born in 1923 to a poorThai Chinese family that raised ducks and traded fruit inPhichit.[2][9] His father was a Chinese immigrant fromWenchang,Hainan.[10]
With little formal education, he worked for his parents, then moved toBangkok. He became anantibiotics salesman, before quitting to set up his own small pharmaceutical company, TC Pharmaceuticals, in the early-1960s.[11][2][9] 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. The bulls are notcattle, but wildgaur, a bovine species native to Southeast Asia and calledkrathing (กระทิง) in Thai.
Dietrich Mateschitz, an Austrian salesman for a German company, found the drink cured hisjet lag,[2][9] and entered into partnership with Chaleo in 1984.[2] In 1987, the two launched an export version labelled "Red Bull", for which Chaleo provided the original formula (adapted for Western tastes under Mateschitz's guidance[12]), and Mateschitz the marketing. Each put up US$500,000 for 49 per cent of the Red Bull energy drink franchise, with Chaleo's son,Chalerm, owning the remaining two per cent.[9] Chaleo continued to own TC Pharmaceuticals, which manufactured otherenergy drinks in Thailand, and was also part-owner of Piyavate Hospital, a private hospital in Thailand, and co-owner of the sole authorized importer ofFerrari sports cars into Thailand.
Chaleo died inBangkok on 17 March 2012.[2]
Net Worth $5B As of March 2012 #205 Forbes Billionaires, #3 in Thailand
