The immensely wealthy inventor of the energy drink Red Bull, Chaleo Yoovidhya, passed away yesterday at the age of 89. Thailand dead.

Chaleo ran a pharmaceutical company in the XNUMXs. He was at the origin of an energy drink that was originally developed for Thai bus drivers and construction workers. The drink quickly became popular in Thailand under the name 'Krathing Daeng' (in English: Red Bull).

Chaleo is a Thai of Chinese descent. He was the father of 11 children.

Red Bull

In 1984, Chaleo started a new company with his Austrian partner Dietrich Mateschitz, a former employee of Unilever. In 1987 Mateschitz launched Red Bull in Europe during the Monaco Grand Prix. The drink is now produced worldwide and has become a huge success thanks to a smart marketing strategy. Both gentlemen own 49% of the company's shares.

Empire

The energy drink has benefited the entrepreneurs, according to business magazine Forbes, both Yoovidhya and Mateschitz are among the richest men in the world, with an estimated fortune of several billion. Yoovidhya was even the second richest man in Thailand.

4 responses to “Thai inventor Red Bull passed away”

  1. Hans Bos (editor) says up

    It's been an incredible marketing strategy to market Krathing Deng like this. However, the Bangkok Post reports that the name has been mistranslated as Red Bull worldwide. According to the dictionary, a krating is a gaur, a type of wild cow. But Red Bull is much better.

  2. RobertT says up

    Sounds better indeed and it tastes great with red vodka from ursus but unfortunately that is not available in Thailand :p
    Would that best man have done something good for Thailand with all those money or is the wealth divided among his children.

    PS. I remember that in Austria they sold red bull with caffeine equal to 8 cups of coffee, but I don't think they do that anymore. Isn't such a flugel a mix of red bull and red vodka by chance?

    • Joseph Boy says up

      I presume he has done a lot for Thailand considering that the royal family provides 'Royal bath water' for cremation. And that's not wrong I would think.

    • Ron Tersteeg says up

      There was even a time (I think) when you came back from Thailand that it was forbidden to take it to the Netherlands.
      It was allowed through the wholesaler or Thai shop in Amsterdam, now it is no longer a problem. But how about krating daeng with mekhong.
      Oh well, it has many applications, the best man has been able to make a good living from it, that has commanded respect.


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