Rich left unscathed by political turmoil

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FORBES MAGAZINE

Rich left unscathed by political turmoil

Published: 3/09/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

The continuing political turmoil has not affected the wealth of Thailand's 40 richest people, who are now worth 1.14 trillion baht, up 46% from last year thanks to a booming stock market and strong currency, the Forbes Asia Thailand Rich List says.

Thailand now has 11 billionaires in dollar terms, six more than last year.

Topping the list for the first time and the biggest gainer in dollar terms is Dhanin Chearavanont with a net worth of 218 billion baht, up by 124.6 billion over last year. Ranked second last year, the 71-year-old tycoon heads the country's largest agribusiness conglomerate, Charoen Pokphand Group, which also has extensive interests in retailing, property and telecoms.

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Your comments

Northman

Discussion 8 : 03/09/2010 at 02:10 PM8
And when you and your family try to survive on 5000 baht a month, have goods you buy and sell getting their prices fixed by middle men and a chance to be murdered at your job in the south of the country, it makes you proud to know that those at the top can leave whenever they want leaving the military to look after everyone left behind.
observer

Discussion 7 : 03/09/2010 at 11:34 AM7
Thailand is a developing country and have some of the richest people on earth.

That is the real problem in this country, by keeping the labor salary on a barely survival level some grew richer.

Export are going well since this country enjoy third world status, however there are very little benefit for the ordinary Thai people.
Derek

Discussion 6 : 03/09/2010 at 10:30 AM6
Since the Post got this from Forbes, readers should go check a few related articles why Thailand is where it is since the coup of 2006 or a little bit before.
Bangkok Rebel

Discussion 5 : 03/09/2010 at 10:28 AM5
But...will they give their assets, possesions to welfare institutions and the poor like Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Warren Buffett and other Western Billionaires..?
I don't think so.... It's not part of their so-called 'culture'.
Bubba

Discussion 4 : 03/09/2010 at 09:33 AM4
I recall in some previous articles I suggested that the rich seem somehow to end up making record profits, doing better than usual and...getting richer.

Especially during times of economic difficulties for the poor.

Some commenters ridiculed me for this assumption on my part and suggested I was superficial and trying to mislead people into thinking the rich could actually afford to give the poor and workers a more fair share f the economy.

Here the proof is in the pudding.

While the poor get poorer and lose democracy, the military gets mightier the the rich richer.
Boon

Discussion 3 : 03/09/2010 at 09:18 AM3
It may be good for Thais to know who is on top of taxes payment and how they pay taxes.
terry stapleton

Discussion 2 : 03/09/2010 at 06:44 AM2
khun dhanin from cp should be ashamed oh himself. he has become rich at the expense of thai farmers who are kept poor by his company continually raising prices of agricultural products to ridiculous levels. that is greed pure and simple.
isan farang

Discussion 1 : 03/09/2010 at 05:22 AM1
Most of these so called business persons are involved in monopoly or near monopoly businesses.It's not hard to make money out of whiskey or bourbon when in order to have them sold in Thailand you have to go through Thai Bev,give away 51% of your business and other Thai restrictions.Competition is not a favourite of Thai billionaires and if they faced it they would be in real trouble.

Rich left unscathed by political turmoil | Bangkok Post: news