Chaleo Yoovidhya (Chaleo Yoovidhya)
Inventor, Businessman. Creator of the well known energy drink Red Bull. Born in Thailand into a poverty-stricken family of Chinese migrant laborers, little is recorded of his early years. He supported himself and his family with a series of jobs, such as bus conductor, before launching a number of increasingly successful ventures. In 1962 he founded TC Pharmaceuticals to produce mainly children’s medications. During the early 1980s Yoovidhya introduced “Krathing Daeng”, a high caffeine and carbohydrate carbonated drink, which quickly became popular with long-distance truck drivers and others who needed to stay awake. In 1984 he joined with Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz to market “Krahting Daeng” in the West under its English name, Red Bull. Yoovidhya became the 205th richest man on Earth according to “Forbes” but lived quietly, never flaunting his wealth. He died of the effects of advanced age. (bio by: Bob Hufford)
Born
- August, 17, 1923
- Thailand
Died
- March, 03, 2012
- Thailand
Other
- Cremated