(Reuters) – Chaleo Yoovidhya, who rose from poverty to become one of the world’s richest men thanks to astute marketing of the “Red Bull” energy drink, has died in his native Thailand.
Local media said he had died of natural causes in hospital in Bangkok on Saturday. His age was variously put at 89 or 90, although some sources gave his date of birth as August 17, 1923, making him 88.
Chaleo was ranked 205th on the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people, with a fortune it put at $5 billion.
Born into a Chinese immigrant family, he never flaunted the wealth he accumulated and avoided publicity. According to Thailand’s Nation newspaper, he had not given a media interview or made any public appearances for 30 years.
The Nation said it had interviewed his son, Saravudh, as part of a multimedia series to run next month.
Read more: “Red Bull” drink billionaire Chaleo dies in Thailand