Chaleo Yoovidhya Dies: Red Bull Founder Reportedly Dead At 80

The founder of the energy drink Red Bull has died, according to the Bangkok Post.

Chaleo Yoovidhya, a Thai billionaire and the world's 205th richest man, died at a hospital in Bankok on Saturday, reportedly of natural causes.

The AP confirmed the report.

More from the AP:

Chaleo founded T.C. Pharmaceuticals. In the 1970s, it formulated an energy drink prototype called Krathing Daeng, or Red Bull in English. It was popular among Thai truck drivers and laborers.

Chaleo then co-founded a company in 1984 with an Austrian partner who helped turn Red Bull into a global brand.

According to the Bangkok Post, he was also part owner of a hospital and wine production company.

A self-made billionaire, Chaleo is survived by 5 children.

Comments

[k535panther]

03:46 AM on 03/20/2012

We know, we know... this is so old already....

[Jonnyboy007]

03:22 AM on 03/20/2012

Red Bull gave him wings!!!!

[schnellsalem]

12:23 AM on 03/20/2012

He may have drank one too many. But in all seriuosness bless him :)

[Toni Spicer]

12:19 AM on 03/20/2012

Red Bull....a real heart stopper...literally.

[KatMT]

11:52 PM on 03/19/2012

Maybe he drank too much Red Bull.....Drinks that have THAT MUCH caffeine should not be used by people with bad hearts, HBP, and ESPECIALLY children and teens....And then they start mixing it with alcohol or drugs .....AKA: Demi Moore Its bad stuff :-(

[jackjmass]

11:41 PM on 03/19/2012

With a name like that, Smuckers is a whole lot easier to say.

[adam646l]

11:39 PM on 03/19/2012

Did it give him wings?

[cameron d]

10:41 PM on 03/19/2012

He was actually 342 years old. The Red Bull just finally wore off and he crashed and never woke up.

[nomandoethgood]

10:26 PM on 03/19/2012

Heart attack?

[anitafeeney]

03:15 AM on 03/20/2012

well bieng in his eighties it could have been anything

[GOODDOC1]

04:27 AM on 03/20/2012

Possibly. There are a lot of things an 80 year old man can die from.

[takethetime]

10:04 PM on 03/19/2012

The report says "natural causes" but I'll bet it was from a sugar / caffeine overload.

[RBriese]

09:22 PM on 03/19/2012

I love Red Bull! Thanks rich old dude.

[360Dunk]

08:22 PM on 03/19/2012

Maybe he didn't have the ENERGY to continue living.

[No-name-plz]

08:14 PM on 03/19/2012

Despite socialism and communism, a man has died with great wealth. RIP to this job creator.

[cheaptrick00]

07:29 PM on 03/19/2012

ah, Red Bull and vodka...is it happy hour yet!!

[gerbersmail]

12:41 AM on 03/20/2012

If you don't see anyone throwing up, it hasn't started yet.

[Alexandra Spinner]

07:15 PM on 03/19/2012

Just goes to show how CONNECTED people are to a BRAND. And not its creator, THAT'S
marketing genius.

RIP man of FREE ENTERPRISE.

[Le Roy Is The King]

10:49 PM on 03/19/2012

not to mention it was marketed as a Swiss brand and NOT the respective THAI brand - so how could people have been connected? Did you know he was Thai? NOPE

I can read your comments and write a book on stupidity