When an Austrian marketer and a Thai entrepreneur joined forces to take Red Bull global, they agreed on a straightforward ownership split: each would hold 49% of the business.
Chalerm Yoovidhya, son of the Thai co-founder Chaleo Yoovidhya, received the remaining 2% stake — a holding he’s maintained for nearly 40 years as Red Bull evolved into a global powerhouse. That stake has helped make Chalerm, his late father, and at least nine other family members billionaires.
On May 20, Chalerm transferred his 2% stake to Fides Trustees SA, a trust firm based in Geneva, according to a filing with the Austrian corporate registry released on Monday.
The filing did not disclose the reason for the transfer, its final destination, or the identity of the eventual beneficiary. The stake is currently valued at approximately $1.1 billion, based on estimates from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Red Bull has not yet commented on the transfer. Similarly, TCP Group—the Yoovidhya family’s Bangkok-based business that holds their 49% Red Bull stake via a Hong Kong entity—has not responded to media inquiries.
Fides Trustees, which specializes in wealth planning for international high-net-worth individuals and families, states on its website that it helps clients adapt their financial structures as personal and family circumstances evolve. The firm did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The filing was signed by Chalerm, now 74, along with the three executives who took over Red Bull’s leadership after the 2022 death of Dietrich Mateschitz, the Austrian co-founder. Chaleo Yoovidhya, Chalerm’s father and Mateschitz’s business partner, passed away in 2012.
Red Bull’s story began in the 1980s when Mateschitz discovered a local tonic drink in Thailand that cured his jet lag. He partnered with Chaleo, who was marketing the drink in Southeast Asia, to bring a carbonated version to Western markets. In 1987, they launched the product with the now-iconic slogan, “Gives you wings.”
The brand didn’t just create a new category—it built the energy drink industry as we know it. In 2024, Red Bull sold 12.7 billion cans, generating €11.2 billion ($12.8 billion) in revenue.
Although Red Bull’s headquarters remain in Austria, the company has grown into a marketing and sports juggernaut, with investments in Formula 1, football clubs, extreme sports, and more.
Today, the Yoovidhya family’s 49% stake is valued at $27.9 billion, based on financial performance and market comparisons. The remaining 49% is held by Mateschitz’s son, Mark Mateschitz.
