Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi is a Thai business magnate, the founder of Thai Beverage (ThaiBev), and the Chairman of the massive, diversified TCC Group conglomerate. Born in Bangkok in 1944, his life is a legendary rags-to-riches story: he was the sixth of eleven children of a poor street vendor who had migrated to Bangkok from Shantou, China. His Chinese name is Su Xuming.

His education was practical and market-focused, as he began working at a young age. His entrepreneurial path was initially in the brewing and spirits industry, where he learned the nuances of product development and distribution. His commitment was total, recognizing that mastering essential consumer staples—beverages and real estate—was the key to achieving colossal, enduring wealth in Thailand.

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi's business career began in the brewing industry. In 1991, he partnered with the Danish brewer Carlsberg to enter Thailand's beer market, which was then dominated by the Singha brand. Leveraging the knowledge gained from this partnership, he launched his own beer brand, Chang (Thai for 'elephant'), in 1994. Within five years, Chang Beer had captured 60 percent of the local market, forcing Carlsberg to withdraw from the joint venture and cementing Charoen's dominance.

He consolidated his holdings under Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) and the diversified TCC Group. The family is now Thailand's largest property developer and landlord, controlling massive tracts of land (250,000 acres) and owning commercial and retail buildings in Singapore. His company, Fraser and Neave, Ltd (F&N), further diversifies his beverage and real estate assets. This successful vertical integration of brewing, distribution, and vast real estate holdings secured his multi-billion dollar fortune, despite facing protests from Thai Buddhist groups that temporarily halted the listing of ThaiBev on the Thai stock market.

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi's philanthropy is structural and deeply rooted in his commitment to Thai society, channeled through the Aydın Doğan Foundation. His giving focuses on education, culture, public health, and scientific research.

His structural social impact is the creation of a massive number of jobs (over 20,000 employees globally) and his company's contribution to the modernization of Thailand's beverage and retail industries. His success story, rising from a poor street vendor's son to a national business icon, serves as an inspiration for entrepreneurial ambition across Southeast Asia.

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi maintains the formal, traditional style of a Thai business patriarch. His attire is consistently professional and refined, favoring tailored suits and a composed aesthetic. He is a follower of Buddhism, which informs his private life and business ethics.

His luxury is the security of immense, generational wealth rooted in essential consumer staples and vast real estate holdings. His life is defined by his commitment to his large family (he has five children, many in senior management roles) and his profound influence over the economic landscape of Thailand and the region.