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161
In the world today
Sarath Ratanavadi

Sarath Ratanavadi

S. Ratanavadi
-0.04% | - $-7.71M
$17.54 B ₹ 1.6 Lk Cr
Real Time Net Worth #161 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes
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More on Sarath Ratanavadi

Gender

Male

Age

60Y

Country

Thailand

Born On

July, 1965

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

2

Education

University Of Southern California - Master'S

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Energy)

Primary Organization

Gulf Energy Development

Titles

Founder & CEO

Sources of Wealth

Energy

Industry

Energy, Telecom

About Sarath Ratanavadi

S arath Ratanavadi is the founder and CEO of Gulf Energy Development, one of Thailand's largest private power producers. He founded the company in the 1990s and built it into a regional energy powerhouse with a portfolio spanning gas-fired power plants, renewable energy projects, and infrastructure across Southeast Asia. In a transformative move in 2025, he merged Gulf Energy with Intouch Holdings to create a digital and energy giant valued at over $25 billion, consolidating his control over Thailand's largest mobile operator, AIS.

Sarath holds a master's degree in engineering from the University of Southern California. Beyond energy, he has aggressively diversified into digital infrastructure, securing partnerships with Binance for a crypto exchange and Singtel for data centers. He is consistently ranked among Thailand's richest individuals, known for his strategic vision in bridging traditional infrastructure with the digital economy.

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Quick Reads

Early Life and Background

Sarath Ratanavadi is a Thai billionaire businessman and engineer, born in 1965. He holds an engineering degree and built his career as the architect of one of Southeast Asia's largest energy conglomerates.

He is the founder and CEO of Gulf Energy Development, which he established in 1994 after identifying a massive need for private power generation in Thailand's rapidly industrializing economy.

  • Core Company: Gulf Energy Development.
  • Role: Founder and Chief Executive Officer.
  • Education: Trained as an engineer with a focus on large-scale infrastructure.

Career Journey of Sarath Ratanavadi

Sarath Ratanavadi's career is defined by his aggressive expansion of Gulf Energy. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he established several key subsidiaries, including Gulf Power Generation and Gulf IPP, making his firm a dominant 'Independent Power Producer'.

Under his leadership, the group diversified beyond energy into telecommunications and digital infrastructure. A major strategic move was the acquisition of a controlling stake in InTouch Holdings, which owns Thailand's largest mobile operator, AIS. By 2025, his empire spanned across Thailand, Vietnam, and Oman, making him the richest person in Thailand.

  • Strategic Diversification: Pivot into data centers and 5G telecommunications.
  • Sector Influence: Effectively controls a significant portion of Thailand's power grid and digital connectivity.

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Sarath Ratanavadi's Timeline

1994:

Founded the original Gulf Electric entity.

2004:

Established Gulf IPP, scaling into the major power market.

2017:

Successfully lists Gulf Energy Development on the SET.

2021:

Completes the transformative takeover of InTouch Holdings.

Major Business Ventures and Investments

Sarath Ratanavadi's wealth is concentrated in his family's controlling stake in Gulf Energy Development and its major corporate holdings.

  • Gulf Energy Development: A publicly traded giant on the SET (Stock Exchange of Thailand).
  • AIS (Advanced Info Service): Thailand's leading mobile network operator.
  • InTouch Holdings: A key telecommunications and digital media holding firm.
  • Sector Focus: Power Generation, Telecommunications, and Digital Infrastructure.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle

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Quotes and Philosophy

No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia

  • 1. He is known as one of the most powerful and low-profile business figures in Southeast Asia.
  • 2. His company was one of the first in Thailand to commit to a massive transition from coal to natural gas and renewable energy.
  • 3. He is a major supporter of Thai football, frequently investing in local clubs and sports infrastructure.
  • 4. His family's wealth has consistently remained at the top of the Forbes Thailand Rich List for several years.

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Sources & References

This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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