Thaksin Shinawatra, Ph.D., is a Thai businessman and politician, the self-made billionaire Founder of Shin Corporation (telecom/media) and Former Prime Minister of Thailand (2001–2006). His career is rooted in elite police service, telecommunications, and high-level politics.

Shinawatra holds a B.S. in Police Cadet Academy, an M.A. in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University, and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University (1978). His philosophical approach centers on scale, disruption (pioneering the private mobile network model), and populist political engagement (driving policy changes). His career is marked by high-profile corruption allegations, military coups, and self-imposed exile.

• Shin Corporation (Former Founder & Executive): The foundational source of his wealth, the major telecom and media conglomerate (sold to Temasek Holdings for $1.9 billion in 2006).
• Political Role: He served as the 23rd Prime Minister of Thailand (2001–2006).
• Telecom Pioneer: His success is built on scale investment in mobile infrastructure and dominating the domestic and regional market for mobile connectivity.
• Controversy/Crisis: His career is linked to corruption convictions, two military coups, and years of self-imposed exile (reflecting political volatility).

Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra's strategic genius was his commitment to deregulation and technology. He founded Shin Corporation in the 1980s, successfully acquiring the first mobile concession in Thailand. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the private mobile telecom model and accelerating digital inclusion in Thailand. The pinnacle of his career was his election as Prime Minister in 2001 (the first to complete a full term), implementing massive populist policies.

His structural move was the $1.9 billion sale of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings in 2006 (a controversial tax-free sale that sparked massive protests and a military coup). His wealth is secured by the colossal liquid gains from the Shin Corp sale and his long-term private investments, managed from outside Thailand.

Thaksin Shinawatra's social impact stems from Shin Corporation's role in pioneering mobile connectivity and internet access in Thailand. As Prime Minister, he implemented highly influential populist policies (like universal healthcare), profoundly impacting national social welfare. His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives, often focused on technology and economic development.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Thaksin Shinawatra maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, often contrasted with the instability of his political career.

Residing in Dubai, UAE (and traveling globally), his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to investment strategy, political advocacy, and asset management.