Imagine for a moment that you’re walking through the bustling streets of Bangkok, the air filled with the aroma of street food and the vibrant energy of city life. Then, shifting our gaze to the halls of power, we behold the remarkable affluence of Thailand’s head honcho, whose treasure chest brims with a breathtaking 659 million baht bounty. It’s a narrative that, pardon the pun, is truly rich with detail.
You see, by the letter of the law, specifically the 2018 Organic Act on Anti-Corruption, the bigwigs and their better halves are obliged to spill the beans on their wealth within a fortnight of assuming the mantle of leadership. And, well, the Thai premier has done just that, giving us a glimpse into his lavish lifestyle befitting a former real estate tycoon.
Let’s dive into the glittering pool of his assets, shall we? Picture this: a million baht in cold hard cash, deposits scattered across 47 bank accounts to the tuneful sum of nearly 69 million baht, and investments that have sprouted to over 1.3 million baht. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Our financial voyager sets anchor in the heart of Bangkok, where the land under his domain – a ngan and 98 tarang wa to be precise – commands a price tag of a cool 158.4 million baht. But the portfolio doesn’t end there, oh no! He boasts of abodes including an apartment nestled in the picturesque Hua Hin resort and a three-storey haven amidst the urban jungle of Khlong Toei – collectively valued at a staggering 156 million baht.
However, perhaps the most James Bondian element of all – an Aston Martin DB5, no less. It’s not just any DB5, but a 50 million baht vintage gem that dazzled on the silver screen in the most recent 007 blockbuster. The PM, with a twinkle in his eye, confesses his soft spot for this cinematic chariot.
Is he the wealthiest Thai leader to date? The question was met with a humblebrag; a story of decades of toil, a man working his fingers to the bone up until the brink of retirement.
But wait, the opulence doesn’t stop there. His penchant for the finer things manifests in a collection of 38 wristwatches (we’re talking upwards of 121 million baht here), an assortment of six mystical amulets, a gleaming gold necklace, and – wait for it – a Louis-Vuitton x Supreme chest that’s as much a statement piece as it is a storage unit, setting him back a cool 6 million baht.
Now, even wealth such as this doesn’t come without its financial foibles; our premier admits to debts totaling over 10 million baht. And folks, the cashflow chronicle continues with a litany of lucrative earnings amounting to over 153 million baht in salary and bonuses, a sprinkle of pensions, meeting allowances, provident fund income, digital asset benefits, mutual fund moola, filial finance boosters, and retirement benefits.
However, such incomes beget expenses: 36.5 million baht in personal splurges, 1.9 million baht to keep the home fires burning, a loving outlay of 4.76 million baht in support of his dear mother, 8 million in travel (no doubt, some in that Aston Martin), property taxes, and a not-insubstantial half a million baht in charitable donations. Phew, keeping track of such numbers might require a calculator or two!
So, there you have it – the tale of Thailand’s grand financier, a leader whose fiscal saga is matched only by his country’s rich tapestry of culture and history. In a land where tradition meets modernity, our Thai premier’s portfolio is indeed a microcosm of opulence that would leave even the most storied magnates nodding in approval.
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