Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, born Vichai Raksriaksorn is a Thai billionaire businessman, founder, owner and chairman of King Power Duty Free. He has been the owner of Premier Leaguefootball club Leicester City since 2010.

Career

Srivaddhanaprabha is the founder and CEO of King Power Duty Free, an operator of duty-free shops.

 In December 2009, King Power received the royal warrant from the King of Thailand in a ceremony attended by Raksriaksorn.

 He is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 7th richest man in Thailand, reportedly worth US$3.3 billion.

In August 2010, the Asia Football Investments consortium including Srivaddhanaprabha and his son Aiyawatt purchased English Football League Championship club Leicester City.

 He succeeded Milan Mandarić as chairman of the club in February 2011 while continuing as owner, and Aiyawatt became the vice chairman.

 In July 2011, the club's formerly named Walkers Stadium was renamed the King Power Stadium.

Leicester City went on to win the 2015–16 Premier League title. Shortly before the 2016–17 season, Srivaddhanaprabha gifted 19 players a BMW i8—at £100,000 each—as a gift for winning the title.

In May 2017, he bought his second football club, OH Leuven in Belgium.

Polo

In his spare time he is an avid polo player, and owns the VR Polo Club in Bangkok. He was the president of Ham Polo Club in London from 2008 to 2012.

Personal life

Srivaddhanaprabha was born into a Thai Chinese family.

 He is married to Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, with whom he has four children: Voramas, Apichet, Arunroong, and Aiyawatt.

 In 2012, the King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej bestowed the family new surname of Srivaddhanaprabha.

 The name means 'light of progressive glory' in the Thai language.

On 27 October 2018, Srivaddhanaprabha's AgustaWestland AW169 helicopter crashed outside the King Power Stadium shortly after taking off from the pitch. Eyewitnesses described seeing the helicopter spinning before crashing and creating a fireball.

 The occupants of the helicopter are unknown, although the BBC reported that Srivaddhanaprabha was on board.