When King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand ascended the throne following his father’s passing in 2019, he became the world’s richest monarch, with an estimated fortune of $43 billion. Interestingly, his name translates to “adorned with jewels or thunderbolts.”
Born into a life of privilege, King Vajiralongkorn attended private school before undergoing military training, where he learned various skills, including piloting both civilian and military aircraft. He was named crown prince in 1972, despite concerns about his suitability for the role.
Speculation surrounded him regarding gambling, illicit business dealings, and relationships with multiple women—rumors he later dismissed in an interview with Thai journalists. Even his mother, Queen Sirikit, once described him as a “Don Juan.”
A Tumultuous Love Life
Before his coronation, Vajiralongkorn married three times and fathered seven children.
His first marriage in 1977 was to his cousin, Princess Soamsawali, with whom he had a daughter. However, he soon became romantically involved with actress Yuvadhida, with whom he had five children between 1979 and 1987. The pair married in 1994, but within two years, Vajiralongkorn publicly denounced her and disowned their four sons.
In 2001, he wed his third wife, Srirasmi, a lady-in-waiting. They welcomed a son in 2005, but their marriage collapsed in 2014. That year, Srirasmi was stripped of her royal title, and her parents, along with several relatives, were arrested for lèse-majesté (insulting the monarchy). Her parents pleaded guilty and received prison sentences, while her brothers were given five and a half years behind bars.
Their son, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, is the heir presumptive to the throne, as none of Vajiralongkorn’s other sons hold royal titles. His eldest daughter, Princess Bajrakitiyabha, has been in a coma for three years, making it unlikely she will be named successor.
Prince Dipangkorn has been raised in both Thailand and Germany, but without his mother’s presence. Reports suggest Srirasmi has become a Buddhist nun, though some claim she is under a form of house arrest—an allegation never officially confirmed.
Royal Scandals and Political Intrigue
Controversy has long surrounded King Vajiralongkorn. In 2015, a fortune teller closely associated with him was arrested and later died under mysterious circumstances. Around the same time, one of his personal bodyguards was dismissed for “disobeying royal commands” and “pursuing his own interests,” disappearing soon after and presumed dead.
His father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was deeply beloved, ruling for seven decades before passing away in October 2016. Vajiralongkorn’s rise to the throne marked a significant shift in Thailand’s monarchy.
Fourth Time’s the Charm?
Just before his lavish $30 million coronation in May 2019, Vajiralongkorn married Suthida, a former Thai Airways flight attendant who had risen to the rank of Lieutenant-General in the Royal Household Guard. The couple remains together, making a public appearance as recently as December 2024.
However, breaking with a century-old tradition of royal monogamy, the king appointed a consort just two months after his wedding. His consort, Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, is a qualified pilot, nurse, and bodyguard, holding the rank of major general. She was briefly stripped of her titles in 2019 for alleged attempts to “elevate herself to the same status as the queen,” but was later reinstated in 2020.
The King’s Unconventional Interests
Vajiralongkorn is known for his eccentricities, famously promoting his pet poodle, Fu-Fu, to the rank of Air Chief Marshal. The dog received a four-day funeral with full Buddhist rites upon its death in 2016.
An avid sports car enthusiast and cycling fan, he once shut down the streets of Bangkok for a 24-mile cycling event. Despite his extravagant lifestyle, the king is rarely seen in public. He personally pilots his own Boeing 737 and splits his time between Thailand and Germany, where he owns a $13 million mansion by Lake Starnberg in Munich, living there with Queen Suthida and Prince Dipangkorn.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vajiralongkorn sparked outrage when he and his entourage were granted special permission to stay at the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl in Bavaria, despite lockdown restrictions. Reports suggested his group included a “harem” of 20 concubines, and that 119 members of his entourage were sent back to Thailand due to suspected COVID-19 infections.
Growing Discontent in Thailand
His extended absence from Thailand fueled public discontent, with the hashtag #WhyDoWeNeedAKing? trending on social media. The phrase was used over 1.2 million times in 24 hours, despite Thailand’s strict lèse-majesté laws, which can lead to 15-year prison sentences for criticizing the monarchy.
Where Does His Wealth Come From?
Beyond his personal life, King Vajiralongkorn’s immense fortune stems from several sources. He has full control over the Crown Property Bureau, which was once responsible for managing royal assets. The bureau oversees 6,560 hectares (16,210 acres) of prime land in Thailand, along with 40,000 rental properties, including 17,000 in Bangkok alone.
In 2018, assets controlled by the Crown Property Bureau—worth an estimated $30 billion—were transferred into Vajiralongkorn’s personal ownership. Previously, these assets were tax-exempt, granting the monarch an untaxed annual income estimated at $300 million.
Additionally, he holds major stakes in some of Thailand’s largest companies, including a nearly $150 million investment in the country’s top cement producer and over $500 million in Siam Commercial Bank shares. His influence extends into the military, where he commands a personal regiment of approximately 5,000 troops in the Royal Guard.
