Thailand's rich get far richer in 2010 - Forbes

Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman of Thailand's largest agribusiness group, Charoen Pokphand, speaks to Reuters in an exclusive interview in Bangkok on August 6, 2004.

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Despite weeks of political violence that disrupted economic life in Bangkok this year, the combined wealth of Thailand's 40 richest people increased by 46 percent from 2009, according to a study by Forbes magazine.

Dhanin Chearavanont, owner of Thailand's largest agribusiness conglomerate, Charoen Pokphand Group, is the country's richest man with net worth of $7 billion, according to the U.S. magazine, which said the top 40 were now worth $36.5 billion.

The report comes three months after the worst political violence in recent Thai history, with 91 people killed in clashes between troops and anti-government demonstrators.

The "red shirt" protesters, largely drawn from the rural and urban poor, complain they have no voice in a country where the richest 20 percent earn about 55 percent of the income and the poorest fifth take just 4 percent, according to the World Bank.

Three quarters of the tycoons on the Forbes Asia Thailand Rich List added to their fortunes thanks to a stock market that has boomed despite the unrest and a strong Thai currency.

Topping the list for the first time and the biggest gainer in dollar terms, 71-year-old Dhanin stepped up from second place last year to overtake Chaleo Yoovidhya, 78-year-old co-owner of energy drink company Red Bull.

Dhanin's wealth rose by $4 billion over the past year, far outpacing Chaleo, who added just $200 million to $4.2 billion.

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, 66, founder of Thai Beverage Pcl, was ranked number three with $4.15 billion.

In a report in July, Forbes said Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the world's richest monarch in 2010 for the third year in a row with a fortune it put at $30 billion, but that includes the assets of the Crown Property Bureau.

The biggest gainer among the top 40 this year in percentage terms was Aloke Lohia, whose wealth soared 252 percent after he took polyester company Indorama Ventures Pcl public. Lohia, son of an Indian entrepreneur, was ranked sixth with $1.25 billion.

Perhaps a reflection of a Thai building boom, new faces on this year's list included Keeree Kanjananpas of property and construction firm BTS Group Holdings and Prateep Tangmatitham of real estate developer Supalai Pcl.

($1 = 31.16 Baht)

(Reporting by Khettiya Jittapong; Editing by Alan Raybould and Sugita Katyal)