Early Life
Prayudh Mahagitsiri was born on December 1, 1945. His grandfather emigrated from southern China to Thailand, where he began trading foodstuffs. Prayudh earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of San Diego in the US. He is married to Suvimol, and they have three children who are all top executives in the family's businesses.
Rise to Success
Prayudh's journey to becoming a billionaire began with his foray into the coffee business. He secured the exclusive rights to distribute Nescafé in Thailand, a venture that laid the foundation for his wealth. He earned the nickname “coffee king” through his company’s 35-year partnership with Nestle. Expanding beyond coffee, Mahagitsiri diversified his investments into the shipping industry by acquiring stakes in Thoresen Thai Agencies.
Key Business Strategies
Prayudh's business acumen led him to build the PM Group. The PM Group's F&B arm owns several global franchises in Thailand, including Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Krispy Kreme. He also owns an instant coffee business in partnership with Nestle under the Nescafé brand.
Philanthropy
Prayudh has also been involved in philanthropy. He contributed to various educational and healthcare initiatives in Thailand.