Thai tycoon - #13 Rit Thirakomen & family

Thai tycoon - #13 Rit Thirakomen & family
2014 Thailand's 50 Richest Net Worth
$1.5 Billion
Age 63
Source Of Wealth restaurants
Residence Bangkok, Thailand
Citizenship Thailand
Marital Status Married
Children 3
Education Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Chulalongkorn University

Engineer Rit Thirakomen debuts on the list after taking his family's MK Restaurant Group public last year (market cap:$1.6 billion). Best known for its value-for-money 'sukiyaki' restaurants where customers cook their own food in a hotpot at their table, it started as a small Thai eatery acquired by his late mother-in-law. After co-founding his own book publishing business in 1974, he took to his wife Yupin's restaurant trade in 1986, spearheading the expansion into sukiyaki. Grew it into chain of 552 restaurants, including Japanese food chain Yayoi, on the back of Thailand's mall boom, with outlets in Japan, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia. Shares fortune with his wife and brothers-in-law. Restaurant staff perform a one-minute 'MK dance' every hour to entertain customers.