Thai PM Paetongtarn Declares Assets Worth $406 Million

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Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her spouse Pidok Suksawat have an audience with the Supreme Patriarch on the occasion of New Year at Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram on January 3, 2025. When asked by media about the NACC's public disclosure of her asset declaration, she only comments that she has never filed such an asset declaration before. (Khaosod Photo/Ketsinee Nuchpramoon)

BANGKOK — Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has revealed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s asset declaration, showing a total wealth of 406.5 million USD (13.99 billion baht), with debts of 129 million USD (4.44 billion baht).

The declaration, made public on January 3, shows the Prime Minister’s personal assets amount to 402.3 million USD (13.85 billion baht), while her partner Pidok Suksawat owns assets worth 4.27 million USD (147.1 million baht). Their child holds assets of approximately 14,500 USD (500,000 baht).

The Prime Minister reported an annual income of 7.7 million USD (265.6 million baht), including a salary of 99,000 USD (3.4 million baht), dividends of 7.53 million USD (259.3 million baht), and other income from interest and rent.

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Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her spouse Pidok Suksawat have an audience with the Supreme Patriarch on the occasion of New Year at Aroon Residence, Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram on January 3, 2025. (Khaosod Photo/ Yingyos Akmanachai)

Notable among her possessions are:

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  • 217 luxury handbags valued at 2.23 million USD (76.65 million baht)
  • 23 vehicles, including a Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid (308,000 USD/10.6 million baht) and a Rolls-Royce Phantom
  • 9 Bearbrick collectible figures worth 55,200 USD (1.9 million baht)
  • Properties in Pathum Thani, Thailand, and two plots in Hokkaido, Japan
  • Two rental properties in London
  • 75 luxury watches valued at 4.71 million USD (162 million baht)
  • Extensive jewelry collection including 108 rings, 69 bracelets, 67 necklaces, and 205 pairs of earrings
  • 167 designer outfits worth 777,000 USD (26.75 million baht)

The declaration also revealed six loan agreements made on the same day with family members, totaling approximately 81.3 million USD (2.8 billion baht), including loans from her mother, siblings, and uncle.

Her total annual expenses amount to 1.68 million USD (57.72 million baht), including 1.31 million USD (45 million baht) for personal expenses and 203,400 USD (7 million baht) for household costs.

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Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her spouse Pidok Suksawat have an audience with the Supreme Patriarch on the occasion of New Year at Aroon Residence, Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram on January 3, 2025. (Khaosod Photo/ Yingyos Akmanachai)

Later that day, during an audience with the Supreme Patriarch on New Year’s occasion at Aroon Residence, Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram, PM Paetongtarn was asked by media about the NACC’s public disclosure of her asset declaration. The PM’s only comment was that she had never filed such an asset declaration before.

When reporters further asked if the declared assets made her Thailand’s wealthiest Prime Minister, Paetongtarn offered just a smile before departing for her duties at Government House.

The mandatory disclosure of Prime Ministers’ assets and liabilities, which began with Thailand’s 1997 Constitution, reveals that current PM Paetongtarn’s declared wealth of $406.5 million marks the highest asset declaration among all Thai Prime Ministers since the requirement was established – surpassing even the declarations made by her father Thaksin Shinawatra during his premiership.

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Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, left, and his daughter and newly elected Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrive before the royal endorsement ceremony appointing Paetongtarn as Thailand’s new prime minister at Pheu Thai party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit).

When Thaksin filed his asset declaration upon taking office as Prime Minister in 2001, he reported total assets of 286.1 million USD (9.85 billion baht). Upon taking office for his second term in 2005, his total assets increased to 365.2 million USD (12.57 billion baht), broken down as:

  • Thaksin’s personal assets: 14.7 million USD (506.5 million baht)
  • His then-wife Khunying Potjaman’s assets: 255.7 million USD (8.80 billion baht)
  • His minor daughter Paetongtarn’s assets: 94.8 million USD (3.26 billion baht)

His final asset declaration recorded with the NACC, dated September 19, 2007 – one year after the military coup – showed total assets of 246.5 million USD (8.48 billion baht).

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According to Forbes magazine, Thaksin has an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion in 2024.

Please note: The conversion to US dollars is calculated based on the exchange rate as of January 5, 2025, where one US dollar equals 34.42 baht.

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