Red Bull

Red Bull is the Austria-based manufacturer of the energy drink of the same name, launched by Dietrich Mateschitz in 1982. On a business trip to Thailand, Mateschitz discovered the energy drink Krating Daeng (meaning ‘red bull’) and found that it helped cure his jet lag. He partnered with Chaleo Yoovidhya, the founder of Krating Daeng, to each invest $500,000 into a new energy drink venture by the name ‘Red Bull’ that subsequently became an international brand. Yoovidhya and Mateschitz both took a 49% stake, with the remaining 2% stake going to Yoovidhya’s two sons.

Today, the company is just as well known for its sponsorships and sporting involvement as it is for the energy drink: Red Bull founded the football teams RB Salzburg, RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls; the ice hockey teams Red Bull Salzburg and Red Bull München; the Formula 1 racing teams Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso; and sponsors or lends its name to countless other sporting events. Mateschitz and Yoovidhya have estimated personal fortunes of $4 billion apiece.