Red Bull is one of the most famous energy drink brands in the world. It is known for its slogan “Red Bull gives you wings” and its sponsorship of extreme sports, racing, and football teams. But who actually owns Red Bull? Let’s take a deep dive into the ownership of this famous brand in simple words.
The Company Behind Red Bull
Red Bull is made by a company called Red Bull GmbH. This is a private company based in Austria. “GmbH” means “Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung,” which is similar to a “Limited Liability Company” (LLC) in other countries. This company is responsible for making and selling Red Bull worldwide.
Who Created Red Bull?
Red Bull was co-founded by two people:
- Dietrich Mateschitz – An Austrian businessman and marketing genius.
- Chaleo Yoovidhya – A Thai businessman who created the original energy drink formula.
In the 1980s, Dietrich Mateschitz discovered an energy drink called Krating Daeng in Thailand, made by Chaleo Yoovidhya. He saw a big opportunity to sell it worldwide. Together, they changed the recipe to make it more appealing and launched Red Bull in 1987.
Current Owners of Red Bull
The ownership of Red Bull is shared between two families:
- The Yoovidhya Family (Thailand) – Owns 51% of Red Bull GmbH.
- This means the majority of Red Bull belongs to the Thai family of Chaleo Yoovidhya, the original creator of the energy drink.
- After Chaleo Yoovidhya passed away in 2012, his children and relatives took over his shares.
- Mark Mateschitz (Austria) – Owns 49% of Red Bull GmbH.
- Mark is the son of Dietrich Mateschitz, who was the Austrian co-founder.
- When Dietrich Mateschitz passed away in 2022, his son inherited his shares in the company.
- Mark Mateschitz decided not to run the daily business but still benefits from Red Bull’s huge success.
Who Runs Red Bull?
Even though Mark Mateschitz owns 49%, he does not manage the company himself. Instead, Red Bull is run by a team of professional managers. Since the Yoovidhya family holds the majority (51%), they also have a big say in company decisions.
How Big is Red Bull?
Red Bull is not just an energy drink company. It has grown into a global brand. It owns sports teams like Red Bull Racing in Formula 1 and football clubs like RB Leipzig in Germany and New York Red Bulls in the USA. The company sells over 12 billion cans of Red Bull every year in more than 170 countries.
Final Thoughts
Red Bull is owned by the Yoovidhya family (51%) and Mark Mateschitz (49%). The company was started by Chaleo Yoovidhya and Dietrich Mateschitz, but today, it is run by a professional management team. Even though the founders are no longer alive, their families continue to benefit from Red Bull’s massive success.
Red Bull remains one of the biggest and most powerful brands in the world, and it continues to dominate the energy drink market. With its exciting sports sponsorships and unique marketing, it looks like Red Bull will keep “giving wings” for many more years!