Who are the Red Bull owners, how much is the company worth and how did it start?
How a Thai 'hangover cure' became the world's number one selling energy drink
IT started out as a dirt cheap energy drink aimed at keeping Thai lorry drivers awake behind the wheel - now it's one of the world's most recognised brands.
And even if you don't touch Red Bull - although millions do - there is every chance you are aware of the beverage that promises to 'give you wings.'
Since its early days, Red Bull has positioned itself into almost every active pursuit a human being can attempt, making the beverage itself feel like more of an afterthought.
From the extreme athletic sponsorship to its eastern origins, here are a few things you probably didn't know about Red Bull.
How did Red Bull start?
It was invented in the 1970s by Chaleo Yoovidhya, a Thai businessman seeking to offer a low-priced energy formula for working class Thai labourers.
The product become a huge success in Thailand thanks to its careful sponsorship of boxing matches and sports events.
Despite its domestic success, it wasn't until the late 1980s that Red Bull was exposed to the rest of the world.
While on holiday in Thailand, Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz found the bizarre energy formula and became fond of it as a hangover cure.
He reached out to the Thai company’s founders and offered them a 49 percent share in the company if they were willing to let him tweak the formula and expand it internationally.
They accepted, and the Austrian company known today as Red Bull GmbH opened for business in 1987. The company reworked the drink’s recipe, reducing the ultra-sweet taste of the original and carbonating it to better suit the taste of the Western audience that the drink was marketed to.
Despite its huge popularity today, Red Bull was not an instant success.
It sold fairly slowly in Eastern European markets after its launch, but it wasn't until the company expanded into the United States in 1997 that the drink became a success.
Chaleo Yoovidhya died of natural causes in 1992 aged 89 - by then he was a multi-billionaire.
Who owns the energy drinks company now?
Ten Yoovidhya family members share 49 percent of Red Bull GmbH while Chalerm Yoovidhya, the patriarch’s eldest son, owns an extra two percent
The remaining 49 percent is still held by 72-year-old co-founder Mateschitz - who now has a reported net worth of £10bn.
Red Bull GmbH is headquartered in Fuschl am See, an Austrian village of about 1,500 inhabitants near Salzburg.
It sells more more than 5 BILLION cans in over 167 countries every year.
It employs more than 10,410 workers and generates around £4billion in revenue.
It has very strong links in the sporting world and sponsors several top events including the Red Bull Cliff Diving Championships, Red Bull Air Race, Red Bull Drifting Championships and the Red Bull Soap Box race.
The company also has stakes in two soccer teams, Red Bull Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls, and Formula One squad, Red Bull Racing.
And just today it's been reported the company is looking to snap up a Premier League club to add to it growing portfolio.
So does Red Bull really give you wings?
Err...no.
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