Prasert Prasartthong-Osoth, president of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, has become the richest investor in the Thai stock market this year, replacing long-time champion Thongma Vijitpongpun, a real estate developer.
Dr Prasert now holds shares of Bangkok Dusit worth 36.6 billion baht, a 73% rise from last year when he ranked fourth with 21 billion baht.
The increase in value was mainly due to a sharp rise in the stock market, with combined investment as of Sept 30 valued at 1.25 trillion baht, up nearly 20% from a year earlier.
The 20th survey by Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy and Money & Banking magazine featured 5,993 investors with holdings of at least 0.5% in listed firms.
Mr Thongma slipped to fifth place, though the performance of Pruksa Real Estate (PS) remained sound.
His 58.76% stake in PS worth 25.45 billion baht was up 8% year-on-year but still lagged others.
Keeree Kanchanapas, the chairman of BTS Group Holdings, came in second with his 33.93% shareholding in BTS worth 34.21 billion baht.
Pete Bodharamik, the son of former commerce minister Adisai Bodharamik, jumped to third from 18th last year as his holdings in two media firms, Jasmine and the MAI-listed Mono Technology, rose 270% to a combined value of 26.48 billion baht.
Land and Houses chairman Anant Asavabhokhin, who was the richest stock investor for seven straight years before losing the title to Mr Thongma, came in fourth.
Two new faces _ Arunee Chan, a second-generation Chirathivat family member, and Somphote Ahunai, a former executive of Yuanta Securities and the founder of Energy Absolute Plc _ were ninth and 10th this year.
In the family stakes, the Chirathivats emerged as the richest investors, beating the Maleenonts, who came in second after holding the top position for 14 years.
The share prices of Centel and Big C rose by 121% and 7% year-on-year, increasing the wealth of the Chirathivat family to 66.78 billion baht, up 63%.
A dip in BEC's share price of 25.8% shrank the Maleenont family's wealth by 30% to 49 billion baht.