Bhumibol Adulyadej (Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช;RTGS: Phumiphon Adunyadet;pronounced [pʰūː.mí.pʰōn ʔà.dūn.já.dèːt]; see full title below; born 5 December 1927) is theKing of Thailand. He is also known as RamaIX, as he is the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty. Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he is the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch inThai history, serving for 69 years, 156 days.[1]
King Bhumibol is respected[2][3] and revered by most Thais.[4] In 1957, the overthrow of his then government was justified with allegations of lèse majesté,[5]:136-137[6] which is offence against the dignity of the monarch, punishable under Thai law.[4] Although Bhumibol did invite public criticism in a 2005 speech,[7] the lèse majesté laws have not been revoked by the Thai parliament.
Forbes estimated Bhumibol's fortune—including property and investments managed by the Crown Property Bureau (CPB), a unique body that is neither private nor government-owned—to be US$30 billion in 2010, and he was the leader of the magazine's list of the "world's richest royals" from 2008 to 2013.[8][9][10] In May 2014, Bhumibol's wealth was once again listed as US$30 billion.[11]Officially the assets managed by the CPB are owned by the crown as an institution, not Bhumibol Adulyadej as an individual.[12]