The fortune Thaksin made over five years beginning in 1990 was quite extraordinary. The booming economy, and the state's abysmal failure to expand either landline or mobile networks had created enormous unfulfilled demand. The monopolistic concession structure allowed the new mobile suppliers to charge high prices with enormous profit margins. The TOT constructed a built-in market advantage for Thaksin because it suited them in their competition with CAT. Finally, the stock market, pumped up by financial liberalization and a worldwide enthusiasm for "emerging markets," translated the high profits into even higher net worth.