A Thai billionaire and big farm owner, Arnon Rodthong on Tuesday rolled out surprise as he promised a whopping sum £240,000 – as well as his entire estate – to the man who marries his 26-year-old virgin daughter.
The 50-year old who owns a prosperous durian fruit farm in Chumphon province, southern Thailand, has taken the matter of his daughter Karnsita’s future into his own hands.
In what looks like a bizarre ‘offer’, Mr Rodthong highlights that his daughter, who helps him run the family business, speaks fluent English and Chinese and is a virgin.
In some parts of Thailand, custom dictates that a man should pay a dowry for his future wife, but Mr Rodthong says he would waive this ‘fee’.
Instead he’ll give his future son-in-law ten million Thai baht (£240,000), as well as his sprawling durian farm, valued at several million pounds. Mr Rodthong says there are no restrictions on what nationality the successful ‘husband’ should be – as long as they ‘work hard and make Karnsita happy’.
He said: ‘I want someone to take care of my business and make it last. I don’t want a person with a bachelor’s, or master’s or philosopher’s degree.
‘I want a diligent man. I just want someone with a hard-working attitude. That’s all.’
Despite having several other children of his own, including sons who would traditionally inherit the business, he adds: ‘As soon as I have an in-law, I will give up all my assets to him.’