The only son of Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo has given up a fortune worth over $5 billion (₹40,000 crore approx.) to embrace a life of spiritual simplicity

Ananda Krishnan, Malaysia's third-richest man, has built an empire spanning telecom, media, oil, real estate, and aviation

Despite grooming his son for succession, Krishnan supported Siripanyo’s decision to pursue monkhood. Krishnan himself is a devout Buddhist, known for his philanthropy

Ajahn Siripanyo also has noble lineage. His mother, Momwajarongse Suprinda Chakraban, is a descendant of the Thai royal family

Born and raised in London alongside his sisters, Siripanyo studied in the UK and is fluent in at least eight languages

At 18, he visited Thailand to connect with his mother's heritage and temporarily ordained at a retreat. What began as a short-term experience became a lifelong commitment

Now a forest monk for over two decades, Siripanyo serves as the abbot of Dtao Dum Monastery on the Thailand-Myanmar border

However, familial love—a core Buddhist tenet—sees him occasionally reconnect with his father and briefly revisiting his former lifestyle when necessary

Siripanyo’s journey, reminiscent of a modern-day Siddhartha shows his transformative power of spiritual dedication, proving that even in the face of immense privilege, a meaningful life can be found in renunciation and self-discovery