About Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej (Royal Institute: Phumiphon Adunyadet; Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช, pronounced pʰuːmipʰon adunjadeːt( listen); see full title below) (born 5 December 1927), is the current King of Thailand. Publicly acclaimed "the Great" (Thai: มหาราช, Maharaja), he is also known as Rama IX. Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he is the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. He is seen as so important by the Thai people that his ill-health has affected the financial markets. Although Bhumibol is legally a constitutional monarch, he has made several decisive interventions in Thai politics. He was credited with facilitating Thailand's transition to democracy in the 1990s, although he has supported some military regimes, including Sarit Dhanarajata's during the 1960s and the Council for National Security in 2006-2008. He has been accused of interfering in politics, although since this would be unconstitutional of him and accusers are liable to be charged with lèse majesté. During his long reign he has presided over 15 coups, 16 constitutions, and 27 changes of prime ministers. He has also used his influence to stop military coups, including recent attempts in 1981 and 1985. Bhumibol is highly revered by the public and is also protected by the Constitution as "inviolable". He has no right to charge anyone who insults or defames him, however, anyone can file charges for him; the penalty is three to fifteen years in jail. In his 2005 birthday speech, Bhumibol said he would not take lèse majesté seriously, and that the King can have flaws. Despite that, charges were still filed frequently, with over 100 cases of lèse majesté filed in 2007 and numerous people jailed. Reported to be the richest monarch in the world, with a estimated personal net worth of US$35 billion, Bhumibol has a controlling stake in numerous firms including Siam Cement and Siam Commercial Bank. He has used part of his massive wealth to fund royal development projects. The Thai government has claimed that the assets of the Crown Property Bureau are not Bhumibol's personal wealth. The exact value of the CPB's assets is not known, because it is managed independently of the Thai Government and reports only to Bhumibol.