Short answers, pulled from the story.
Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz and Thai businessman Chaleo Yoovidhya founded Red Bull GmbH in 1984. They invested US$500,000 of their personal savings each to fund the new company located in Fuschl am See near Salzburg.
The product first launched in Austria on the 1st of April 1987 as a single undistinguished flavor sold in a tall silver and blue can. The name references the original Thai drink Krating Daeng which means red gaur.
More than 100 billion cans have been sold worldwide since its launch including over 12.6 billion in 2024 alone. By 2020 Red Bull held a 43 percent market share making it the most popular energy drink brand globally.
Authorities in France Denmark and Norway initially did not permit the sale of Red Bull due to safety concerns regarding taurine content. The French food safety agency was specifically concerned about taurine content leading to a version without it being introduced locally before the European Court Justice partially upheld the refusal in 2004.
In 2014 Red Bull entered into a US$13 million settlement to resolve two consumer class action lawsuits in New York. On the 1st of May 2015 the Court approved the settlement giving customers who submitted claims the opportunity to receive US$10 cash reimbursement or US$15 in Red Bull products within 150 days.