Thaksin Shinawatra was the first elected Thai prime minister to complete a full four-year term. But despite his considerable electoral support, Thaksin eventually antagonised Thailand's traditional elite, including the monarchy and the army. His CEO-style dominance of the administration gave him unprecedented power, and made him numerous enemies. His controversial tenure ended with the 19 September 2006 military coup. This article examines whether notions of toxic leadership offer a useful comparative framework to explain Thaksin's apparent contradictions.