After the coup of 2014, Panadda was moved to the Office of the Prime Minister, where in 2015 he was first Permanent Secretary before being appointed as a minister, directly subordinate to the junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha. In a cabinet reshuffle in December 2016, Panadda was moved to the Ministry of Education as Deputy Minister. According to disclosures provided to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Panadda was the richest member of the Cabinet at the beginning of 2017, with assets of 1.3 billion baht. His fortune consists mainly of valuable land in the Bangkok districts of Nang Loeng, Dusit, and Bang Sue. Among other things, Panadda owns and manages Varadis Palace, the residence of his great-grandfather, and home to the Damrong Rajanubhab Library.