Who Are The Richest Filipino Billionaires Included In The 2021 Annual Forbes List?
Following up on our real-time daily list of the richest Filipino billionaires in the world (published last March), we now present the updated tally as Forbes releases its 35th annual list. This list covers the net worths and market performances of each billionaire for the past year. For the Philippine gentry in the list, former senator Manny Villar holds the top spot with US$7.2 billion. This is a growth from the estimated US$5.7 billion that he earned before as recorded in the 2020 rankings, mainly from Golden MV Holdings, Vista Land & Lifescape, and AllHome.
Here are the Filipinos who made it to Forbes' 2021 list of richest billionaires in the world:
Manuel Villar Jr.
Estimated net worth: $7.2 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate, retail
Enrique Razon Jr.
Estimated net worth: $5 billion
Source of wealth: Ports
Lucio Tan
Estimated net worth: $3.3 billion
Source of wealth: Tobacco, spirits, banking, property, and airlines
Hans Sy
Estimated net worth: $3 billion
Source of wealth: Shopping mall development and management, retail, real estate development, banking, and tourism
Herbert Sy
Estimated net worth: $3 billion
Source of wealth: Property, real estate development
Andrew Tan
Estimated net worth: $3 billion
Source of wealth: Food and beverage, gaming, and real estate
Harley Sy
Estimated net worth: $2.7 billion
Source of wealth: Shopping mall development and management, retail, real estate development, banking, and tourism
Henry Sy Jr.
Estimated net worth: $2.7 billion
Source of wealth: Shopping mall development and management, retail, real estate development, banking, and tourism
Teresita Sy-Coson
Estimated net worth: $2.7 billion
Source of wealth: Shopping mall development and management, retail, real estate development, banking, and tourism
Elizabeth Sy
Estimated net worth: $2.4 billion
Source of wealth: Shopping mall development and management, retail, real estate development, banking, and tourism
Tony Tan Caktiong & family
Estimated net worth: $2.4 billion
Source of wealth: Fast food restaurant chain, real estate development
Ramon Ang
Estimated net worth: $2.2 billion
Source of wealth: Food and beverage, manufacture, construction, oil, energy, and banking
Iñigo Zobel
(new to the list)
Estimated net worth: $1.4 billion
Source of wealth: Food and beverage, real estate, finance, telecommunications, and health care
Lance Gokongwei
(new to the list)
Estimated net worth: $1.2 billion
Source of wealth: Airlines, retail, telecom, banking, food, power, and property
Roberto Ongpin
Estimated net worth: $1.2 billion
Source of wealth: Property
Ricardo Po Sr. & family
Estimated net worth: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: Food manufacturing
Edgar Sia II
(returnee to the list)
Estimated net worth: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate development (commercial and residential), retail, fast food restaurant chain
Read also: The Life And Times Of Taipan And Philanthropist John Gokongwei Jnr
Despite the growth in wealth, these Filipino billionaires are not short on philanthropic efforts. In fact, Villar was hailed as one of Forbes Asia's "Heroes of Philanthropy" for 2020. It was due to his donation of land to the St Jude Catholic School in 2019 and to his alma mater, the University of the Philippines, which will be used for the construction of an innovation campus. Villar also has been noted to support some churches, efforts to alleviate poverty and initiate measures to address the pandemic such as quarantine facilities and medical equipment.
Razon, on the other hand, shared that his group of companies have already donated around Php 500 million in medical supplies alone so that Filipino frontliners can better equip themselves against the virus. His company's philanthropic arm, Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc., has not only donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), N95 masks, and COVID-19 test kits to numerous hospitals around the country but has also funded the creation and retrofitting of COVID-19 treatment facilities.
Ang, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president and chief operating officer (COO), has been at the helm of a massive outreach program that has amassed over Php13.180 billion in aid. SMC has initiated numerous projects to help disadvantaged communities, medical front liners, and even government sectors. Moreover, we have seen the continuation (and completion of some) major infrastructure projects over the past year. For his contributions to addressing the pandemic, Ang was given the distinction of Lifetime Contributor Award at the Asia CEO Awards 2020.
Other billionaires in the list through their conglomerates are also addressing the economic and health crises that the country is facing.
Read more: 10 Richest Asians On The Forbes World's Billionaires List This 2021