Former House Speaker and Senator Manny Villar (Featured Image)
By Amado Inigo
MANILA — Seventeen Filipino billionaires have made it into Forbes’ list of the world’s richest, with former House Speaker and senator and property magnate Manuel Villar leading the pack.
On Wednesday, Forbes Magazine claimed that despite the pandemic, a good number of billionaires grew in leaps and bounds.
Amid the pandemic, Forbes listed 2,755 billionaires, 660 more than a year ago.
“This was a record-breaking year in multiple ways, with more newcomers than ever before and more billionaires globally,” Assistant Managing Editor Kerry Dolan said in a statement.
“It was also the first time that the combined net worth of the world’s billions crossed into double-digit trillions. The pace at which huge fortunes have been created is astonishing,” Dolan said.
Forbes 35th annual list claims that the former senator Manny Villar holds the top spot with US$7.2 billion.
That’s a big leap or growth from the estimated US$5.7 billion that he earned before as recorded in the 2020 rankings.
Villar’s riches mainly come from Golden MV Holdings, Vista Land & Lifescape, and AllHome.
The other Filipinos who made it to Forbes’ 2021 list of richest billionaires in the world include:
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
(ai/mtvn)
