Villar wealthiest among 17 Filipinos on Forbes 2021 World's Billionaires List

Seventeen Filipinos were included in Forbes’ Billionaires 2021 List, with property tycoon Manuel Villar the wealthiest among them.

According to Forbes, this year’s list was made up of 2,755 billionaires across the globe.

“[U]unprecedented by any measure, especially in a year in which large economies around the world were hampered by the coronavirus pandemic. Altogether they are worth US$13.1 trillion, up from $8 trillion on the 2020 list,” the publication said.

Villar was listed as the Philippines’ richest for the third year in a row, ranking 352nd. He was 286th last year.

Forbes reported Villar’s net worth at $7.2 billion, which grew from $5.6 billion in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Villar is the chairman of Vista Mall, Vista Land & Landscapes, Golden Bria, and AllHome Corp.

His wife, Cynthia is an incumbent senator, while his daughter, Camille, is a member of the House of Representatives. His son, Mark, is the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The other Filipinos in this year’s list were:

• Enrique Razon, Jr. ($5 billion)

Ranked 561st on the global list. He chairs port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc., and Solaire Resort & Casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp.

• Lucio Tan ($3.3 billion)

Ranked 925th, Tan is the founder and chair of the LT Group, which has interests in tobacco, spirits, banking, and property development.

• Hans Sy ($3 billion)

Ranked 1,008th, he is the fourth child of Henry Sy, the late found of SM Investments Corp. He stepped down as president of SM Prime Holdings Inc. in 2016, where he remains a director.

• Herbert Sy ($3 billion)

Also ranked 1,008th, he is also the son of the late SM founder. He serves as an adviser of conglomerate SM Investments Corp, and a director of SM Prime Holdings Inc.

• Andrew Tan ($3 billion)

He is also ranked 1,008th. He chairs Alliance Global Inc., a holding company with interests in food and beverage, gaming, and real estate.

• Harley Sy ($2.7 billion)

Ranked 1,174th, he is also a son of the late Henry Sr, Sr. He is the executive director of SM Investments, a director of China Banking Corp., and an adviser of BDO Private Bank.

• Henry Sy Jr. (2.7 billion)

Also ranked 1,174th, he is the eldest son of Henry Sy, Sr. He serves as co-vice chairman of SM Investments, chairman of SM Prime. He also set up Big Boss Cement in 2017.

• Teresita Sy-Coson ($2.7 billion)

She is also ranked 1,174th, Coson is the eldest child and first daughter of the SM Group's founder. She is co-chairman of SM Investments, and chairperson of BDO Unibank Inc.

• Elizabeth Sy ($2.4 billion)

Ranked 1,299th, Sy is the second child and daughter of the late SM founder. She is an adviser of SM Investments, a post she has held since 2012.

• Tony Tan Caktiong and family ($2.4 billion)

Tied at 1,299th, Caktiong is the founder and chairman of Jollibee Foods Corp., one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains across the globe.

• Ramon Ang ($2.2 billion)

Ranked 1,444th, Ang is the president and vice chairman of one of the nation's oldest conglomerates, San Miguel.

• Inigo Zobel ($1.4 billion)

Ranked 2,141st, Zobel is a cousin of Jaime Zobel de Ayala, the patriarch to one of the country’s richest families. His fortune is held through the San Miguel Corporation, a major conglomerate in Southeast Asia. His wealth also includes a stake in Ayala, the family's listed conglomerate that spans interests in real estate, finance, telecom and health care.

• Lance Gokongwei ($1.2 billion)

Ranked 2378th, Gokongwei is the only son of late John Gokongwei Jr., who founded JG Summit, one of the nation’s largest conglomerates. He serves as chief executive of the company, which spans interests in airlines, telecom, banking, food, power and property. He also has a stake in Robinsons Retail.

• Roberto Ongpin ($1.2 billion)

Tied at 2378th, Ongpin chairs high-end property developer Alphaland Corp., along with several other businesses. He also developed the luxury resort Balesin Island.

• Ricardo Po Sr. and family ($1.1 billion)

Ranked 2524th, Po is the founder of Century Pacific, the country’s leading exporter of private-label tuna products. He also has interests in property development through his Arthaland.

• Edgar Sia II ($1.1 billion)

Tied at 2,524th, Sia is the chairman of DoubleDragon Properties, the real estate developer he and his partner Caktiong took public in 2014. He also has his grocery chain MerryMart.

This year’s global list was led by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, who retained the position for the fourth consecutive year. His net worth is $177 billion.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk jumped to the second spot from 31st last year. — DVM, GMA News