BY JOEL C. ESCOL, Managing Editor
In Manila, Philippines, real estate magnate Manuel Villar, who chairs the property developer Vista Land & Lifescapes, stands out as the lone Filipino included in Forbes Magazine’s prestigious top 200 billionaires for 2024.
Villar ascended to the 190th spot on this year’s list, a notable climb from his 232nd position in 2023, with his wealth surging by 28 percent to reach $11 billion.
Meanwhile, the Sy siblings, known for their ventures in banking, property, and retail under the conglomerate SM Group, collectively possess a wealth of $14 billion. However, they were individually ranked in the list:
Hans Sy secured the 1,286th spot with a net worth of $2.6 billion.
Henry Jr. and Herbert claimed the 1,330th position, each with $2.5 billion.
Harley landed at the 1,380th spot, boasting a wealth of $2.4 billion.
Teresita Sy-Coson was positioned at 1,438th, possessing $2.3 billion.
Elizabeth rounded out the list at 1,545th, with a wealth of $2.1 billion.
Following Villar is ports magnate Enrique Razon Jr., who ranked 224th, witnessing his net worth escalate to $10 billion in 2024 from $7.3 billion.
Ramon Ang, leading the food and beverage conglomerate San Miguel Corp., secured the 920th spot with a wealth of $3.5 billion, marking an increase from $3.4 billion.
Other notable figures on the list include Lucio Tan ($2.5 billion), Andrew Tan ($2 billion), Tony Tan Caktiong ($1.4 billion), Lucio and Susan Co (combined wealth of $2.3 billion), Lance Gokongwei ($1.1 billion), and William Belo ($1 billion).
The combined wealth of the country’s wealthiest tycoons amounts to $48.2 billion, with their businesses reaping the benefits of post-pandemic recovery.
Forbes reports a total of 2,781 billionaires globally, marking an increase of 141 from the previous year, as their fortunes continued to expand despite geopolitical tensions and persistent inflation concerns.
