The rich get richer—this sums up the latest release of Forbes’ annual ranking of the world’s billionaires. The business magazine’s 2018 billionaires’ list has 2,208 billionaires, a record high, from 2,043 in 2017.
This year, 12 Filipinos made it to the billionaires’ list, down from 14 in 2017. Falling out of this roster was David Consunji of DMCI Holdings (No. 7 in the list of Filipino billionaires last year), who died at the age of 95 in September 2017. DoubleDragon Properties and Mang Inasal founder Edgar ‘Injap’ Sia (No. 14 last year and the youngest billionaire in PH the same year) also failed to make it to the list this year.
Nine out of 12 Filipino billionaires in the list have increased their wealth over the past year. Two of those have estimated wealth that is at the same level as their wealth last year, while only one billionaire has lower fortune compared to his wealth in 2017. A Filipino billionaire (former senator Manny Villar) doubled his wealth from 2017 to 2018, while a 58-year-old businessman is this year’s youngest Filipino billionaire (Enrique Razon).
Overall, the combined wealth of all these 12 billionaires amounts to $55.6 billion (about P2.9 trillion), which is almost 20% of the worth of the country’s economy. Here are the 12 Filipino billionaires who made it to Forbes’ 2018 list of billionaires in the world:
1. Henry Sy, 94 years old
Net worth: $20 billion (P1.02 trillion)
Global rank: 52 (up from 94 in 2017)
2017 rank: 1 ($12.7 billion or P647)
Crown jewels: SM Prime Holdings, SM Investments Corp, and BDO Unibank
2. John Gokongwei, Jr., 91 years old
Net worth: $5.8 billion (P295.8 billion)
Global rank: 305
2017 rank: 2 ($5.8 billion or P295.8 billion)
Crown jewels: JG Petrochemicals Corp., Cebu Pacific Air, Universal Robina Corp, and Robinsons Land Corp.
3. Enrique Razon, 58 years old
Net worth: $4.9 billion (P249.9 billion)
Global rank: 404
2017 rank: 5 ($3.4 billion or P173.4 billion)
Crown jewels: Bloomberry Resorts Corp (includes Solaire) and International Container Terminal Services Inc.
4. Lucio Tan, 83 years old
Net worth: $4.7 billion (P239.7 billion)
Global rank: 441
2017 rank: 3 ($3.7 billion or P188.7 billion)
Crown jewels: Philippine Airlines, Philippine National Bank, Asia Brewery, and Tanduay
5. Tony Tan Caktiong, 65 years old
Net worth: $4 billion (P204 billion)
Global rank: 550
2017 rank: 6 ($3.4 billion P173.4 billion)
Crown jewels: Jollibee Foods Corp (Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal, Red Ribbon, among others)
6. George Ty, 85 years old
Net worth: $3.9 billion (P198.9 billion)
Global rank: 572
2017 rank: 4 ($3.5 billion or P178.5 billion)
Crown jewels: Metrobank and Toyota distribution in PH
7. Manny Villar, 68 years old
Net worth: $3 billion (P153 billion)
Global rank: 791
2017 rank: 10 ($1.5 billion or P76.5 billion)
Crown jewels: Vista Land & Lifescapes, Golden Haven, Starmalls
8. Andrew Tan, 65 years old
Net worth: $2.7 billion (P137.7 billion)
Global rank: 887
2017 rank: 8 ($2.5 billion or P127.5 billion)
Crown jewels: Megaworld Group, Emperador Distillers, ad Golden Arches Development Corp. (operator of local McDonald’s franchises)
9. Ramon Ang, 64 years old
Net worth: $2.5 billion (P127.5 billion)
Global rank: 965
2017 rank: 11 ($1.4 billion or P71.4 billion)
Crown jewel: San Miguel Corp.
10. Roberto Coyiuto Jr., 65 years old
Net worth: $1.4 billion (P71.4 billion)
Global rank: 1,650
2017 rank: 9 ($1.5 billion or P76.5 billion)
Crown jewels: PGA Cars and Prudential Guarantee & Assurance
11. Eduardo Cojuangco, 82 years old
Net worth: $1.3 billion (P66.3 billion)
Global rank: 1,756
2017 rank: 12 ($1.2 billion or P61.2 billion)
Crown jewel: Owns a portion of San Miguel Corp.
12. Roberto Ongpin, 81 years old
Net worth: $1.1 billion (P56.1 billion)
Global rank: 1,999
2017 rank: 13 ($1.1 billion or P56.1 billion)
Crown jewel: Alphaland Corp (owned Philweb Corp before)
