Real estate magnate Manuel Villar, chairman of Vista Land & Lifescapes, has secured his position as the lone Filipino representative in Forbes Magazine’s prestigious top 200 billionaires for the year 2024.
Villar climbed up the ranks to the 190th spot, a significant leap from his 232nd position in 2023, with his wealth surging by 28 percent to reach $11 billion.
While the Sy siblings, known for their contributions to banking, property, and retail under the SM Group conglomerate, collectively possess a fortune of $14 billion, they were individually listed in the rankings.
Hans Sy led the siblings at 1,286th place with a net worth of $2.6 billion, followed by Henry Jr. and Herbert at 1,330th with $2.5 billion each, Harley at 1,380th with $2.4 billion, Teresita Sy-Coson at 1,438th with $2.3 billion, and Elizabeth at 1,545th with $2.1 billion.
Enrique Razon Jr., a prominent figure in the ports industry, trailed Villar, ranking 224th with his net worth soaring to $10 billion in 2024 from $7.3 billion.
Ramon Ang, head of the food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp., secured the 920th position with a wealth of $3.5 billion, up from $3.4 billion.
Other notable Filipino tycoons listed include Lucio Tan with $2.5 billion, Andrew Tan with $2 billion, Tony Tan Caktiong with $1.4 billion, Lucio and Susan Co with a combined $2.3 billion, Lance Gokongwei with $1.1 billion, and William Belo with $1 billion.
The collective wealth of the Philippines’ wealthiest individuals amounted to $48.2 billion, reflecting the resilience of their businesses amid the post-pandemic recovery.
Forbes noted a global increase in billionaires, with 2,781 individuals making the list, 141 more than the previous year, despite challenges posed by geopolitical tensions and persistent inflation concerns.
