Ex-Senate President Manny Villar still richest Filipino with $8.3 B (P426 billion)

MANILA – Filipino tycoon Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. remains the richest person in the Philippines with net worth estimated to be at $8.3 billion or around P426.99 billion based on the latest list of world billionaires by Forbes Magazine.

The real estate titan’s net worth made him climb to 263rd spot from 352nd in 2021 among the world’s billionaires.

Forbes estimate noted Villar’s net worth increased by over $1 billion compared to his previous year’s $7.2 billion.

Villar, a former Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives and the husband of current Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairs Vista Land and Life Escapes, and is into other property development, subdivision, condominiums, mall chains and other businesses, which now include water, memorial parks, coffee store chain, among others.

Just recently, Villar’s company was awarded two broadcast channels previously held by ABS-CBN.

The second richest Filipino is Filipino-Spanish port and casino magnate Enrique Razon Jr. of International Container Terminal Services Inc., the country’s leading ports operator; Bloomberry Resorts and Solaire Hotel and Casino Resort, Manila Water, and More Power and Electric Corp. with a net worth of $6.7 billion or P343.77 billion. He climbed to the 369th spot from his 561st ranking last year among the world’s billionaires, Forbes said.

Third wealthiest Filipinos are Chinese Filipino Henry Sy Jr. of SM Investments and Andrew Tan of Alliance Global Group composed of Megaworld Corporation, Emperador Distillers and Golden Arches Development Corp. which operates McDonald’s. Both stand at 1096th in the world, with net worth of $2.8 billion (around ₱144.06 billion.)

They are followed by the other Sy siblings. Hans and Herbert Sy both ranked 1196th worldwide with net worth at $2.6 billion each (around ₱133.77 billion). Harley and Teresita Sy-Coson shared the 1292nd spot, both having a net worth of $2.4 billion (around ₱123.48 billion), while and Elizabeth Sy landed 1445th worldwide with net worth of $2.1 billion (around ₱108.05 billion).

Completing the top 10 is San Miguel Corporation president and CEO Ramon Ang, who has an overall ranking of 1513th and net worth of $2 billion (around ₱102.9 billion).

JG Summit’s Lance Gokongwei came next who was valued at $1.6 billion (around ₱82.32 billion). JG Summit operates the Robinson’s Malls, Cebu Pacific Airlines, Go Hotels and other companies.

Landing 2190th is Jollibee Food’s Tony Tan Caktiong with a net worth of $1.3 billion (around ₱66.89 billion).

Monde Nissin’s Betty Ang, LT Group’s Lucio Tan, and Converge ICT Solutions’ Maria Grace Uy all tied at 2324th with a net worth of $1.2 billion (around ₱61.73 billion).

Rounding up the list are the Genomals of Page Industries, namely Nari, Ramesh and Sunder, along with Alphaland’s Roberto Ongpin, and Converge ICT’s Dennis Uy. They shared the 2578th spot, each had a net worth of $1 billion (around ₱51.29 billion).

Converge ICT Solutions Inc’s Maria Grace Uy and Dennis Anthony Uy, Monde Nissin’s Betty Ang and members of the Genomal family, who owns Page Industries, one of the biggest licensees for underwear maker Jockey, are new entrants in the list of richest Filipinos,Forbes said.

The Filipinos in the World’s Billionaire’s List 2022 are:

#263 Manny Villar (net worth of $8.3 billion)
#369 Enrique Razon (net worth of $6.7 billion)
#1096 Henry Sy Jr (net worth $2.8 billion)
#1096 Andrew Tan (net worth $2.8 billion)
#1196 Hans Sy (net worth $2.6 billion)
#1196 Herbert Sy (net worth $2.6 billion)
#1292 Harley Sy (net worth $2.4 billion)
#1292 Teresita Sy-Coson (net worth $2.4 billion)
#1445 Elizabeth Sy (net worth $2.1 billion)
#1513 Ramon Ang (net worth $2 billion)
#1818 Lance Gokongwei (net worth $1.6 billion)
#2190 Tony Tan Caktiong (net worth $1.3 billion)
#2324 Betty Ang (net worth $1.2 billion)
#2324 Lucio Tan (net worth $1.2 billion)
#2324 Maria Grace Uy (net worth $1.2 billion)
#2578 Nari Genomal (net worth $1 billion)
#2578 Ramesh Genomal (net worth $1 billion)
#2578 Sunder Genomal (net worth $1 billion)
* #2578 Roberto Ongpin (net worth $1 billion)
#2578 Dennis Anthony Uy (net worth $1 billion)

For 2022, Forbes listed 2,668 billionaires around the world, lower than last year’s 2,755 billionaires who have a collective value of $12.7 trillion.

Forbes noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with sluggish markets and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict hit the world’s billionaires this year.

Despite the pandemic, Tesla’s Elon Musk emerged as the world’s richest with a net worth of $219 billion.

Forbes named Elon Musk as the world’s richest man for the first time with a net worth of $219 billion.

Musk’s portfolio includes Tesla, SpaceX, The Boring Company, among others. He also recently bought over 9 percent stake in the social media platform Twitter.

Amazon and Blue Origin’s Jeff Bezos, LVMH’s Bernard Arnault and family, Microsoft’s Bill Gates and investing legend Warren Buffet rounded up the world’s top 5 billionaires. (Claire Morales True)