It's that time of the year when we read about the richest people in our country...and perhaps get insights into how wealthy businessmen can actually make in a year. In case you haven't heard, Forbes reported that the Philippines' 50 richest people's collective wealth is recorded at $80.8 billion (P4,632,183,200,000.00) in 2024.
As also mentioned in the Forbes list, leading the market are the Sy Siblings, who have been responsible for the operations of the largest shopping malls in the country—which they inherited from their father, Henry Sy. At the forefront of the family empire are Teresita, Elizabeth, Henry Jr., Hans, Herbert, and Harley Sy.
Each sibling focuses on different business ventures of their own, headlined by their property & retail, banking hotel, department stores, and mining. But as a whole, their net worth is at a whopping $13 billion (P745,114,500,000.00). Today, the Sy siblings' empire stands as one of the largest conglomerates in Southeast Asia, according to Forbes.
Aside from being part of the Philippines' richest list, Teresita and Elizabeth were also part of the Forbes' 2024 Billionaire list!
Aside from the female Sy siblings, there are many more Filipinas out there standing strong as trailblazers in their respective industries. Below, let's take a look at these amazing women!
LOOK: Richest Filipinas In The Philippines According To Forbes
12. Sylvia C. Wenceslao
Industry: Real estate
Net worth: $275 million (P15,746,500,000)
Sylvia C. Wenceslao currently owns D.M Wenceslao & Associates—a real estate developer. She took over after her husband, Delfin J. Wenceslao Jr. passed away in 2021.
11. Yuchengco Family, headed by Helen Yuchengco Dee
Industry: Banking, Construction, Insurance
Net worth: $370 million (P21,192,305,000)
Helen Yuchengco Dee owns the Yuchengco Group of Companies. According to Forbes, the family company is one of the oldest conglomerates in the Philippines. Their business ranges from banking to construction and insurance. Helen is also the chairwoman of the bank Rizal Commercial Banking Cor. (RCBC) and House of Investments.
Along with Helen, her six other siblings, namely Alfonso Jr., Yvonne, Mona Lisa, Annabelle, Alfonso III, and Albert, have been managing their wealth since their father, Alfonso T. Yuchengco died in 2017.
10. Betty Ang
Industry: Food and beverage
Net worth: $720 million (P41,233,680,000)
Betty Ang is one of the great minds who contributed to the success of our beloved snacks under Monde Nissin. She is currently the president of the said food manufacturer company.
9. Josephine Gotianun and family
Industry: Property, Banking, Sugar, Power
Net worth: $805 million (Php46,101,142,500)
The Gotianun family owns Filinvest Development which is known for their interests in property, banking, sugar, and power. Two of their family members, Jonathan and Josephine are leading the East West Banking and Filinvest Development respectively.
8. Maria Grace Uy
Industry: Telecom
Net worth: $920 million (Php52,686,560,000)
Maria Grace Uy is the wife and business partner of tycoon Dennis Uy. ICYDK, they are the ones who own and founded Converge ICT Solutions, which is one of the Internet service providers in the Philippines at present.
7. Campos siblings
Industry: Healthcare
Net worth: $940 million (P53,830,980,000)
Jocelyn, Joselito, and Jeffrey Campos are all managing wealth related to their family's business, Unilab. Unilab, which began as a small drugstore, expanded to other business ventures. It now has a real estate arm, Unilab and Greenfield Development, and also a food an beverage company called Del Monte Pacific.
6. Soledad Oppen-Cojuangco and family
Industry: Food and beverage, infrastructure
Net worth: $1 billion (P57,253,500,000)
Soledad Oppen-Cojuangco stands as the strong head of the Cojuangco family after her husband Eduardo Cojuangco passed away in 2020. The wealth is spread amongst their children, Mark, Carlos, Luisa, and Margarita. Eduardo was responsible for the success of one of the well-known liquor brands in the Philippines, San Miguel Corporation.
Through the years, San Miguel Corporation expanded and also took an interest in infrastructure projects. It is currently chaired by Ramon Ang.
ALSO READ: 15 Filipino Billionaires Made It To Forbes' 2024 Rich List
5. Vivan Que Azcona
Industry: Fashion & Retail
Net worth: $1.7 billion (P97,325,850,000)
Another drugstore owner makes it to the list of the richest in the Philippines, according to Forbes. Vivian Que Azcona is currently the president of the leading drugstore chain in the country, Mercury Drug, that has over 1,200 locations nationwide. Vivian is still the largest shareholder in the healthcare store.
4. Alesandra Ty, Anjanette Ty, and siblings
Industry: Finance & Investments
Net worth: $1.85 billion (P105,929,150,000)
Inheriting a bank means great wealth, indeed. Case in point: the Ty Siblings. Arthur, Alfred, Alesandra, and Anjanette rank 12th among the 50 richest people in the Philippines because of their several investments in banking, property, power generation, and more. The siblings have sustained the wealth of their family by expanding Metrobank—their family's bank—interests to other industries.
3. Robina Gokongwei, Lisa Gokongwei, Faith Gokongwei, Hope Gokongwei, Marcia Gokongwei, and family
Industry: airlines, telecom, banking, food, and more
Net worth: $1.9 billion (P108,841,500,000)
Lance, Robina, Lisa, Faith, Hope, and Marcia Gokongwei all continue the legacy of their father, John Gokongwei Jr. Their wealth comes from massive stakes under their company JG Summit Holdings—which has interests in industries such airlines, telecom, banking, food, power, and property.
Among the companies that the Gokongwei siblings manage are Universal Robina, one of the leading food & beverage companies in the Philippines, Cebu Pacific Air which is a prominent budget airline in the country, and the Robinsons chain of malls, one of the leading retailers in the Philippines.
2. Susan Co
Industry: retail, food and beverage, hotels, etc.
Net worth: $2.3 billion (P131,765,850,000)
In case you didn't know, Susan Co and her husband Lucio Co are the owners and founders of the Puregold Price Club. It is now a chain of supermarkets that has established 500 stores across the Philippines according to Forbes
1. Sy siblings
Industry: Department stores, supermarkets, banks, hotels, real estate and mining
Net worth: $13 billion (P744,809,000,000)
As mentioned above, the Sy siblings top the 50 richest people in the Philippines. They actively lead and decide SM's strategy and operations, which is listed as one of Southeast Asia's largest corporations.
