FOR the third straight year, former Senator Manny Villar emerged on top of the list of richest billionaires in the Philippines, dwarfing 16 other prominent businessmen, says the Forbes Magazine which listed 2,755 billionaires from around the world.
“[U]unprecedented by any measure, especially in a year in which large economies around the world were hampered by the coronavirus pandemic. Altogether they are worth US$13.1 trillion, up from $8 trillion on the 2020 list,” reads a part of the publication.
From the Forbes billionaires’ list, Villar ranked 352nd, with a net worth of $7.2 billion, up from $5.6 billion in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Villar, who has not ran for any elective position since losing to former President Benigno Aquino III in the 2010 presidential election, is currently the chairman of Vista Mall, Vista Land & Landscapes, Golden Bria, and AllHome Corp.
But while the former senator seemed to have gone on “semi-retirement” in politics, most of his immediate family members are holding top government positions – elective and appointive. His wife, Cynthia, is an incumbent senator, while his daughter, Camille, is a member of the House of Representatives. His son, Mark, is the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Aside from Villar, other Filipinos who made it in this year’s list were:
· Enrique Razon, Jr. ($5 billion)
· Lucio Tan ($3.3 billion)
· Hans Sy ($3 billion)
· Herbert Sy ($3 billion)
· Andrew Tan ($3 billion)
· Harley Sy ($2.7 billion)
· Henry Sy Jr. (2.7 billion)
· Teresita Sy-Coson ($2.7 billion)
· Elizabeth Sy ($2.4 billion)
· Tony Tan Caktiong ($2.4 billion)
· Ramon Ang ($2.2 billion)
· Inigo Zobel ($1.4 billion)
· Lance Gokongwei ($1.2 billion)
· Roberto Ongpin ($1.2 billion)
· Ricardo Po Sr. ($1.1 billion)
· Edgar Sia II ($1.1 billion)
For this year, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos remains the wealthiest for the fourth straight year with a net worth of $177 billion, followed by Elon Musk.