MANILA, Philippine - Fourteen dollar-billionaire Pinoys have made it to Forbes’ 2017 list of “richest people in the planet.” The figure is a record count since businessmen from the Philippines first made the cut in 2003.
The highest-ranking Filipino in the list remains to be Henry Sy of SM Investment Corporation, who has a net worth of $12.7 billion. With a net worth of $13.3 billion last year, his rank dropped from 71 in 2016 to 94 this year.
John Gokongwei Jr. of JG Summit Holdings clinched the second spot among highest-ranking Pinoys with a net worth of $5.8 billlion. He holds the 250th spot in the world ranking.
Completing the list are Lucio Tan ($3.7 billion), George Ty ($3.5 billion), Enrique Razon Jr. ($3.4 billion), Tony Tan Caktiong ($3.4 billion), David Consunji ($3.1 billion), Andrew Tan ($2.5 billion), Roberto Coyiuto Jr. ($1.5 billion), Manuel Villar ($1.5 billion), Ramon Ang ($1.4 billion), Eduardo Cojuangco ($1.2 billion), Roberto Ongpin ($1.1 billion) and Edgar Sia ($1 billion).
It was Ang and Sia’s first time to make it in the global elite list.
Not included in the list of billionaires but whose net worth made the $1 billion cutoff on real time are Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Jon Ramon Aboitiz, Emilio Yap, Iñigo and Mercedes Zobel, Dean Lao, and Andrew Gotianun.
According to the US-based business magazine, they considered stock prices and exchange rates from around the world to come up with their net worth. Moreover, they favored individuals rather than multigenerational families who share big fortunes.
“The Forbes Billionaires list is a snapshot of wealth taken on February 17, 2017; we used stock prices and exchange rates from around the world to calculate net worth. Some fortunes have changed considerably since then,” Forbes magazine explained.
Bill Gates topped the list of 2,043 billionaires with $86 billion net worth.
--Mini, The Summit Express
The highest-ranking Filipino in the list remains to be Henry Sy of SM Investment Corporation, who has a net worth of $12.7 billion. With a net worth of $13.3 billion last year, his rank dropped from 71 in 2016 to 94 this year.
 |
| Business tycoon Henry Sy is still the Philippines' richest man. |
Completing the list are Lucio Tan ($3.7 billion), George Ty ($3.5 billion), Enrique Razon Jr. ($3.4 billion), Tony Tan Caktiong ($3.4 billion), David Consunji ($3.1 billion), Andrew Tan ($2.5 billion), Roberto Coyiuto Jr. ($1.5 billion), Manuel Villar ($1.5 billion), Ramon Ang ($1.4 billion), Eduardo Cojuangco ($1.2 billion), Roberto Ongpin ($1.1 billion) and Edgar Sia ($1 billion).
It was Ang and Sia’s first time to make it in the global elite list.
| World Rank | PH Rank | Name | Net Worth ($) | Age | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94 | 1 | Henry Sy | 12.7 billion | 92 | SM Investments Corporation |
| 250 | 2 | John Gokongwei Jr. | 5.8 billion | 90 | diversified |
| 501 | 3 | Lucio Tan | 3.7 billion | 82 | diversified |
| 544 | 4 | George Ty | 3.5 billion | 84 | banking |
| 564 | 5 | Enrique Razon Jr. | 3.4 billion | 57 | ports |
| 564 | 6 | Tony Tan Caktiong | 3.4 billion | 64 | fast food |
| 630 | 7 | David Consunji | 3.1 billion | 95 | construction |
| 814 | 8 | Andrew Tan | 2.5 billion | 64 | diversified |
| 1376 | 9 | Roberto Coyiuto Jr. | 1.5 billion | 64 | power |
| 1376 | 10 | Manuel Villar | 1.5 billion | 67 | real estate |
| 1468 | 11 | Ramon Ang | 1.4 billion | 63 | diversified |
| 1678 | 12 | Eduardo Cojuangco | 1.2 billion | 81 | food, drinks |
| 1795 | 13 | Roberto Ongpin | 1.1 billion | 80 | diversified |
| 1940 | 14 | Edgar Sia | 1 billion | 40 | fast food |
 |
| Three more Pinoys joined Forbes’ billionaire list this year. |
According to the US-based business magazine, they considered stock prices and exchange rates from around the world to come up with their net worth. Moreover, they favored individuals rather than multigenerational families who share big fortunes.
“The Forbes Billionaires list is a snapshot of wealth taken on February 17, 2017; we used stock prices and exchange rates from around the world to calculate net worth. Some fortunes have changed considerably since then,” Forbes magazine explained.
Bill Gates topped the list of 2,043 billionaires with $86 billion net worth.
--Mini, The Summit Express
