LIST: Philippines’ richest women and their net worths
Most are second-generation heiresses like the glamorous Astrid Leong-Teo in Crazy Rich Asians, some are wives to billionaires, others are self-made successful women. The one thing they have in common is they have hefty net worths.
Here’s a list of the country’s richest women, according to Forbes and sources in the business grapevine, in no particular order.
Sy sisters Teresita and Elizabeth
The Sy siblings are number one on the Forbes 2020 Philippines rich list with a combined net worth of $13.9 billion. Teresita Sy-Coson, or TSC, takes the top spotlight as the eldest daughter of the late rags-to-riches retail mogul Henry Sy Sr.
TSC has the more visible role in the Sy empire as chairman of BDO, the country’s top bank, and more often than not represents the group in global and local business gatherings.
Her sister Elizabeth is in charge of the SM Group’s hotels.
Gokongwei siblings Robina, Lisa, Faith, Hope and Marcia
The Gokongwei siblings with their brother Lance have a combined net worth of $4.1 billion. Robina heads the Gokongwei empire’s retail arm Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., while Lisa was recently tapped to handle the digital transformation and corporate services of the family-owned JG Summit Holdings on top of being in charge of Summit Media, the group’s publishing arm.
Faith, Hope and Marcia likewise play significant roles in the rest of the empire.
Susan Co
The wife of retail tycoon Lucio Co, with her husband, has a net worth of $1.7 billion. The couple is behind supermarket giant Puregold Price Club and has interests in gaming, hotels and wine distribution.
Mercedes Gotianun
Gotianun is chairman emeritus of the $1.5-billion Filinvest Development Corp., founded by her late husband Andrew Gotianun Sr. Their daughter Josephine now runs the company as president and CEO.
Ty sisters Alesandra and Anjanette
Their brothers Arthur and Alfred are the ones in the spotlight but sisters Alesandra and Anjanette are also heiresses of the late banking tycoon, George S.K. Ty, who founded Metrobank in 1963.
The siblings’ fortune comprises stakes in the publicly-listed GT Capital and Metropolitan Bank & Trust.
Vivian Que Azcona
She is the queen of pharmacy with a net worth of $1.34 billion. The president of Mercury Drug, the largest drugstore chain in the Philippines, Azcona is the daughter of Mercury Drug founder Mariano Que who died in March 2017 at age 96.
She remains the largest shareholder of Mercury Drug; and her net worth includes stakes held by her siblings.
Consunji sisters Josefa, Luz, Maria and Cristina
The Consunji siblings led by eldest Isidro, have a combined net worth of $1.3 billion.
The sisters are Josefa, Luz, Maria and Cristina, who also play roles in the Consunji Group’s engineering empire.
Jocelyn Campos
The Campos siblings, with brothers Joselito and Jeffrey have a combined net worth of $600 million. They are heirs to the Unilab fortune, founded by their father Jose Campos and his business partner Mariano Tan, according to Forbes.
Jocelyn’s son Clinton runs Unilab while Jeffrey is at the helm of Greenfield Development; Joselito heads Del Monte Pacific.
Betty Ang
The low-key lady taipan who has a net worth of $185 million is the president and founder of Monde Nissin, one of the Philippines’ largest food manufacturers. The company is about to embark on a record P63 billion initial public offering.
Others also in the “richest women in the Philippines” list are:
Carmen Tan
Carmen, the first wife of taipan Lucio Tan, and her children are now the most visible in the Tan empire. Aside from local holdings, Carmen also has overseas holdings such as in Hong Kong and China.
Lizzy and Katrina Razon
The wife and only daughter of ports and casino tycoon Enrique “Ricky” Razon is likewise on this richest women’s list. Katrina has her own venture capital businesses, investing in companies she believes are sustainable and worthwhile.
Sheila Romero
The wife of billionaire Michael Romero, who owns Air Asia Philippines and other businesses, is likewise active in her husband’s businesses.
Ang daughters Cecile and Monica
Cecile and Monica Ang, daughters of tycoon Ramon Ang, are likewise active in their father’s business.
Cecile is an executive at San Miguel Corp. and plays important roles in many of the subsidiaries of the group. Monica is with Eagle Cement, the publicly listed cement giant owned by the Ang family.
Cynthia and Camille Villar
The daughter of real estate tycoon Manuel B. Villar, Camille, is vice chairman of Villar-owned All Home and plays many other significant roles in the Villar empire. Cynthia, who is in politics as a senator, was also born with a silver spoon, coming from the wealthy Aguilar family.
Juliette Romualdez
Juliette Romualdez, widow of Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez, a Filipino politician who died in 2012 and Imelda Marcos’ younger brother. She has a net worth of $160 million.
“Her fortune stems from the 2012 sale of a minority stake in Banco de Oro. She also holds a small stake in Benguet, the country’s oldest mining firm,” Forbes said.
Doris Magsaysay Ho
She is the president and CEO of the Magsaysay Group of Companies, which is involved in shipping, logistics, human resources, marine travel and tourism.
Ho is also a prominent face in business fora and a known environmentalist.
Candice Gotianuy Uy
Known as Cebu’s most prominent heiress, Candice is the chancellor and face of the University of Cebu, the school founded by her father, businessman and lawyer Augusto Go, in 1964.
