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Last Updated on December 20, 2021 by Lamudi
A guide to the richest Filipinos and their real estate businesses.
What do most of the richest Filipinos have in common? A great majority of them are in the real estate business. In fact, two of the Philippines’ largest property developers – SM and Ayala Land – are owned by the Sys and the Zobel de Ayalas, ranked first and ninth in the Forbes 50 richest list.
Lamudi Philippines has compiled a list of the richest Filipinos engaged in real estate, and some of the projects they are known for.
Henry Sy and family
Known as the Philippines’ king of retail, Henry Sy and his family are behind the very successful SM malls. In recent years, Sy ventured into mid-end residential condo development to take advantage of the increasing spending power of overseas Filipino workers. Its very first high-rise project isMezza Residencesin Santa Mesa, Quezon City, while in late 2014, the company launched its first high-end residential condo: Air Residences in Makati. Sy also partnered with Macau’s Stanley Ho to build a billion-dollar integrated resort – City of Dreams Manila. Henry Sy and family ranked one inForbes’ 2022 richest Philippine billionaires.
Manny Villar
Former senator and presidential candidate Manny Villar is the owner of Vista Land, the country’s largest homebuilder. The company ownsCamellaHomes, a subdivision developer present in about 200 locations across the Philippines, and has built over 250,000 houses in its 38-year history. The company has also forayed into high-end condo, mall, and upscale township developments. Manny Villar ranked two in the 2022 Forbes Philippines richest billionaires.
John Gokongwei
Gokongwei is the owner of Robinsons Land, a company engaged in the mall, condo, communities, and hotel development. His successful Robinsons malls chain is present in 37 locations around the Philippines, while his Robinsons Residences brand is behind some of Metro Manila’s most successful real estate projects, such asTrion TowersandSonata Private Residences. The Gokongwei siblings ranked fourth in the 2022 Philippines’ richest billionaires by Forbes.
David Consunji
Consunji is the owner of one of the Philippines’ largest construction companies, DMCI Holdings, with stakes in water services, energy, mining, and power generation. His real estate business, DMCI Homes, is behind some of the Philippines’ most successful mid-end, no-frills residential projects, such asAcacia Estates,Rhapsody Residences, andRaya Gardens, among others. The Consunjis ranked sixth in the 2022 richest Filipino billionaires by Forbes.
Tony Tan Caktiong and family
Fast-food king Tony Tan Caktiong is the name behind Jollibee, the country’s largest fast-food chain. He also partnered with Mang Inasal founder Edgar Sia to establish Double Dragon Properties, with stakes in residential condos and shopping mall development. Tony Tan Caktiong and family ranked seven in the Forbes Philippines richest billionaires in 2022.
Jaime Zobel de Ayala and family
This is perhaps the Philippines’ oldest business family. The name Zobel de Ayala is synonymous with Makati, the country’s business and financial capital. The family is instrumental in the creation of Bonifacio Global City andNuvali. The real estate business Ayala Land Corp. has massive townships in the pipeline, includingArca South,Circuit Makati, Alviera, andVertis North, among others. It is also the most diversified real estate company in the Philippines, with stakes in residential and commercial property development, mall operation, construction, hotels and resorts, and property management. Jaime Zobel de Ayala is rank eight in the 2022 richest Filipino billionaires by Forbes.
Andrew Tan
The pioneer of the live-work-play-learn concept in Philippine real estate, Andrew Tan, is behind some of the most successful township projects in the Philippines. These include McKinley Hill,Eastwood City, andForbes Town Center. His company Alliance Global, together with Genting Hong Kong, is about to buildResorts World Manila. Andrew Tan ranked 10 in the 2022 richest Philippine billionaires by Forbes.
Lucio Tan and family
Tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan is moderately successful in real estate, but his company Eton Properties, has notable projects under its belt. Tan launched hisEton Centrisproject in Quezon City in 2008, a 12-hectare, mixed-use project intended primarily for BPO companies. Lucio Tan and family ranked 11th in the 2022 Forbes Philippines richest billionaires.
George Ty and family
Banker George Ty is the owner of GT Holdings, the company that owns Metrobank, one of the Philippines’ largest banks. His real estate business Federal Land developed many residential communities across the Philippines and is now buildingVeritown Fort, a mixed-use project in Bonifacio Global City. It will comprise luxury condos, office towers, and the country’s third Hyatt hotel. The Ty siblings ranked 12th in the 2022 Forbes Philippines richest billionaires.
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