11 Pinoys in Forbes 2013 billionaires' list

(Updated 1:24 p.m.) Eleven Filipinos were named to the Forbes Magazine 2013 global billionaires' list, up from the six last year as the country's economy and stock market outperformed others.

Richest Filipinos “saw their fortunes rise even faster,” said Forbes.

“Despite European woes, the Philippines’ remittance-driven economy outperformed most of its neighbors... The stock market index gained 17 percent in the past year,” it  added.

Shopping mall tycoon Henry Sy and his family remain the country's richest, according to Forbes' list released Monday night.

Sy and his family ranked 68th on the list with a net worth of $13.2 billion as of March 2013.

"The Philippines' richest man Henry Sy saw his fortune swell by more than $5 billion as shares of his holding firm SM Investments, the country's most valuable company, surged by over 50 percent, fueled by reports that it may merge its property units," Forbes said.

Business magnate Lucio Tan—who owns alcohol, tobacco, airline and real estate firms—and his family came in at number 248 with a net worth of $5 billion, making him the second richest Filipino.

Tan, Forbes noted, “got his start as a chemical engineer and mopped floors to pay for school.”

Other Filipino billionaires who made the Forbes list are:
 
No. 258 Enrique Razon Jr. ($4.9 billion)
No. 345 Andrew Tan ($3.95 billion)
No. 503 David Consunji and family ($2.8 billion)
No. 554 George Ty and family ($2.6 billion)
No. 736 Lucio and Susan Co ($2 billion)
No. 931 Robert Coyiuto, Jr. ($1.6 billion)
No. 1031 Tony Tan Caktiong and family ($1.4 billion)
No. 1175 Andrew Gotianun and family ($1.2 billion)
No. 1175 Roberto Ongpin ($1.2 billion)
 
The new members of the billionaires' list are this year are Consunji and family, Ty and family, the Co couple, Coyiuto, Tan Caktiong and family, and Gotianun and family.

Forbes noted port operator Razon as the country's top gainer. “While Henry Sy retained his spot as the country’s richest person..., the country’s biggest gainer was Enrique Razon Jr., who became a billionaire just last year,” the publication noted.

Razon, who owns International Container Terminal Services, saw his wealth climb by over $3 billion after his hotel and casino venture, Bloomberry Resorts, debuted on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim Helu, Mexico's telecommunications magnate, remained the wealthiest man on the planet with a net worth of $73 billion. He is followed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates ($67 billion) and Amancio Ortega of Spanish retailer Zara ($57 billion).

This year, Forbes listed 1,426 billionaires across the globe with an aggregate net worth of $5.4 trillion, up from $4.6 trillion in 2012.

“Resurgent asset prices are the driving force behind the rising wealth of the super-rich around the globe,” said Forbes. — Sieg Alegado/VS/BM, GMA News