Richest Women in the Philippines

Richest Women in the Philippines


Feminists claim there is still disparity between men’s and women’s income. Well, we’re not going to challenge that claim here, but we’re going to show you that this society has a place for women, too.
We have scoured the internet searching for references to lead us to top five richest women in the country.

1. Imelda Romualdez Marcos 

Former first-lady, the wife of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., the indefatigable, controversial and also charismatic “Iron Butterfly” and now congresswoman. She claims her husband was already rich from trading gold before rising to power, while her criticsaccuse her of ill-gotten wealth. Cosmopolitan magazine in December 1975 ranked her as one of the world’s top 10 richest women and speculated that Imelda might be the richest in the world and wealthier than even Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.




2. Cynthia Aguilar Villar

A business alumna of the University of the Philippines and an MBA graduate of New York University. She is the business partner of self-made realty tycoon Senator Manny Villar. Cynthia is scion of the Aguilar political clan of Las Piñas.




3. Imelda O. Cojuangco

The philanthropist widow of the late Ramon Cojuangco increased her wealth the sale of PLDT stocks to First Pacific during the Erap Estrada administration; Imelda Marcos claims the PLDT stocks were actually theirs.


4. Katherine Tan

The wife and top business confidant of the Philippines’ third richest billionaire Andrew Tan, who founded Alliance Global, Megaworld and Emperador Brandy.


5. Bea Zobel

Wife of Ayala conglomerate patriarch Jaime Zobel de Ayala, she is a philanthropist who has helped tribal minority people in Mindoro and other civic and culture causes.