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Sy siblings
Born
Teresita, Elizabeth, Henry Jr., Hans, Herbert, and Harley

October 1950–1959 (ages 66–74)
EducationAssumption College (Teresita)
Maryknoll College (Elizabeth)
De La Salle University (Sy brothers)
OccupationBusinesspeople
Years active1970s–present
Known forRichest people in the Philippines (2019–2024) as per Forbes by net worth; executives of the SM Group
Parents

The Sy siblings are a group of six Chinese Filipino businesspeople who are children of Henry Sy Sr. and Felicidad Tan. Recognized as belonging to the richest family in the Philippines, they as collective have often been noted by Forbes to be the richest in terms of net worth since Henry Sy Sr's death in 2019 until 2024. Each six siblings are U.S. dollar billionaires in their own right as of 2025, also according to Forbes.

Early lives

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The Sy siblings are children of Henry Sy Sr. and Felicidad Tan. Henry Sr., a migrant from Fukien, China (now Fujian, P.R. China) is known for his role in developing the SM Supermalls brand from a shoe store which opened in Carriedo, Manila in 1958.[1][2] The siblings were born within the first nine years of marriage of Herny Sy and Felicia Tan – Teresita (1950), Elizabeth (1952), Henry Jr. (1953), Hans (1955), Herbert (1956), and Harley (1959).[3][4]

Henry Sr. starts training the Sy siblings in the family business when they reach 13-years old. They are often given tours in SM stores during the weekends and are given menial tasks.[5] Hans Sy recalled working as a trash can cleaner, cash clerk and sales clerk within the family business.[5][6]

Teresita attended the Assumption College.[7] while her younger sister Elizabeth graduated from Maryknoll College (now Miriam College).[8] All four brothers attended the De La Salle University.[9][10][11][12]

Members

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All six siblings grew up to be businesspeople who have executive roles within their family's SM Group.[1]

Teresita Sy

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Main article: Teresita Sy-Coson

Teresita Sy-Coson (born October 1950) is the eldest among six siblings. At 22-years old, she was entrusted to by his father to help open the first branch of SM Department Store two months into the Martial law era under president Ferdinand Marcos. Sy-Coson is the chairperson on Banco de Oro (BDO) and oversaw the the bank's merger with Equitable PCI Bank which was initiated in 2004. She was married to lumber businessman Louis Coson who died in 2003[13][14]

Elizabeth Sy

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Elizabeth Sy (born 1952) is the president of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) the arm of the SM Group which manages hotels and convention centers established in 2008.[15]

Henry Sy Jr.

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Henry Sy Jr. (born 1953) became the director of SM Prime in 1994 and later its board chairman in 2014.

He was president and CEO of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for seven years serving until 2018.[16]

He is also the founder of the Big Boss Cement which he set up in 2017.[17] Big Boss' products are based on pozzolanic sand rather than limestone-derived clinker.[18]

Hans Sy

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Hans Sy (born 1955) is the fourth eldest. He is the chairman of SM Prime.[5][6] He has been director of the company since 1994.[13] Hans was also president of SM Prime until 2016.[9]

He was enstrusted by Henry Sr. to oversaw the construction of The SM Center North EDSA (now SM North EDSA) which opened in 1985.[13][19]

Sy is also chairman of China Bank and the National University.[9]

Herbert Sy

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Harley Sy (born 1956) is the second youngest son among the siblings.[4] He is the director of SM Prime.[11]

Harley Sy

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Harley Sy (born 1959) is the youngest among the siblings and fourth son of Henry Sy.[4] He is the executive director of SM Investments and director of China Bank.[20]

Wealth

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The Sy siblings are grouped as one entry by Forbes in wealth rankings. In 2024, they collectively are the top entry in Forbes Asia's 'Philippines' 50 Richest' list with the net worth of $11.1 billion as of 2024.[21] They were first recognized as the richest in the Philippines in 2019 following their father's death with a collective net worth of $17.2 billion.[22]

In the 2025 Forbes’ Billionaires however, the Sy siblings were listed separately – Henry Sy Jr. ($2.3-billion),, Hans Sy ($2.2-billion), Herbert Sy ($2.1-billion), Harley Sy ($1.9-billion), Teresita Sy-Coson ($1.9-billion) and Elizabeth Sy ($1.7-billion). They ranked sixth to eleventh richest in the Philippines. Manny Villar is the top Filipino entry at $17.2-billion.[23][24]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gutierrez, Jason (January 20, 2019). "Henry Sy, 94, Dies; Philippines' Richest Man and a Shopping Mall Tycoon". New York Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  2. ^ Gonzalez, Mia (January 19, 2019). "Fast Facts: Remembering Henry Sy Sr". Rappler. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  3. ^ Bautista, Charles Aames. "In Memoriam, The Legacy of Henry Sy, Sr". Tatler Asia. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Henry Sy Sr.: A Saga of Stunning Succes". Biz News Asia. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Gonzales, Iris (December 3, 2019). "How the taipans trained their second generation successors". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Pascual, Jekki (September 1, 2024). "'Stay humble, stay hungry': Sy family shares lessons from SM founder Henry Sy". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  7. ^ "Teresita Sy-Coson". Forbes.
  8. ^ "Elizabeth Sy". Forbes. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c "Hans Sy". Forbes. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  10. ^ "Henry Sy, Jr". Forbes.
  11. ^ a b "Herbert Sy". Forbes. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  12. ^ "Harley Tan Sy - SM.PH | SM Investments Corp". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c Fuentes, Arthur (March 24, 2025). "From sari-sari to SM: Sy-blings recall father's values that built business empire". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  14. ^ "Teresita Sy-Coson: Wealth, Business Empire, and Life Outside Work". Esquire Philippines. September 28, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  15. ^ Dumlao, Tina Arceo (March 16, 2024). "Meet the sterling chief of the SM Group". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  16. ^ Rivera, Danessa (March 28, 2018). "Sy Jr. steps down from NGCP". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  17. ^ "Henry Sy Jnr". Tatler Asia. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  18. ^ Dumlao-Abadilla, Doris (October 18, 2021). "Henry Sy Jr.'s Big Boss suspends cement business". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  19. ^ Flores, Wilson Lee (August 15, 2010). "The mall that started it all: Celebrating 25 years of SM City North EDSA". Bull Market, Bull Sheet. The Philippine Star Global. Retrieved December 18, 2015. Ever since it [SM City North EDSA] opened on Nov. 8, 1985...
  20. ^ "Harley Sy". Forbes.
  21. ^ Cabuenas, Jon Viktor (August 8, 2024). "Sy siblings continue to top Forbes Asia's 'Philippines' 50 Richest' list; Razon now 2nd". GMA News. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  22. ^ Dumlao-Abadilla, Doris (September 26, 2019). "Sy siblings on top of Forbes PH richest list". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  23. ^ "Manny Villar is Philippines' richest, according to Forbes 2025 Billionaires List". GMA News. April 2, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  24. ^ Loyola, James A. (April 2, 2025). "Forbes Magazine: Villar is back as richest Filipino, Sy family has most billionaires". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
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