‘Superman’ Hans Sy, son of the Philippines’ richest man – the SM mall billionaire who helped rescue a baby from a trash can
Hans Sy is living up to the legacy of his dad, the retail, banking and property tycoon Henry Sy Sr – known for his charity and sustainability work as much as his wealth
Before his death in 2019, Chinese-Filipino billionaire Henry Sy Sr was the wealthiest man in the Philippines for 11 consecutive years. His legacy lives on through his six children who continue to dominate Forbes’ regular Philippines rich list.
Henry’s fourth child Hans Sy, 64, has emerged as the co-wealthiest of the six siblings – with a net worth of US$2.5 billion at the time of press, according to Forbes’ real-time ranking, tied only with younger brother Herbert Sy, 63.
Hans has recently stepped down as president of SM Prime Holdings – the Philippines’ largest integrated property developer behind more than 70 malls – and currently serves as the chairman of China Banking Corporation and Manila’s National University.
Read on to find out more about the man behind the billion-dollar smile and lavish suits.
He is ‘Superman’ to his friends
Hans' friends recall the billionaire as a protective and courageous friend when they were back in high school where he was known as “Superman”. When they were still students at a Chinese school in Manila, the young heir would defend his buddies whenever they found themselves in trouble. To them, he will always be the hero in a white polo and khaki trousers.
He is an avid collector of Philippine visual art
What does the wealthiest Sy spend his dollars on? Some of it you may find hanging on the walls of his mansion. Hans has had his heart on art ever since his dad introduced him to family friend and Spanish-born Filipino painter Juvenal Sanso. Hans owns a collection of 165 pieces from the acclaimed visual artist alone.
Hans helped an abandoned newborn baby
Once again proving himself to be “Superman”, Hans stepped up when an abandoned newborn baby was found in a trash bin in one of the family’s SM malls. They could have easily turned the poor child over to the authorities, but Hans decided to shoulder the baby’s medical expenses. Entrusting him to an orphanage, the boy found his happy-ever-after family in the United States.
He is not a fan of nepotism
Unlike other rich business moguls who make it easy for their children to inherit their empire, Hans wanted his own kids to prove their worth. Instead of handing out positions to them on a silver platter, he groomed a non-relative and warned them that he could hire a family outsider, encouraing the third generation of Sys to elevate their game.
He is an advocate for the environment
Hans Sy makes sure that he also gives back; not only to people in need, but to Mother Earth as well. He has continuously pushed for sustainability efforts in company malls, and in 2014, he made history by leading the largest solar installation in the Philippines. A whopping 5,760 solar panels were installed atop SM City North Edsa’s multilevel car park.