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2376
In the world today
Harley Sy

Harley Sy

H. Sy
-0.28% | - $-4.59M
$1.64 B ₹ 14,912 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #2376 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Harley Sy

Gender

Male

Age

67Y

Country

Philippines

Born On

January, 1959

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

Unknown

Education

De La Salle University - Bachelor Of Science

Designation Info :

Self-Made

No

Entrepreneur Type

Inherited

Primary Organization

SM Investments

Titles

Executive Director

Sources of Wealth

SM Investments

Industry

Diversified, Retail, Real Estate, Finance

About Harley Sy


H arley Sy is a Filipino billionaire and a member of the powerful Sy family, one of the wealthiest families in the Philippines. He is one of six children of the late Henry Sy Sr., a self-made tycoon who founded the SM Group, the largest conglomerate in the Philippines. He started with a single shoe store and built a massive empire spanning retail, real estate, and banking.

Upon his father's death, Harley and his five siblings inherited his vast business empire. The family's key holdings include SM Investments, which controls the country's largest mall operator, SM Prime Holdings, and its largest bank, BDO Unibank. Harley has been deeply involved in the family's business for his entire career. He serves as an executive director of SM Investments and is also the chairman of China Banking Corporation, another major bank controlled by the family. He is a key member of the second generation that now leads the powerful family conglomerate.

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Quick Reads


  • An heir to the SM Group fortune, founded by his late father, Henry Sy Sr.
  • He and his five siblings control the largest conglomerate in the Philippines.
  • The family's assets include the country's largest mall operator and largest bank.
  • He is the Chairman of China Banking Corporation.
  • He serves as an executive director of the main family holding company, SM Investments.

Early Life and Background


Harley T. Sy is a Filipino businessman, the billionaire Executive Director of SM Investments Corporation (PSE: SM) and Chairman of China Banking Corporation. He is the youngest of Henry Sy Sr.'s six children and the fourth son, whose father founded the colossal SM empire.

Sy is a graduate of De La Salle University (like all four Sy sons) with a degree in Management. His career is defined by his decades-long, hands-on role in the family's empire, focusing on banking, retail, and real estate management. He is a key steward of the largest conglomerate in the Philippines.

Career Journey of Harley Sy


Harley Sy joined the board of SM Investments in 1993, serving for over 32 years. His primary focus has been on the Group's immense financial and retail assets. He serves as Vice Chairman and Treasurer of SM Retail Inc. (which controls Ace Hardware and Toy Kingdom) and as Director of China Banking Corporation, one of the family's core financial holdings.

His structural role involves ensuring the operational efficiency and financial stability of the retail division. He is actively involved in the Group's generational succession plan and the long-term strategic direction (including his advisory role at BDO Unibank). His wealth is secured by the massive, long-term appreciation of SM's assets across the Philippines and China and the immense cash flow generated by its vertically integrated empire.

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Harley Sy's Timeline


1993 (May):

Date of first appointment as a Director of SM Investments (Corporate Entry).

2019:

His father, Henry Sy Sr., passes away; Harley assumes his role as a key executive (Succession).

2025 (April 30):

Date of last re-election as a Director of SMIC (Governance).

Ongoing:

Continues as Executive Director of SMIC and Chairman of China Banking Corporation (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Harley Sy's wealth is concentrated in his family's controlling equity stake in the publicly traded conglomerate, SM Investments Corporation (PSE: SM).

  • SM Investments Corporation (Executive Director): The core asset, the largest retailer, bank, and property developer in the Philippines (controls SM Malls and BDO Unibank).
  • China Banking Corporation (Chairman): The family's key financial asset.
  • SM Retail Inc. (Vice Chairman & Treasurer): The subsidiary managing the Group's extensive retail chains (e.g., Ace Hardware).
  • Family Governance: He is the youngest of the six siblings who maintain controlling ownership of the multi-billion dollar empire.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Harley Sy's social impact is structural, stemming from SM Investments' role as a massive employer and foundational provider of retail, financial, and commercial infrastructure across the Philippines. The Group's philanthropic arm, the SM Foundation, supports education and healthcare, reflecting the family's commitment to social welfare.

His structural contribution is tied to the successful generational transition of the largest conglomerate in the Philippines, ensuring its continued dominance and stability in the essential consumer and financial sectors.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Harley Sy maintains the professional, composed style of a major Asian corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits. His aesthetic is one of stability and serious authority, reflecting his engineering and management background.

Residing in Manila, Philippines, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to the stewardship of his family's retail, banking, and real estate legacy, maintaining control over the largest conglomerate in the Philippines.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Executive Director of SM Investments and Chairman of China Banking Corporation.
  • He is the youngest of Henry Sy Sr.'s six children.
  • All four Sy sons are graduates of De La Salle University.
  • He holds the position of Vice Chairman and Treasurer of SM Retail Inc.
  • His father, Henry Sy Sr., was a Chinese immigrant who started with a shoe store.
  • He is a Director of China Banking Corporation.
  • His wealth is tied to the successful vertical integration of retail, banking, and real estate.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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