In this era of Internet billions, Henry Sy’s growing empire shows that there is still much wealth in old-fashioned bricks-and-mortar enterprises.

Of the 1,226 people on Forbes magazine’s new annual World’s Billionaires rankings, Henry Sy and his family’s SM retail empire placed 116, with a net worth of $8 billion.

Forbes.com released on Wednesday, (Thursday, PHL time) their annual list, a collection that includes six Filipinos.

Lucio Tan, who owns, among others, Asia Brewery and Philippine Airlines, was the second richest Filipino, coming in at 314, with a $3.5 billion total.

Andrew Tan, whose Alliance Global Group Inc. includes the Megaworld Corporation and the GOlden Arches Development Corporation, landed at 601 with $2.1 billion.

The youngest Filipino on the list at age 52, Enrique Razon Jr., was not far behind at 683, with $1.9 billion, thanks to his International Container Terminal Services company.

Rounding out the list are Eduardo Cojuangco at 960 ($1.3 billion) and Roberto Ongpin, 1153rd ($1 billion).

Last June, Forbes Asia also had Sy and Lucio Tan on top of their ‘The Philippines’ 40 Richest’ list, with $7.2 billion and $2.8 billion respectively.

Present on the Philippines’ list but not on the latest Forbes rankings were John Gokongwei Jr. ($2.4 billion in June), David Consunji ($1.9 billion in June), and Jaime Zobel de Ayala ($1.7 billion in June).

Forbes has been ranking billionaires for the past 25 years, estimating net worths by valuing ‘individuals’ assets, including stakes in public and private companies, real estate, yachts, art and cash’ while also accounting for debt.

This year’s rankings were based on ‘a snapshot of wealth on February 14, 2012,’ incorporating figures and data up to that date.   – Adrian M. Dy/OMG/HS, GMA News