Rags-to-riches retail tycoon Henry Sy, who began his career selling surplus American army boots during World War II and ended it a billionaire, died Saturday at age 94. The Chinese-Filipino businessman was a pioneer among the Philippines’ network of corporate elite and was worth $19 billion, according to Forbes, as the patriarch of SM Investments Corp., a vast conglomerate with interests spanning retail, banking, property, resorts and mining. He was the country’s richest man when he died, and had been for 11 years.

Source: Wall Street Journal January 19, 2019 11:15 UTC