I Met a Filipino Billionaire Who Made His Fortune Selling Karaoke Machines

I recently met a Filipino billionaire.

He made his fortune selling karaoke machines.

This was a chance meeting in a "Class 2" city in the southern Philippines. He owns 100+ hectares of land, and he walked me through one of his luxury subdivisions himself.

Then he gave me his rules:

- Buy commercial, not residential
- You don't need partners to win
- Send your kids to the best schools you can afford
- Once you've made it, give to people who haven't

Karaoke machines became a property empire.

So I asked him a practical question.

How does a foreigner buy a house here when no bank will lend to one?

He offered to be my bank.

10% down. 8% interest.

The property empire had already become a lender. That's usually how it goes - once you have the money, lending it out beats spending it.

How many UHNWIs do you know lending capital?