Ayala family
Ayala Corporation traces to 1834, when Domingo Roxas and Antonio de Ayala established the trading house Casa Roxas in Manila. The Zóbel de Ayala family entered the lineage through marriage, and the firm was renamed Ayala y Compañía in 1876, making it one of the oldest continuously operating business houses in Southeast Asia.
How the fortune was built
In 1851 the group helped establish the Philippines' first bank, later renamed Bank of the Philippine Islands. Postwar, the company transformed its Makati hacienda into the Philippines' first modern central business district, and in 1974 acquired what became Globe Telecom. The partnership converted to Ayala Corporation in 1968 and listed on Philippine exchanges in 1976.
Where the family invests today
Ayala's portfolio centers on Ayala Land, which announced a $2.5 billion leasing and hospitality investment plan for 2025–2029, alongside Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe Telecom, water utility Manila Water, and growing healthcare and private-education businesses. Renewable-energy arm ACEN received a large budget increase for 2025. The Zóbel de Ayala family, now into an eighth generation of leadership, continues to prioritize renewables, real estate, and digital services.
Investing in Philippines
See the full market guide for Philippines — currency, exchange, regulator, and how everyday investors there put money to work.
Go to Philippines →Other Philippines families
See the trends these families are backing
From family offices to venture investing — explore what's shaping capital across Asia.