Sharon Cuneta, 58, made big bucks as a celebrated movie star, but it was her smart investments that grew her money and made her a billionaire.
At a media junket for the fifth anniversary celebration of In Life Sheroes held at The Peninsula Manila, the Megastar disclosed that it was her father Pablo Cuneta who taught her how to handle her earnings well.
When PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked if she remembers when she made her first million, Sharon answered, smiling, “I was 15, 16.”
It was her talent fee for her very first movie, Dear Heart, which she co-headlined with Gabby Concepcion in 1981.
Sharon explained, “Coz I started singing at 12. I did my first movie at 15.
“At that time, I was [the highest-paid] newbie. I was being paid the suweldo of a superstar that time.
“Coz my dad gave that price for Dear Heart thinking they would say, ‘Sobra naman.’ E, kinol. So, biglang napilitan, happily.
“So, I really saved it. My parents didn’t touch my money.”
Since then, Sharon said she really made it a point to invest her earnings.
PEP.ph asked again, when did she make her first billion?
Sharon initially answered that it was at the age of 30, when she married former Senator Kiko Pangilinan.
Then she clarified that she was in her early to mid-30s when she earned her first billion pesos, finally crossing it off her bucket list.
“I answered I made my first billion before I married Kiko — mali pala ako!” Sharon explained in a text message sent out to the select entertainment editors who interviewed her at the junket.
“I was making a mental list of my savings’ timeline. When I got home, ngek.
“First million dollars at around 24.
“At 30, which was when I married, I promised myself and wrote down that I would become a billionaire asap and had two witnesses to sign it!
“One was Maricar Ong and the other, if I remember it right, was Sandy Santamaria.
“Then I hit my first one billion pesos in my early or mid-thirties! Best as I could remember.”
SHARON’S TIPS ON INVESTING IN PROPERTIES
Back to her interview at the junket, Sharon candidly shared that one of her go-to investments is acquiring real-estate properties because they appreciate and can be later sold at a much higher price.
“My income from showbiz, I have been able to grow five to ten times more because of my investments.
“You’re not doing anything. You’re just singing, di mo pinapansin. I was just doing what I love.
“The important things to remember are: location, location, location.”
Then the Megastar gave simple tips for beginners who are planning to invest their hard-earned money.
“My question to myself before I buy a property, would I live in it?
“If it’s something meant for hindi artista—kasi ako, pag artista marami kang ano…
“If it’s medyo middle class, would they want to live here? May tubig ba dito? Mababaha ka ba dito?
“All the things we are afraid of, you list it down: ayoko ng baha, ayoko ng walang tubig. Ayoko ng mababangga ako kapag may truck na nawalan ng break.
“Yung mga ganun lang kasimple.
“And kapag bago, okay ba developer nito? Ano ang track record?”
SHARON’S TIPS ON INVESTING IN STOCKS
With regard to investing in stocks, Sharon underlined, “Invest in what you know.”
She elaborated, “Another thing is, people will stay stocks. But my warning for everyone is do not invest in what you do not understand.
“If you know someone who’s good in stocks, then you ask for advice. If you are wanting to buy stocks, as a beginner investor in stocks, I will just say—that’s the No. 1 lesson— don’t put all your money there.
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify the portfolio.
“When you buy stocks and you have little money, and you’re really not into ‘I will invest millions here.’ Then you can start investing in what you are aware of.
“What do you do? You have PLDT, you have Meralco. Do you go to SM? How is SM doing? Is it developing many residential properties? Does it have mall after mall after mall?
“Is Aboitiz company still doing great? Yes it is. We do not have Super Ferry anymore, but they’re one of the richest, one of the best companies.
“It’s companies na every day nakikita mo. Saan galing itong softdrink ko?”
Sharon added, “Try mo muna. Don’t go overboard. It’s always hit or miss in the beginning, then after a while, natututo ka na, it becomes easier.”
SHARON: “INVEST IN YOURSELF.”
As a final advice, Sharon said that an expertise in a particular field of career can also be considered an investment.
She elaborated, “Find out what your gifts are. If you are a writer, let’s say you write for a great newspaper.
“On YouTube, you can find so many ways to make money as a writer.
“You can write self-published books and make money.
“If you write a thousand words a day in five or six years, you will come up with something.
“And always write what you know. You can teach people by your experiences.
“Kahit problema nga, e, puwede mong gawing teaching tool.”
ON SPENDING HER MONEY WISELY
Sharon pointed out that her financial achievement may be an exceptional case since she’s a celebrity who started her career in the entertainment industry when she was 12 years old.
What she emphasized was the value of spending money wisely.
“My father taught me this: it’s easier to make 10M from 1M, than to make your first million.
“But I was in showbiz, so it was faster for me. The thing is, I listened. So I grew and grew that.”
She also maintained that most of her luxurious purchases can give her profitable income later on.
“Actually, ganito yung thinking ko, kung meron akong pambili ng sampung Mercedes Benz…
“Wala akong mahal na kotse, kasi nagde-depreciate ang kotse. So, I’m still with my trustworthy van na matagal na. Hindi ako maarte sa kotse.
“I have jewelry. Why? Because I know they will appreciate, and I have girls, I have children.
“Even my Hermes bags, or whatever luxury I have… You know how much Chanel has increased their prices?
“And if you use an Hermes bag very well, but you take care of it, if you resell it, you’re still gonna make money and nagamit mo pa. That’s the way I shop.”
