Born Loida Nicolas in 1942 in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, Philippines, and is an American businesswoman, who is probably best known for being the widow of Reginald F. Lewis, the founder, and CEO of TLC Beatrice. However, she is also recognized in her own right for serving in the position of CEO of TLC Beatrice International, as well as the current CEO of TLC Beatrice LLC, a family investment firm.
Have you ever wondered how rich Loida Nicolas-Lewis is? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that the total size of Loida’s net worth is as high as $600 million, as of late 2017, accumulated through her successful involvement in business which started in 1994.
Loida Nicolas-Lewis Net Worth $600 Million
Loida Nicolas-Lewis spent her childhood in her hometown, and went to St. Agnes Academy, after which she attended St. Theresa’s College, a private women’s college in Manila, Philippines, from where she graduated with a BA degree in Humanities. Afterwards, she continued her education at the University of the Philippines College of Law, from which she graduated with a BA in Law in 1960.
In 1968, she was admitted to the Philippine Bar, where she met her future husband Reginald F. Lewis. Before taking over the family business, Loida was rather a success in her own field of work; back in 1974 she passed the NY Bar and became the first Asian woman to achieve that distinction, being able to practice law in her native country, as well as the US. Her first work in the US was in the Law Students Civil Research Council in New York, but she was then appointed as an attorney with the Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1979, remaining in position until 1987, and was one of the integral parts of improving the lives and rights of Filipino immigrants in the US. Also, she is the co-author of the useful book “How to Get a Green Card”, with Ilona Bray JD, the sales of which also added to her wealth.
Her husband passed away in 1993 from brain cancer, and after a year spent in mourning, Loida took over the reins of TLC Beatrice International, the multinational food company, which her husband left her, seizing the CEO and Chair positions of the company. After several years of running the successful company, Loida decided to sell the firm in 1999, and in 2000 stepped down from her CEO and Chair positions.
She had alredy found herself in politics two years before selling the multinational food company, by co-founding the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations with Rodel Rodis, a lawyer, Alex Esclamado, a publisher, and civic leader Gloria Caoile. She became the National Chair of the movement in 2000, and was responsible for bringing Hillary Clinton to one of the organization’s conferences in New York. The association’s main goal is to bring Filipino people to notable positions in politics, and also to improve all aspects of their lives in the USA, including education, health, insurance and other aspects.
When it comes to speaking about her personal life, Loida Nicolas-Lewis was married to Reginald F. Lewis from 1969 until his death in 1993; the couple had two daughters together. Her current residence is in New York City. In her free time, she is very active serving at the Reginald F. Lewis (RFL) Foundation, which collaborates with a number of charity organizations.
