Home-Improvement Mogul Builds 23,000-Crocodile Farm Empire

  • William Belo becomes billionaire on Philippines building boom
  • Shares of his company, Wilcon Depot, have surged 41% this year
Baby crocodiles on a private farm.Photographer: Orlando Sierra/AFP via Getty Images
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Why own one crocodile when you can have thousands of them?

William Belo, whose Wilcon Depot Inc. dominates the Philippines home-improvement market with 57 stores nationwide, was already on the path to becoming a business success when he decided to try his hand at something different.