David Licauco isn’t just a leading man—he’s a savvy entrepreneur, too. While many know him as the dashing Fidel from Maria Clara at Ibarra, the actor has also built a successful business empire alongside his entertainment career. In a recent interview with TikTok content creator Eiron Valdez, also known as “Iskul of Dizkarte,” David opened up about how he leveraged his showbiz earnings to invest in businesses, eventually amassing an impressive P50 million in a single year.
READ: David Licauco Earned P50M Through Showbiz and His Businesses
David’s journey in the entertainment industry began in 2017, and he quickly realized the importance of financial planning. Rather than spending frivolously, he made a conscious effort to invest his earnings into ventures that would generate long-term income. Today, he owns multiple branches of Kuya Korea and Sobra Cafe, two well-loved food spots. But his entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t stop at the food and beverage industry—he also runs a construction company.
When asked about the highest amount he earned in a year through his entertainment and business ventures, David playfully revealed the figure through a guessing game with Eiron. After a few attempts, the content creator landed on the correct number: P50 million.
David credits his business acumen to his upbringing in a business-oriented family. "It's more of like showbiz 'yung nakakagulat na pinasok ko kasi it wasn't in my plans. Dati, it was far-fetched for me 'yung acting."
Despite his success in entertainment, David remains aware of the industry’s unpredictability. "I feel like showbiz kasi is an industry na you never know kung kailan ka pwedeng mawala. 'Di mo alam kung may show ka, kung magkakaroon ka ng endorsements. The next thing you know, may bago nang David Licauco. I think it's wise to invest your money in business."
He also acknowledges his evolution as an entrepreneur, admitting that he was once more impulsive with his investments. "Reckless ako when it comes to investing. I think I'm in a stage of my life where [I] calculate risk. Kasi before, I'm the type of person who is 'Tara, game! Let's do it!' which is not a bad thing. I would think I should put in more time sa market study, 'di ba? Hindi na lang yung 'Oh sige, game!' kung meron kang naisip na negosyo. Kailangan siguro pag-isipan mo muna. Dapat maganda 'yung produkto mo."
Like any entrepreneur, David has faced his fair share of business setbacks. He started with franchising before launching his own concepts, and some ideas didn’t pan out. However, he never let failure deter him. Instead, he used these experiences as learning opportunities to refine his approach.
To further sharpen his skills, David enrolled at the London Business School, where he gained valuable insights from mentors who helped him develop a deeper sense of self-awareness.
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