Juan Villareal was born in Manila before moving to the United States where he graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in international economics. In the finance world Villareal held the post of director at multiple organisations including CRT Capital Group, BNP Paribas, RBS, and AMRO Bank. In addition to his work in finance, he had a love of sports, which included representing the Philippines at the 1976 Montréal Olympics in sailing. Along with compatriot Jesús Villareal the pair competed in the Tempest class where they finished 16th. Juan Villareal was killed in a motorcycle accident in May 2021 in New York.