Richest billionaires in health care

The first billionaire is generally considered to be John D. Rockefeller in 1916, though some argue it was Henry Ford in 1925.

Fast-forward some 100 years to 2021: As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage, a record-breaking 660 people became billionaires globally, growing the previous year's number by 30%.

While the United States has the most billionaires of any country, Americans are somewhat split on their feelings about the billionaire class. According to data from the Pew Research Center, the nation became somewhat more critical of billionaires between 2020 and 2021.

Although support for individual billionaires like Bill Gates is relatively strong, many Americans view the ultrarich—as a group rather than as individuals—negatively. Meanwhile, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is projected to become the world's first trillionaire by 2026.

Health care billionaires profit from an industry that touches every life. From pharmaceutical giants to medical device companies, their wealth comes from innovation and demand in one of the most critical sectors of the global economy.

Stacker compiled the richest billionaires in health care using data from Forbes. Data is as of September 23, 2025.

#20. Amy Wyss
- Net worth: $2.0 billion
- Source: Medical equipment
- Lives in: Wilson, Wyoming

#19. John Abele & family
- Net worth: $2.0 billion
- Source: Health care
- Lives in: Shelburne, Vermont

#18. Phillip Frost
- Net worth: $2.1 billion
- Source: Pharmaceuticals
- Lives in: Miami Beach, Florida

#17. Dennis Gillings
- Net worth: $2.1 billion
- Source: Clinical trials
- Lives in: Durham, North Carolina

#16. Alice Schwartz
- Net worth: $2.1 billion
- Source: Medical devices
- Lives in: El Cerrito, California

#15. Leonard Schleifer
- Net worth: $2.1 billion
- Source: Pharmaceuticals
- Lives in: Tarrytown, New York

#14. Wayne Rothbaum
- Net worth: $2.6 billion
- Source: Biotech investing
- Lives in: Delray Beach, Florida

#13. August Troendle
- Net worth: $3.7 billion
- Source: Pharmaceutical services
- Lives in: Cincinnati, Ohio

#12. Jeff Tangney
- Net worth: $4.1 billion
- Source: Health care IT
- Lives in: Palo Alto, California

#11. Pat Stryker
- Net worth: $4.0 billion
- Source: Medical equipment
- Lives in: Fort Collins, Colorado

#10. Stewart Rahr
- Net worth: $4.3 billion
- Source: Drug distribution
- Lives in: New York, New York

#9. Hansjoerg Wyss
- Net worth: $4.8 billion
- Source: Medical devices
- Lives in: Wilson, Wyoming

#8. Jon Stryker
- Net worth: $5.5 billion
- Source: Medical equipment
- Lives in: New York, New York

#7. Patrick Soon-Shiong
- Net worth: $5.7 billion
- Source: Pharmaceuticals
- Lives in: Los Angeles, California

#6. Reinhold Schmieding
- Net worth: $6.1 billion
- Source: Medical devices
- Lives in: Naples, Florida

#5. John Brown
- Net worth: $8.2 billion
- Source: Medical equipment
- Lives in: Atlanta, Georgia

#4. Ronda Stryker
- Net worth: $8.3 billion
- Source: Medical equipment
- Lives in: Portage, Michigan

#3. Carl Cook
- Net worth: $11.4 billion
- Source: Medical devices
- Lives in: Bloomington, Indiana

#2. Robert Duggan
- Net worth: $13.0 billion
- Source: Pharmaceuticals
- Lives in: Miami, Florida

#1. Thomas Frist Jr & family
- Net worth: $32.8 billion
- Source: Hospitals
- Lives in: Nashville, Tennessee