An HCA Healthcare co-founder and shareholder tops the list of billionaires in U.S. healthcare.
Here are the top seven U.S. healthcare leaders on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index as of Feb. 21, ranked on descending net worth.
1. Thomas Frist Jr., MD: $22.6 billion
Dr. Frist is a co-founder and major shareholder of HCA Healthcare, a for-profit hospital operator based in Nashville, Tenn. HCA operates 182 hospitals and more than 2,300 care sites in 20 states and the United Kingdom.
2. Carl Cook: $10.4 billion
Mr. Cook is owner and CEO of Cook Group, a medical device manufacturer based in Bloomington, Ind.
3. Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD: $8.7 billion
Dr. Soon-Shiong invented the cancer drug Abraxane. He sold APP Pharmaceuticals to Fresenius Medical Care for $4.6 billion in 2008, and Abraxis BioScience to Celgene for $2.8 billion in 2010.
4. Ronda Stryker: $7.9 billion
Ms. Stryker is the director of and the largest individual shareholder in Stryker Corp., a medical equipment company. She owns 6 percent of the company.
5. Li Ge, PhD: $6.4 billion
Dr. Ge is chairman and CEO of WuXi AppTec, a a global R&D and manufacturing services company.
6. Reinhold Schmieding: $6.2 billion
Mr. Schmieding is the founder and president of Arthrex, a surgical device maker based in Naples, Fla.
7. Pat Stryker: $6.2 billion
Ms. Stryker is a shareholder of Stryker Corp., a medical equipment company founded by her grandfather.