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.
