Portrait of Gary Michelson

Rank #2334

Gary Michelson

Net worth $1.8B

Medical patents · United States

Born
Jan 14, 1949
Age
77
Source
Medical patents
Residence
Los Angeles, California
Citizenship
United States
Marital status
Married
Children
1
Education
Medical Doctor, Hahnemann Medical College; Bachelor of Arts/Science, Temple University

Net worth over time

Biography

  • Gary Michelson is a retired orthopedic and spinal surgeon who holds some 340 U.S. patents for orthopedic and spinal surgery instruments.
  • He became a billionaire in 2005 when he reached a $1.35 billion settlement with medical device giant Medtronic after years of litigation.
  • Michelson, who signed the Giving Pledge in 2016, has founded several nonprofits to give to medical research, animal welfare and education.
  • A few of Michelson's philanthropic efforts include planting 3.5 million teak trees in Costa Rica and creating a foundation to pair animal pets with homes.
  • Michelson donated $50 million to USC for the largest building on the University Park campus, the 190,000-square-foot Michelson Hall, which debuted 2017.