Gary Michelson

Gary K. Michelson was born on January 14th, 1949. He is an orthopedic and spinal surgeon with board certification. He is also a philanthropist and innovator. In Philadelphia, he attended Central School, Hahnemann Medical College, and Temple University. Before retiring to focus on philanthropy, he worked in private practice for nearly 25 years.

He has around 100 research articles to his credit. As a result, he developed new technology, such as implants, equipment, and techniques, to help spine surgeons treat more spinal problems. In 2005, he sold many of his spine-related patents to Medtronic for more than $1 billion.

He was named a billionaire in 2005 after reaching a $1.35 billion settlement with Medtronic, a medical equipment maker, after years of litigation. Michelson is best recognized for his contributions to medical research, animal welfare, online textbooks, and tropical rainforest conservation.

Net Worth: $1.8B