Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot dead in New York City on Wednesday as his company prepared to hold its investor conference.
The 50-year-old was shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown at about 6:45 a.m., with the suspect fleeing on foot.
Thompson had worked for the health care company for 20 years and became CEO in 2021. He was in the city for the company's 2024 investor conference, which was abruptly canceled.
"I'm afraid that some of you may know we're dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members, and as a result I'm afraid we're going to have to bring to a close the event today, which I apologize for," UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said as the event was due to start.
"I'm sure you understand. We're going to go offline now from the broadcast. We'll share with you an alternative mechanism to update you. I apologize for bringing things to a close, but I hope you'll understand."
Who was Brian Thompson?
Thompson lived in Minnesota, where UnitedHealthcare is based, and had worked at the company since 2004, per its website.
Before becoming CEO in 2021, Thompson led the company's government programs, including Medicare & Retirement, and Community & State.
According to the company's website, he had held multiple leadership positions during his 20-year tenure.
Estimated net worth and salary
According to UnitedHealth Group's annual Proxy Statement for 2023, the latest available, Thompson's yearly salary was $1 million, but his total earnings with stock awards and other compensation brought that to $10,221,898.
He lived in Maple Grove, about 15 miles from United Health Group's headquarters, in a home Zillow estimates to be worth about $1.5 million.
Brian Thompson family: What we know
Thompson is reportedly survived by his wife Paulette R. Thompson, 51, and their two children. Paulette Thompson works as a physical therapist in Maple Grove.
According to her workplace profile with HealthPartners Park Nicollet, she grew up in Webster City, Iowa, before attending the University of Iowa, from where her husband also graduated.
"I love spending time with my two boys and taking them to all of their activities," she wrote. "I also love boating, spending time with family and friends, playing piano, biking, and traveling."
What is UnitedHealthcare?
UnitedHealthcare is a health benefits group and is the largest private health insurance provider in the U.S., covering some 49 million people.
The company is ranked eighth on the Fortune 500 2024 and employs more than 100,000 people around the world.
What was the 2024 Investor Conference?
The annual investor conference was due to begin at 8 a.m. ET in New York City on Wednesday. The event brings together analysts and institutional investors to discuss the company's long-term growth plans and efforts in moving health care forward.
According to MarketWatch, the company was predicting revenues of $450 billion to $455 billion in 2025.
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