As of October 2026, the richest doctor in the world is Dr. Thomas Frist Jr., the HCA Healthcare co-founder, with an estimated net worth of about $37 billion. This list ranks 10 physicians by estimated net worth, all of whom made their money from medicine or a medical business, from hospital and biotech founders to celebrity plastic surgeons. The top five are all billionaires. Doctors who made their fortunes mainly in TV and media are listed under special mentions.
| Rank | Name | Estimated net worth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Frist Jr. | $37 billion |
| 2 | Patrick Soon-Shiong | About $10 to $16 billion |
| 3 | Leonard Schleifer | $2.9 billion |
| 4 | Gary Michelson | $1.8 billion |
| 5 | Shamsheer Vayalil | $1.7 billion |
| 6 | James Andrews | $100 to $150 million |
| 7 | Terry Dubrow | $80 million |
| 8 | Paul Nassif | $60 million |
| 9 | Garth Fisher | $40 million |
| 10 | Robert Rey | $20 million |
1. Thomas Frist Jr.: Net worth $37 billion
Thomas Frist Jr. is a physician with an MD from Washington University who co-founded the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in 1968 with his father, Thomas Frist Sr., and Jack Massey. HCA went public in 1969, was taken private in 2006 and returned to the stock market in 2011, and is now one of the largest hospital operators in the United States.
His wealth is mostly his family’s stake of roughly a third of HCA Healthcare, which makes him by far the richest physician. Published estimates range from about $34 billion to $45 billion depending on the source and date.
Valuation basis: his family’s roughly 32% stake in HCA Healthcare at the current share price, which puts the fortune at about $37 billion.
2. Patrick Soon-Shiong: Net worth about $10 to $16 billion
Patrick Soon-Shiong was born in South Africa and became a transplant surgeon at UCLA. He co-founded the cancer drug maker Abraxis BioScience, which Celgene bought in 2010 in a deal valued at about $2.9 billion, then led NantKwest, which merged with ImmunityBio in 2021, and now serves as executive chairman of ImmunityBio.
He has owned the Los Angeles Times since 2018. Estimates of his fortune differ widely, from around $10 billion to about $16 billion.
Valuation basis: his holdings in ImmunityBio and other ventures plus proceeds from the 2010 sale of Abraxis BioScience, with the range reflecting conflicting published estimates.
3. Leonard Schleifer: Net worth $2.9 billion
Leonard Schleifer holds an MD-PhD and trained as a neurologist before co-founding the biotech company Regeneron in 1988 with George Yancopoulos. He serves as its chief executive.
His wealth is tied to his Regeneron shares and options, and published estimates move with the share price.
Valuation basis: a real-time estimate of about $2.9 billion based mainly on his Regeneron shares.
4. Gary Michelson: Net worth $1.8 billion
Gary Michelson built his fortune on medical patents, largely for spine surgery technology. In 2005 he sold many of his spine-related patents to Medtronic for $1.35 billion.
He founded the Michelson Medical Research Foundation, which funds medical research.
Valuation basis: the 2005 patent sale to Medtronic for $1.35 billion plus investments since, consistent with a current estimate of about $1.8 billion.
5. Shamsheer Vayalil: Net worth $1.7 billion
Shamsheer Vayalil is a radiologist who started with one hospital in Abu Dhabi in 2007 and built it into Burjeel Holdings, a network of hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in the Middle East. He is its founder and chairman.
His estimated net worth has moved with the Burjeel share price, with estimates between about $1.7 billion and $2.4 billion depending on the date.
Valuation basis: his controlling stake in Burjeel Holdings, at about $1.7 billion on a current real-time estimate.
6. James Andrews: Net worth about $100 to $150 million
James Andrews is an orthopaedic surgeon who built his career around elite athletes, with patients including Roger Clemens, Michael Jordan and Drew Brees. He trained at Louisiana State University and Tulane, worked in Birmingham, Alabama and at the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida, and announced his retirement in 2023.
Published estimates run from about $100 million to $150 million.
Valuation basis: decades of surgical practice and institute work, with the range reflecting inconsistent published estimates.
7. Terry Dubrow: Net worth $80 million
Terry Dubrow is a plastic surgeon with degrees from UCLA and Yale. He rose to fame on the reality show The Swan and co-hosts the E! series Botched with Paul Nassif.
His net worth is estimated at around $80 million, though estimates vary by source.
Valuation basis: his surgical practice, TV pay, endorsements and real estate holdings.
8. Paul Nassif: Net worth $60 million
Paul Nassif is a facial plastic surgeon and ENT specialist. He co-hosts Botched on E! with Terry Dubrow and appeared in the first three seasons of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
His net worth is estimated at around $60 million, though estimates vary by source.
Valuation basis: his surgical practice and TV pay.
9. Garth Fisher: Net worth $40 million
Garth Fisher is a plastic surgeon with a celebrity clientele who was the first doctor selected for ABC’s Extreme Makeover. In 2006 he co-founded the skin care company CellCeuticals.
His net worth is estimated at around $40 million, though estimates vary by source.
Valuation basis: his surgical practice, skin care line and TV work.
10. Robert Rey: Net worth $20 million
Robert Rey is a Brazilian American plastic surgeon best known for the E! series Dr. 90210. He has also appeared as a guest medical correspondent on Good Morning America, Dr. Phil and The View.
His net worth is estimated at around $20 million.
Valuation basis: his surgical practice and TV work.
Special mentions
Dr. Phil McGraw holds a PhD in clinical psychology, but his fortune, estimated at around $400 million, comes mainly from hosting a long-running TV show, plus books and production income.
Mehmet Oz trained as a cardiothoracic surgeon, but his wealth, estimated at roughly $100 to $300 million, comes mainly from television and books.
Drew Pinsky earned his MD in 1984, but his estimated $25 million comes mainly from radio and TV work. Travis Stork, an emergency physician, and Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon, each earn most of their estimated $12 million from television and media.
Watch on Alux
Watch: Top 10 Richest Doctors In The World (Ranked)
The habits that let people afford this
Short audio lessons on money, mindset and discipline, in the Alux app.
Get the Alux app →FAQ
Who is the richest doctor in the world in 2026?
Dr. Thomas Frist Jr., co-founder of HCA Healthcare, with an estimated net worth of about $37 billion.
Who is the second richest doctor?
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a surgeon turned biotech founder and owner of the Los Angeles Times, at about $10 to $16 billion, depending on the source.
Who joined or moved on this list?
Thomas Frist Jr. now tops the list. Shamsheer Vayalil and Leonard Schleifer are new. TV-driven doctors such as Dr. Phil, Mehmet Oz and Drew Pinsky now sit under special mentions. Ron Paul and Wu Yiling were dropped.
Which TV doctor is richest?
Dr. Phil McGraw, with an estimated net worth of about $400 million, though he is a psychologist and appears under special mentions rather than in the ranking.
Are all the people on this list medical doctors?
All ranked entries are physicians. Dr. Phil holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and is covered under special mentions.
How are doctors’ net worth figures estimated?
They draw on company share holdings, business and patent sale prices, disclosure filings and show earnings. Estimates vary, so figures are approximate.
How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
For this list we used share holdings in listed companies, disclosed sale prices of businesses and patents, public financial disclosures, and reported contract and show earnings. Published estimates were treated as cross-checks only.
Last updated: October 2026.
