Top 20 Molecular Millionaires

Filed in archive Corporate and Industrial News , Other Biotechnology News on May 31, 2006

Some people say there is no money in pursuing science. Genetic Engineering News' list of millionaires who made it big, thanks to biotechnology, proves that wrong. This is an annual listing of doctoral-degree-holding individuals who have made millions through ownership of biotechnology and pharmaceutical stocks.

"Scientists and commerce can go very well together," says John Sterling, Editor-in-Chief of GEN. "And their careers have staying power, despite the ups and downs that the biotech and pharmaceutical industries regularly experience. For scientists or would-be scientists, those who choose to pursue biotech careers can wind up fabulously wealthy."

Heading of this year's pack is Genentech's Chairman and CEO, Dr. Arthur Levinson (photo). Here's the full list, ranked according to their biotech-derived riches:

Over $300 Million
1. Arthur Levinson, Ph.D., Genentech

Over $250 Million
2. John Martin, Ph.D., Gilead Sciences

$50-100 Million
3. William A. Haseltine, Ph.D., Human Genome Sciences
4. Sol J. Barer, Ph.D., Celgene
5. Wayne T. Hockmeyer, Ph.D., MedImmune

$20-50 Million
6. Leonard Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
7. Orville G. Kolterman, Ph.D., Amylin Pharmaceuticals
8. Paul J. Maddon, M.D., Ph.D., Progenics
9. Leonard Bell, M.D., Alexion Pharmaceuticals
10. Mark H. Skolnick, Ph.D., Myriad Genetics
11. Elliot Hahn, Ph.D., Andrx
12. Elazar Rabbani, Ph.D., Enzo Biochem
13. Bruce L. A. Carter, Ph.D., ZymoGenetics
14. David M. Goldenberg, Sc.D., M.D., Immunomedics

$10-20 Million
15. Arthur T. Sands, M.D., Ph.D., Lexicon Genetics 16. Russell Howard, Ph.D., Maxygen
17. Henry Y. Pan, M.B.B.S (M.D.), Ph.D., Neurocrine Biosciences
18. Gary Wilcox, Ph.D., Icos
19. Dominic P. Behand, Ph.D., Arena Pharmaceutical
20. Edward Penhoet, Ph.D., Chiron

If you want to know more about these millionaires and their company's pipeline, read the full report from the June 1 Issue of Genetic Engineering News.