The wealthiest person in U.S. healthcare, as of Feb. 19, is Thomas Frist Jr., MD, co-founder of HCA Healthcare, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a ranking of the world’s 500 richest people across industries.
Total net worth: $45.4 billion
Year-to-date change: +$4.47 billion
Overall index ranking: 44
Dr. Frist is the major shareholder of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, a for-profit operator of about 2,400 care sites, including ASCs, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers and physician clinics.
HCA reported $75.6 billion in total revenue from 2025, an increase of $5 billion from 2024. Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare was $6.8 billion in 2025, an increase of more than $1 billion over 2024.
Dr. Frist co-founded the publicly traded health system with his father in the 1960s. He took it public for the third time in 2011 after two management buyouts and owns over 25% of the company with his family. While Dr. Frist doesn’t have an executive position at HCA, his sons, Thomas Frist III and William Frist, are board members.
Forbes gave him a self-made score of seven and a philanthropy score of two. Read about its methodology here.
At the Becker's 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference, taking place June 18–20 in Chicago, spine surgeons, orthopedic leaders and ASC executives will come together to explore minimally invasive techniques, ASC growth strategies and innovations shaping the future of outpatient spine care. Apply for complimentary registration now.
