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339
In the world today
Patrick Soon-Shiong

Patrick Soon-Shiong

P. Soon-Shiong
0% | + $-0.02M
$9.61 B ₹ 89,992 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #339 Ranking as of 21 Mar 2026 By Forbes
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More on Patrick Soon-Shiong

Gender

Male

Age

73Y

Country

United States

Born On

July, 1952

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

2

Education

University Of The Witwatersrand – MD

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Pharmaceuticals)

Primary Organization

NantWorks

Titles

Founder & CEO

Sources of Wealth

Pharmaceuticals (Sold), NantWorks

Industry

Healthcare, Biotechnology, Media

About Patrick Soon-Shiong

P atrick Soon-Shiong is a South African-born American surgeon, scientist, and entrepreneur who has built a fortune by founding and selling multiple biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Born in South Africa to Chinese immigrant parents, he graduated from medical school at the age of 23. He later moved to Canada and then the United States, where he became a board-certified surgeon and a researcher at UCLA. As a surgeon, he performed the first-ever encapsulated-islet cell transplant, a groundbreaking procedure for treating diabetes.

Soon-Shiong's entrepreneurial career began when he left academia to commercialize his research. In 1997, he founded APP Pharmaceuticals, which he sold in 2008 for $4.6 billion. In 2001, he founded Abraxis BioScience, where he developed the blockbuster cancer drug Abraxane, a novel formulation of the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel. He sold Abraxis to Celgene in 2010 for over $3 billion. He has since established a network of health-tech companies under his NantWorks umbrella, aiming to create a new paradigm of data-driven, personalized healthcare. He is also the owner of the Los Angeles Times newspaper and a part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.

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Quick Reads

  • A surgeon-turned-entrepreneur who has founded and sold two major pharmaceutical companies.
  • Invented the blockbuster cancer drug Abraxane.
  • Now runs a network of health-tech companies under his NantWorks umbrella.
  • Owner of the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune.
  • A part-owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers.

Early Life and Background

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.B.B.Ch., M.Sc., is a South African-American physician, the self-made billionaire Founder and CEO of NantWorks (a massive technology conglomerate) and Former Executive of Abraxis BioScience. His career is rooted in elite medicine, serial entrepreneurship, and technological disruption.

Soon-Shiong graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa (1974) with a medical degree (M.B.B.Ch.) and earned a Master's degree in Medical Science from the University of British Columbia. His philosophical approach centers on personalized medicine, technological integration (AI and supercomputing), and long-term commitment to cancer and diabetes research.

  • NantWorks (Founder & CEO): The core private asset, a massive conglomerate spanning healthcare, supercomputing, and digital transformation (e.g., NantHealth, NantCell).
  • Abraxis BioScience (Former Founder & CEO): The pharmaceutical company he sold to Celgene for $2.9 billion in 2010 (creator of the Abraxane cancer drug).
  • Media Ownership: He acquired the Los Angeles Times and San Diego Union-Tribune in 2018 for $500 million.
  • Medical Pioneer: He is a renowned transplant surgeon and pioneer of the first successful encapsulated human islet transplant.

Career Journey of Patrick Soon-Shiong

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong's strategic genius was his commitment to cancer innovation. He developed the Abraxane cancer drug (a nanodrug delivery system), which became a blockbuster. The $2.9 billion sale of Abraxis BioScience to Celgene in 2010 secured his initial fortune. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering nanodrug delivery systems and advancing the field of personalized medicine.

He later founded NantWorks, focusing on AI, supercomputing, and immunotherapy to create a unified national health information system (a highly ambitious vision). His structural contribution is tied to funding and advancing foundational medical technology. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global biotechnology and technology sectors.

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Patrick Soon-Shiong's Timeline

1987:

Pioneers the first successful encapsulated human islet transplant (Medical Milestone).

1991:

Founds VaxGen (later Abraxis BioScience) (Founding 1).

2010 (April):

Sells Abraxis BioScience to Celgene for $2.9 billion (Major Exit).

2011:

Founds NantWorks (Founding 2).

2018 (June):

Acquires the Los Angeles Times for $500 million (Media Acquisition).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and CEO of NantWorks and media owner (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments

Patrick Soon-Shiong's wealth is concentrated in the liquid capital generated from the $2.9 billion sale of Abraxis BioScience to Celgene and his private technology holding, NantWorks.

  • NantWorks (Founder & CEO): The core private asset, a massive conglomerate spanning healthcare, supercomputing, and digital transformation (e.g., NantHealth, NantCell).
  • Abraxis BioScience (Former Founder & CEO): The pharmaceutical company he sold to Celgene for $2.9 billion in 2010 (creator of the Abraxane cancer drug).
  • Media Ownership: He acquired the Los Angeles Times and San Diego Union-Tribune in 2018 for $500 million.
  • Medical Pioneer: He is a renowned transplant surgeon and pioneer of the first successful encapsulated human islet transplant.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong's social impact is massive and structural, tied to his pioneering work in cancer treatment and diabetes research. His Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation supports various educational and community initiatives (including the $100 million commitment to combat climate change). His acquisition of the L.A. Times provided a structural contribution to civic journalism in California.

His structural contribution is tied to his belief in technological convergence and the power of big data and AI to solve the complex problems of healthcare.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong maintains the professional, composed style of a science-executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and intellectual depth, typical of a pioneer in the specialized biotech sector.

Residing in Los Angeles, California, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to biotechnology innovation, media ownership, and strategic investment.

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Quotes and Philosophy

No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia

  • He sold his pharmaceutical company, Abraxis BioScience, to Celgene for $2.9 billion.
  • He is a renowned transplant surgeon.
  • He acquired the Los Angeles Times for $500 million in 2018.
  • He founded NantWorks, a massive technology and healthcare conglomerate.
  • He holds a medical degree (M.B.B.Ch.) from Wits University (South Africa).
  • He is a major donor to cancer and diabetes research.
  • His wealth is tied to the successful monetization of nanodrug delivery systems.

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Sources & References

This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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