R udolf Maag is a Swiss billionaire entrepreneur who built his fortune in the medical devices industry. After earning an MBA from INSEAD, he began his career at Sandoz AG before joining the dental implant company Straumann. In a career-defining move in 1990, he acquired Straumann's medical device division, which he later spun off and listed as Stratec Medical. He successfully merged Stratec with Synthes, a global leader in orthopedic devices, in 1999.

Maag became a major shareholder in the combined entity, Synthes-Stratec, eventually holding a 15% stake. When Johnson & Johnson acquired Synthes for nearly $20 billion in 2012, Maag cashed out, solidifying his billionaire status. Since then, he has focused on investing his wealth in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, construction, and hospitality (owning the Bellevue Hotel). He is also a notable philanthropist, supporting arts and cultural institutions in Switzerland.