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Brian Thompson was known as the CEO of UnitedHealthcare for three years. The late executive reportedly made major contributions to the health insurance company over his decades-long career. In December 2024, his life was cut short in after he was fatally shot before attending his company’s investor day in Midtown Manhattan. Authorities alleged the shooter matched Luigi Mangione’s description, and Mangione was arrested days later in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was charged with multiple state and federal counts in connection with the killing.
As of September 2025, a judge has dismissed two of the most serious charges against Mangione—first-degree murder and second-degree murder as acts of terrorism—ruling that the evidence was “legally insufficient” to support those terrorism-related allegations. He still faces a second-degree murder charge under New York state law, along with several related weapon and federal charges (including a federal murder count for which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty). Details are still unfolding as both state and federal proceedings move forward.
Amid the investigation, many have reflected on Thompson’s career at UnitedHealthcare. His rise to the executive ranks significantly increased his earnings. Learn more about his career and net worth, below.
What Did Brian Thompson Do for a Living?
Thompson worked at UnitedHealthcare for about 20 years. He previously served as the leader of UnitedHealthcare’s government programs, including medicare and retirement, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In his LinkedIn bio, Thompson indicated that he “served as chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare’s government programs business including Medicare & Retirement, the largest business dedicated to the health and well-being needs of seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries; and Community & State, which provides health care products and services to states that care for the economically disadvantaged, the medically underserved and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.”
Previously, Thompson served as the CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare & Retirement.
“I joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 in corporate development working on mergers and acquisitions, and since then, have held numerous leadership positions including chief financial officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, Community & State and Medicare & Retirement,” Thompson indicated on his LinkedIn page. “Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group, I was a practicing CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, serving as a manager in the Transaction Advisory Services group of the Audit practice. I am a graduate of the University of Iowa.”
Before he started working with the health insurance giant, Thompson was a CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Brian Thompson’s Salary at UnitedHealthcare
Thompson’s salary at United Healthcare was reportedly $10 million per year, according to Daily Mail. However, according to several outlets, he exercised more than $20 million worth of stock units in early 2024.
Brian Thompson’s Net Worth
Thompson had a net worth close to $43 million, according to WallMine, per Daily Beast.
