Medtech's Billionaires: #8 Gary Michelson

Gary Michelson is a prolific inventor, with more than 250 U.S. patents and over 750 worldwide issued or pending patents for devices and procedures to treat spine and orthopedic problems. It was some of these patents that led to his wealth—after years of litigation with Medtronic, he was awarded a $1.35 billion settlement.

He founded The Michelson Twenty Million Minds Foundation (20MM) to replace expensive college textbooks with an open architecture digital platform. Michelson is also passionate about stray animal causes, founding the Found Animals Foundation to care for these animals. He is also offering a $25 million prize to the inventor of a non-surgical pet sterilization procedure. In addition, he founded the Medical Research Foundation Trust and the Michelson Medical Research Foundation.

According to his biography on the 20MM Web site, Michelson was inspired to become a physician by his grandmother, who struggled with a spinal deformity. He earned his medical degree at Hahnemann Medical College and practiced for 25 years as a spine surgeon.