George Yancopoulos: George Yancopoulos Net Worth, Biography, Age, Spouse, Children & More

About George Yancopoulos

George D. Yancopoulos, born in 1959, is a prominent Greek-American biomedical scientist and a key figure in biopharmaceutical innovation as the co-founder, president, and chief scientific officer of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Demonstrating academic excellence, Yancopoulos graduated valedictorian from both the Bronx High School of Science and Columbia College, later earning MD and PhD degrees from Columbia University's College of Physicians & Surgeons in 1987. Throughout the 1990s, his research, which included cloning novel families of growth factors and developing groundbreaking "human mice" models for drug testing, positioned him as the eleventh most cited scientist globally. Since leaving academia in 1989 to establish Regeneron Pharmaceuticals with Leonard Schleifer, Yancopoulos has achieved billionaire status through his stake in the company and has actively contributed to STEM education. His scientific achievements have earned him induction into the National Academy of Sciences and multiple awards, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year 2016 National Award in life sciences, despite facing controversies over comments and behaviors related to privilege and access to COVID-19 treatments. Yancopoulos also holds several key board memberships, reinforcing his influential role in the scientific and biomedical fields.

Born

September 10, 1959

Age

66 years

Source Of Wealth

Pharmaceuticals

Industries

Healthcare

Citizenship

United States

Residence

Yorktown Heights, New York

Education

Medical Doctor, Columbia University; Ph.D, Columbia University

## Early Years & Childhood

George D. Yancopoulos was born in 1959. He is a Greek-American biomedical scientist who co-founded, currently serves as president, and is the chief scientific officer of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

## Family

No information provided.

## Career Highlights

George D. Yancopoulos has had a remarkable career in the field of biomedical science. Some of his notable career highlights include:

Elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2004.
Ranked as the eleventh most highly cited scientist in the world during the 1990s.
Cloned novel families of growth factors, including ephrins/Ephs and angiopoietins.
Elucidated the basis of how many receptors work.
Proposed making mouse models with genetically human immune systems ("Human mice").
Developed "the most valuable mouse ever made" with human-like immune systems for testing pharmaceuticals.

## Companies

George D. Yancopoulos has been involved with several companies throughout his career, including:

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (co-founder, president, and chief scientific officer)
Columbia University Medical Center
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Alliance on Cancer Gene Therapy
Scleroderma Research Foundation
Pershing Square Cancer Research Alliance

## Major Achievements

George D. Yancopoulos has made significant contributions to the field of biomedical science. Some of his major achievements include:

Co-founding Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a leading biotechnology company.
Developing "the most valuable mouse ever made" with human-like immune systems for testing pharmaceuticals.
Leading the launch of the Regeneron Genetics Center in 2014.
Becoming a billionaire through his financial stake in Regeneron.

## Awards & Achievements

George D. Yancopoulos has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to biomedical science, including:

NY/NJ CEO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Columbia University's Stevens Triennial Prize for Research and University Medal of Excellence for Distinguished Achievement.
Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year 2016 National Award Winners in life sciences.

George D. Yancopoulos Young Scientist Award at the Westchester Science & Engineering Fair.
Inducted into the Bronx Science Hall of Fame in 2017.
Legends in Leadership Award from the Yale School of Management, CEO Institute in 2017.
Alexander Hamilton Award in 2019.
Recognized as one of America's 100 Most Innovative Leaders by Forbes in 2019.
Recognized as one of the World's 25 Greatest Leaders: Heroes of the Pandemic by Fortune in 2020.
Roy Vagelos Humanitarian Award for REGEN-COV in 2021.
Prix Galien Foundation and New York Intellectual Property Law Association's Inventors of the Year for REGEN-COV in 2021.

## Personal Life & Legacy

George D. Yancopoulos is married with two children. He is known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare. He has also been recognized for his leadership and contributions to the biotechnology industry.

## Trivia

Some interesting facts about George D. Yancopoulos include:

He graduated as valedictorian from Bronx High School of Science, Columbia College, and Columbia University's College of Physicians & Surgeons.
He left academia in 1989 to co-found Regeneron Pharmaceuticals with Leonard Schleifer.
He is actively involved in Regeneron's STEM Education commitments.
He has been involved in several controversies related to race, privilege, and preferential treatment.
He has published numerous scientific papers and holds several patents.

Wealth History

Timeline

1959

George D. Yancopoulos was born.

1987

George D. Yancopoulos received MD and PhD degrees from Columbia University's College of Physicians & Surgeons.

1989

George D. Yancopoulos left academia to co-found Regeneron Pharmaceuticals with Leonard Schleifer.

1990s

George D. Yancopoulos was ranked as the eleventh most highly cited scientist in the world.

2004

George D. Yancopoulos was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

2012

George D. Yancopoulos received the NY/NJ CEO Lifetime Achievement Award.

2014

George D. Yancopoulos led the launch of the Regeneron Genetics Center.

2016

George D. Yancopoulos was named president of Regeneron and won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year 2016 National Award in life sciences.

2017

George D. Yancopoulos was inducted into the Bronx Science Hall of Fame and received the Legends in Leadership Award from the Yale School of Management, CEO Institute.

2019

George D. Yancopoulos received the Alexander Hamilton Award and was recognized as one of America's 100 Most Innovative Leaders by Forbes.

2020

George D. Yancopoulos was recognized as one of the World's 25 Greatest Leaders: Heroes of the Pandemic by Fortune.

2021

George D. Yancopoulos received the Roy Vagelos Humanitarian Award for REGEN-COV and was named Inventors of the Year by the Prix Galien Foundation and New York Intellectual Property Law Association.

George Yancopoulos : FAQs

What is George Yancopoulos's current net worth?

George Yancopoulos's current net worth is $1.73 billion.

What is George Yancopoulos's current global rank among billionaires?

George Yancopoulos holds the 2314th position globally among billionaires.

What is George Yancopoulos's current ranking within the United States?

George Yancopoulos holds the 742nd position in United States.

What was the change in George Yancopoulos's net worth compared to the previous year?

George Yancopoulos's net worth decreased by 21.63 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 1.75 billion dollars.

What are George Yancopoulos's main sources of wealth?

George Yancopoulos's main source of income comes from Pharmaceuticals.

In which industry does George Yancopoulos primarily operate?

George Yancopoulos is primarily involved in the Healthcare industry.

What is George Yancopoulos educational background?

George Yancopoulos holds a Medical Doctor from Columbia University and a Ph.D from Columbia University.

How old is George Yancopoulos?

George Yancopoulos is 66 years old.

How many children does George Yancopoulos have?

George Yancopoulos has 2 children.

Who is George D. Yancopoulos and what is his significance in the biomedical field?

George D. Yancopoulos, born in 1959, is a prominent Greek-American biomedical scientist, co-founder, president, and chief scientific officer of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. He's known for his contributions to cloning novel families of growth factors and developing advanced mouse models for pharmaceutical testing.

What are some of George D. Yancopoulos's notable achievements in his scientific career?

Yancopoulos was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2004, ranked as the eleventh most highly cited scientist in the 1990s, and has contributed significantly to our understanding of growth factors and receptor mechanisms.

How did George D. Yancopoulos contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic?

George D. Yancopoulos played a pivotal role in the development of REGEN-COV, an experimental COVID-19 therapeutic, which earned him recognition and several accolades, including the Roy Vagelos Humanitarian Award in 2021.

What controversies has George D. Yancopoulos faced throughout his career?

Yancopoulos has faced criticism and controversy over comments made during a high school graduation speech in 2020, questions about preferential access to REGEN-COV, and received unusual treatment from New York state related to personal COVID-19 testing.