Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare (Source: LinkedIn)

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was tragically shot in Manhattan yesterday and his untimely death shocked the business community and raised questions about safety mechanisms for such corporate leaders. The murder case is still being investigated and authorities believe it was a targeted attack.
Thompson, who was fatally shot outside a New York hotel, managed a portfolio that generated $74 billion in sales last quarter. His annual compensation package, consisting of salary, bonus and stock options, totaled $10.2 million, making him one of the company’s highest-paid executives.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, accompanied by Detective Chief Joseph Kenny, speaks about the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel during a news conference at police headquarters on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

While his base salary was reportedly $1 million, the other significant equity and other profit components through stock awards and option grants totaled more than $20 million as of early 2024. Plus, add a no-equity incentive and a hefty annual income.
Brian Thompson began working at UnitedHealth Group in 2004. Brian began his employment as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He then climbed the corporate ladder and was eventually named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021. His leadership helped the company expand and offer coverage to more than 49 million Americans as it remains the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the United States.

Members of the New York Police Department’s crime scene unit pick up cups marking the locations of bullets as they examine the crime scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan, where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, on Wednesday, December 4 2024, was fatally shot. in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

UnitedHealthcare is a health insurance and services company based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. It is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest health insurers in the United States, offering a wide range of health insurance plans to individuals, families, employers and Medicare recipients. The company was founded in 1977 as United HealthCare Corporation and initially focused on creating network-based health plans for seniors. It was later reorganized into several companies to meet the needs of different population groups