CEO Today Top 50 – Judith R. Faulkner
CEO Top 50
Name: Judith R. Faulkner
Net worth: Approx. $7.8 billion Executive pay: $7.4 million
Company: Epic Systems
Bio: Judith R. Faulkner graduated from Dickinson College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and received a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
In 1979, Faulkner co-founded Human Services Computing with Dr. John Greist shortly after completing her master’s degree. The company, later known as Epic Systems, was established in a basement at 2020 University Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin. Despite starting with a $70,000 investment from friends and family, Epic Systems has never sought funding from venture capital or private equity and remains privately owned. Faulkner takes pride in the fact that Epic is a homegrown company that has never acquired another business, and she has made it clear that they have no plans to go public. Epic Systems now manages the medical records of more than 300 million individuals, with Faulkner and her family holding a 43 percent ownership stake in the company.
Faulkner and her family currently own 43% of Epic Systems.
In 2024, Forbes called her the most powerful woman in healthcare, and she was ranked #347 on the magazine’s list of the world’s billionaires in 2024.
Did you know: pic supports the medical records of over 250 million patients and is used by top medical centers such as Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic.
