Stephen J. Hemsley is the Chairman and CEO of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), the largest health insurance company in the United States with $447.6 billion in revenue for 2025. Born on June 4, 1952, Hemsley returned to the CEO role on May 13, 2025, after Andrew Witty stepped down for personal reasons. He previously served as CEO from 2006 to 2017, building UnitedHealth Group into the nation’s dominant healthcare conglomerate. His return came during one of the most turbulent periods in the company’s history — following the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024, a massive cyberattack on Change Healthcare that compromised the data of 190 million people, rising Medicare costs, and a Department of Justice criminal investigation into the company’s Medicare billing practices.
Stephen J. Hemsley – Quick Facts
UnitedHealth Group Competitors
UnitedHealth Group operates in the healthcare and health insurance industry as the largest player by revenue. The key competitors of UnitedHealth Group include:
- Elevance Health (formerly Anthem) — second-largest U.S. health insurer by membership
- CVS Health / Aetna — integrated pharmacy and health insurance giant
- Cigna Group — global health services company
- Humana — major Medicare Advantage insurer
- Centene Corporation — largest Medicaid managed care organization
- Molina Healthcare — government-sponsored healthcare programs
- Kaiser Permanente — integrated managed care consortium
Stephen Hemsley Net Worth 2026 – UnitedHealth Group CEO Salary
As of 2026, Stephen Hemsley’s net worth is estimated at approximately $299 million or more, based on his disclosed UnitedHealth Group stock holdings and SEC filings. Hemsley directly owns approximately 1.1 million UNH shares. Various estimates place his total net worth between $299 million and over $1 billion, depending on UnitedHealth Group’s stock valuation, which has experienced significant volatility in recent years.
UnitedHealth Group CEO Compensation Breakdown (2025)
UnitedHealth Group Net Worth 2026 – Financial Performance
UnitedHealth Group is the largest healthcare company in the world by revenue, with a market capitalization of approximately $260–267 billion as of early 2026. Despite strong revenue growth, the company faced significant challenges in 2025 including rising Medicare costs, the aftermath of the Change Healthcare cyberattack, and a DOJ criminal investigation.
UnitedHealth Group Financial Summary
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UnitedHealth Group CEO Email Address | Stephen Hemsley Contact
Below are the official contact details for UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley:
Career & Education – Company, University, & College
Stephen Hemsley’s career spans over four decades in accounting, financial management, and healthcare leadership. He rose from a certified public accountant at Arthur Andersen to becoming CEO of the world’s largest healthcare company.
Stephen Hemsley Career Timeline
Hemsley began his career at Arthur Andersen LLP, one of the “Big Five” accounting firms, where he spent over two decades rising to Managing Partner of Strategy and Planning and serving as Chief Financial Officer. During this time he earned his CPA certification and developed deep expertise in financial management and corporate strategy.
In 1997, he joined UnitedHealth Group in senior financial roles. Just two years later, he was named President and Chief Operating Officer. By 2006, he succeeded William McGuire as CEO, leading UnitedHealth Group through an era of extraordinary growth. Under his first CEO tenure (2006–2017), UnitedHealth Group’s revenues grew from roughly $70 billion to over $200 billion, making it the largest health insurer in the United States.
In 2017, Hemsley stepped back to serve as Executive Chairman, eventually becoming non-executive chairman in 2021 when Andrew Witty took the CEO role. In 2019, while chairman, he founded Cloverfields Capital Group LP, a personal investment firm managing approximately $340 million for wealthy clients. Hemsley returned as CEO in May 2025 amid an unprecedented crisis at the company.
Education
Stephen Hemsley Wiki – Age, Family, & Personal Life
UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley (age 73) was born on June 4, 1952. He is based in the Minneapolis–Wayzata area of Minnesota. Hemsley is known to be a very private individual, and limited details about his personal and family life are publicly available.
His return to the CEO role at age 73 was seen as a stabilizing move during an unprecedented crisis for UnitedHealth Group. In January 2026, he testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, where lawmakers challenged him on executive compensation and the company’s claim denial practices.
Key Controversies & Challenges
- Brian Thompson Assassination (Dec. 2024) — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in New York City in a targeted attack that highlighted public anger over insurance claim denials
- Change Healthcare Cyberattack (Feb. 2024) — A ransomware attack by ALPHV BlackCat compromised data of 190 million people and cost UnitedHealth ~$2.5 billion
- DOJ Criminal Investigation (2025) — The Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into UnitedHealth Group’s Medicare Advantage billing practices
- Cloverfields Capital Conflict (2026) — Reports revealed Hemsley privately invested in healthcare startups through his personal investment firm, some of which compete with UnitedHealth
- Insider Trading Allegations — Hemsley and three executives reportedly sold $101.5 million in stock before a federal antitrust probe became public
- Congressional Scrutiny (Jan. 2026) — Testified before Congress on claim denial rates, executive compensation, and healthcare costs
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is an American multinational managed healthcare and insurance company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1977, it is the world’s largest healthcare company by revenue and operates through two main business platforms:
UnitedHealth Group employs more than 400,000 people worldwide and serves approximately 152 million individuals globally. The company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol UNH.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the current CEO of UnitedHealth Group?
The current CEO of UnitedHealth Group is Stephen J. Hemsley, who returned as Chairman and CEO on May 13, 2025. He previously served as CEO from 2006 to 2017, and his return came after Andrew Witty stepped down for personal reasons during a period of significant challenges for the company.
What is Stephen Hemsley’s net worth in 2026?
As of 2026, Stephen Hemsley’s net worth is estimated at approximately $299 million or more, based primarily on his disclosed ownership of approximately 1.1 million UnitedHealth Group shares. Some estimates place his total net worth above $1 billion depending on UNH stock valuation.
What is UnitedHealth Group CEO’s salary?
Stephen Hemsley’s compensation includes a $1 million annual base salary and a one-time $60 million equity award in nonqualified stock options vesting over three years. He will not receive additional equity awards for his first three years as CEO.
What is UnitedHealth Group CEO’s email address?
UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley can be reached at [email protected]. The corporate headquarters is at UnitedHealth Group Center, 9900 Bren Road East, Minnetonka, MN 55343. Phone: (952) 936-1300.
Why did Andrew Witty leave UnitedHealth Group?
Andrew Witty stepped down as CEO of UnitedHealth Group in May 2025, citing personal reasons. His departure came during a period of significant challenges including the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the Change Healthcare cyberattack, rising Medicare costs, and a DOJ criminal investigation into the company’s Medicare billing practices.
Is UnitedHealth Group under DOJ investigation?
Yes, the U.S. Department of Justice has been conducting a criminal investigation into UnitedHealth Group’s Medicare Advantage billing practices since at least 2024. The investigation became public in May 2025. UnitedHealth Group has stated it is proactively cooperating with both criminal and civil requests from the DOJ.
Article last updated:March 2026March 4, 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including SEC filings, official company press releases, congressional testimony, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Net worth figures are estimates and may vary by source.