Note: Bright Health Group rebranded as NeueHealth in 2023 after exiting the health insurance market. NeueHealth was taken private on October 2, 2025, in a $1.465 billion deal with New Enterprise Associates (NEA). G. Mike Mikan continues to serve as President & CEO of the privately held company. The information below reflects both his tenure at Bright Health and his current role at NeueHealth.
G. Mike Mikan is the President & CEO of NeueHealth (formerly Bright Health Group), a value-based primary care company focused on underserved communities. Born George Lawrence Mikan III on April 9, 1971, and the grandson of NBA legend George Mikan, Mike Mikan has navigated one of the most dramatic corporate transformations in recent healthcare history — from a $924 million IPO in 2021 to near-bankruptcy and a full exit from health insurance, culminating in a successful $1.465 billion take-private transaction with New Enterprise Associates (NEA) in October 2025.
Read on to discover Mike Mikan’s net worth in 2026, salary and compensation, career timeline from UnitedHealth Group CFO to NeueHealth CEO, his famous NBA family connection, and more.
Mike Mikan – Quick Facts
| G. Mike Mikan — At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | George Lawrence Mikan III |
| Known As | G. Mike Mikan |
| Date of Birth | April 9, 1971 |
| Age | 54 years (as of March 2026) |
| Position | President & Chief Executive Officer |
| Company | NeueHealth (formerly Bright Health Group) |
| Status | Privately held (NEA-backed, since Oct 2025) |
| Tenure as CEO | April 2020 – present |
| Education | University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis |
| Net Worth (Est.) | ~$155 million (Feb 2026) |
| Compensation | ~$9.9 million/year |
| Family | Grandson of NBA Hall of Famer George Mikan |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Early Life & Education
George Lawrence Mikan III was born on April 9, 1971, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, into one of the most storied families in American basketball history. His grandfather, George Mikan (1924–2005), was the NBA’s first dominant center and led the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships in the 1940s and 1950s. His father, Larry Mikan, played basketball at the University of Minnesota and briefly for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1970–1971 season.
Growing up in the Twin Cities with such a legendary sports pedigree, Mike chose a career in business rather than professional athletics. He attended the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis (now also known as St. Thomas University), a private Catholic university founded in 1885. There he developed the finance and business acumen that would define his career in healthcare and investment management.
Career
Mike Mikan’s career spans over 25 years of executive leadership in healthcare, finance, and retail. He built his reputation as a seasoned operator with deep expertise in healthcare systems and capital markets.
Mike Mikan Career Timeline
| Period | Role | Company |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–2012 | Various exec roles (EVP, CFO, CEO of Optum) | UnitedHealth Group |
| Apr–Sep 2012 | Interim Chief Executive Officer | Best Buy Co. |
| 2013–2014 | President | ESL Investments |
| 2015–2018 | Founder, Chairman & CEO | Shot-Rock Capital |
| Jan 2019–Apr 2020 | Vice Chairman & President | Bright Health |
| Apr 2020–present | President & CEO | NeueHealth (fmr. Bright Health Group) |
UnitedHealth Group (1998–2012)
Mikan spent 14 years at UnitedHealth Group, rising through the ranks to become Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the entire enterprise. He later served as CEO of Optum, UnitedHealth’s technology and services subsidiary that has since grown into a $200+ billion business. In 2010, Fortune magazine named him to its prestigious “40 Under 40” list of top young business leaders.
Best Buy Interim CEO (2012)
In April 2012, Mikan was tapped to serve as Interim CEO of Best Buy during a period of corporate turmoil following the departure of CEO Brian Dunn. He stabilized the company during his five-month tenure before Hubert Joly was appointed as permanent CEO.
Shot-Rock Capital & Private Equity (2015–2018)
After a stint as President of ESL Investments (the firm of Sears Holdings chairman Eddie Lampert), Mikan founded Shot-Rock Capital, a private investment firm focused on healthcare and technology opportunities. This experience deepened his understanding of value-based healthcare models and positioned him for his next major role.
CEO of Bright Health / NeueHealth
Mikan joined Bright Health as Vice Chairman and President in January 2019, succeeding founder Bob Sheehy as CEO in April 2020. Under his leadership, the company went through a dramatic arc:
- June 2021: Led Bright Health through a $924 million IPO on the NYSE (ticker: BHG), the largest health-tech IPO of the year
- 2022: Massive losses from insurance operations forced exit from most state markets. Stock plummeted over 90% from IPO price
- 2023: Rebranded as NeueHealth, pivoting entirely from health insurance to value-based primary care delivery. Received a controversial $1.95 million retention bonus while the company was in financial distress
- December 2024: Announced take-private merger with NEA at $7.33 per share ($1.3 billion enterprise value)
- October 2, 2025: Take-private transaction closed at a final enterprise value of $1.465 billion. Mikan rolled over 100% of his equity into the new private structure
Dramatic Pivot: Mikan transformed Bright Health from a failed health insurance company hemorrhaging billions into NeueHealth, a profitable value-based care platform serving 717,000 consumers across Florida, Texas, and California — achieving four consecutive quarters of positive Adjusted EBITDA before going private.
Leadership & Achievements
- Fortune 40 Under 40 — Named to Fortune’s elite list of young business leaders (2010)
- Largest health-tech IPO of 2021 — Led Bright Health’s $924 million public offering
- Corporate turnaround — Navigated NeueHealth from near-bankruptcy to a $1.465 billion take-private deal
- AutoNation Board of Directors — Serves on the board of one of America’s largest auto retailers
- Best Buy stabilization — Steadied the $40 billion retailer as interim CEO during corporate crisis
- UnitedHealth Group CFO — Oversaw finances of the largest health insurer in the United States
- Optum CEO — Ran UnitedHealth’s technology arm before it became a $200B+ business
Personal Life
Mike Mikan is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He keeps his personal and family life largely private. He is known for his deep roots in the Twin Cities business community and his connection to one of the most famous families in basketball history.
Mikan is the grandson of George Mikan, the 6-foot-10 center who is widely considered the NBA’s first superstar. George Mikan led the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships in the 1940s and 1950s, was named the greatest basketball player of the first half of the 20th century by the Associated Press, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The NBA’s goaltending rule was literally created because of George Mikan’s dominance. Mike’s father, Larry Mikan, also played basketball at the University of Minnesota and briefly in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Mike Mikan Net Worth & Salary
As of February 2026, Mike Mikan’s net worth is estimated at approximately $155 million, according to Benzinga’s analysis of insider filings across multiple companies. His wealth is derived from equity holdings in NeueHealth, UnitedHealth Group, AutoNation, Best Buy, and other investments accumulated over his career.
His total annual compensation at NeueHealth was approximately $9.9 million in FY2023, with 13.1% in salary and 86.9% in equity and performance bonuses. In 2021, his total compensation surged to $181 million due to IPO-related stock and option awards, making him the highest-paid U.S. fintech CEO that year according to S&P Global. He rolled over 100% of his equity into the new private structure during the 2025 take-private deal.
CEO Compensation Breakdown (FY2023)
| Component | Amount (USD) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $1,300,000 | 13.1% |
| Annual Bonus | $1,950,000 | 19.7% |
| Stock Awards | $6,062,500 | 61.3% |
| Other Compensation | $587,500 | 5.9% |
| TOTAL | ~$9,900,000 | 100% |
Key Insight: Mikan’s 2021 compensation of $181 million (mostly IPO-related equity awards) made him the highest-paid U.S. fintech CEO that year. However, under SEC pay-versus-performance rules, his actual realized compensation in 2023 was a net loss of $633,000 after factoring in the collapse of equity value post-IPO.
NeueHealth Financial Summary
| Metric | FY2024 | FY2023 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $899M | $1.04B | ▼ -13.6% |
| Net Income (Q4) | $2.5M | -$460.6M | ▲ Positive |
| Adjusted EBITDA | Positive (4 consec. qtrs) | Negative | ▲ Improving |
| Consumers Served | ~485,000 | ~350,000 | ▲ +39% |
| 2025 Consumers | 717,000 (starting 2025) | ▲ +48% | |
| Take-Private Value | $1.465 billion (Oct 2025) | — | |
| Status | Private (NEA-backed) | Taken private Oct 2025 | |
How to Contact Mike Mikan / NeueHealth
NeueHealth (formerly Bright Health Group) is now a privately held company backed by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) as of October 2, 2025. The company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Company | NeueHealth, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Website | neuehealth.com |
| G. Mike Mikan on LinkedIn | |
| Status | Private company (no longer NYSE-listed) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the CEO of Bright Health / NeueHealth?
G. Mike Mikan (George Lawrence Mikan III) is the President and CEO of NeueHealth, formerly known as Bright Health Group. He has served as CEO since April 2020 and continues to lead the company after it was taken private by NEA in October 2025.
What is Mike Mikan’s net worth in 2026?
Mike Mikan’s net worth is estimated at approximately $155 million as of February 2026, based on insider filings across multiple companies including NeueHealth, UnitedHealth Group, AutoNation, and Best Buy.
What happened to Bright Health?
Bright Health went public in 2021 with a $924 million IPO but suffered massive losses from its health insurance operations. It exited the insurance market, rebranded as NeueHealth in 2023, and pivoted to value-based primary care. The company was taken private by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) in October 2025 for $1.465 billion.
Is Mike Mikan related to NBA legend George Mikan?
Yes, Mike Mikan is the grandson of NBA Hall of Famer George Mikan, who led the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships and is widely considered the NBA’s first superstar. Mike’s father Larry Mikan also played basketball at the University of Minnesota and briefly in the NBA.
What is Mike Mikan’s salary at NeueHealth?
Mike Mikan’s total annual compensation at NeueHealth was approximately $9.9 million in FY2023, consisting of a $1.3 million base salary, $1.95 million bonus, $6.06 million in stock awards, and other compensation. In 2021, his total compensation was $181 million due to IPO-related equity awards.
Is NeueHealth publicly traded?
No. NeueHealth was taken private on October 2, 2025, in a $1.465 billion deal with New Enterprise Associates (NEA). It previously traded on the NYSE as NEUE (and earlier as BHG under the Bright Health name).
How old is Mike Mikan?
Mike Mikan was born on April 9, 1971, making him 54 years old as of March 2026. He will turn 55 in April 2026.
Article last updated:January 2026March 4, 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including SEC filings, official company press releases, Wikipedia, 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.