From South Africa to the top of Los Angeles: How did Patrick Soon-Shiong become the richest man in the American city?

Written by Amnia Hassan

In an inspiring story that combines ambition and innovation, the southern businessman and doctor succeeded African Patrick Soon-Shiong tops the list of the richest people in Los Angeles, with a net worth of about $8.4 billion, reaffirming the ability of African talents to leave a global mark in the technology, science and economic sectors.

An extraordinary journey from South Africa to the world

Patrick Soon-Shiong was born in 1952 in Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, and showed early academic excellence after finishing his secondary education at the age of sixteen, before graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School.

Despite his academic success, he faced professional challenges in South Africa during that period, which prompted him to move first to Canada and then to the United States, where he began a distinguished career in surgery and organ transplantation, before turning to the world of entrepreneurship and biotechnology.

A fortune built on medical innovation

Sun-Shiong's great leap in wealth was linked to the biotechnology sector, where he founded and led several companies specializing in the development of pharmaceutical treatments, including companies that played a prominent role in the development of the famous cancer treatment “Abraxane”, which achieved widespread success in global markets.

He also made huge acquisitions of his companies over the past two decades, which strengthened his position among the wealthiest people in the United States and made him one of the world's leading names in the healthcare and medical innovation sector.

A new model for the success of South African immigrants

Sun-Shiong is not an exceptional case among South African-born entrepreneurs who have achieved global success outside the country, and he stands alongside billionaire Elon Musk, as well as other prominent figures who have contributed to shaping the future of the technology and investment industry worldwide.

This success reflects South Africa's ability to produce highly qualified talent, even if some of these talents continue to build their economic empires outside the country's borders.

South Africa is the continent's largest center of wealth.

Despite the economic challenges it has faced in recent years, South Africa still maintains its position as the largest center of wealth in Africa, with more than 41,000 millionaires and eight billionaires, according to recent wealth reports.

Cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town benefit from a sophisticated financial and investment infrastructure that has made them among the continent's leading business centers, and has contributed to producing generations of entrepreneurs who have continued their success on the international stage.

A continuous connection to the homeland

Despite his global success, Sun-Shiong has maintained ties with South Africa, where he has been involved in initiatives to develop the local vaccine and pharmaceutical industry, enhancing the continent’s capabilities in biotechnology and healthcare.

His experience confirms that Africa not only exports talent, but also has the ability to attract investments, knowledge and expertise from its people who have achieved global success, making his story an inspiring model for new generations of African entrepreneurs.