Who Was Brian Thompson? Inside the Life and Legacy of the UnitedHealthcare CEO Sh*t D*ad in N.Y.C.—One Year Later, Questions Still Haunt the Case

Thompson, who was fatally shot outside of a New York City hotel, grew up in Iowa. He joined UnitedHealthcare in 2004 and stepped into the role of CEO in 2021, per his LinkedIn.

Thompson was arriving at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan just before 6:45 a.m. when a masked gunman shot him in the chest. He was on his way to an investors’ conference and, according to The New York Times, had arrived early to prepare.

The outlet reported that the gunman apparently knew which door Thompson was going to enter and was only feet away from the CEO when he shot him several times, then fled the scene on a bicycle and headed toward Central Park. Shortly after, Thompson was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

On Dec. 9, 2024, Luigi Mangione was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Thompson’s. Mangione is being held at the State Correctional Institution in Huntingdon, Pa., without bail. Nearly one year later, Mangione appeared in court in New York City on Dec. 1 for a pre-trial hearing to determine what evidence will be admitted in his case.

Although they had been living separately for years, per The Wall Street Journal, Thompson is survived by his wife, Paulette Thompson and their two sons. Following Thompson’s sudden death, Paulette shared a statement via text message to local station FOX 9, saying that she was “shattered” by the “senseless killing.”

The statement continued, “Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed.”

Here’s everything to know about the late UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.

He graduated from the University of Iowa

According to his LinkedIn, Thompson graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting.

Thompson was named valedictorian of his graduating class and earned multiple honors, including recognition as a collegiate scholar and faculty scholar.

He lived in Minnesota

Although Thompson was raised in rural Iowa, he most recently resided in Maple Grove, Minn., according to The Wall Street Journal — a short drive from the UnitedHealthcare headquarters, which are in Minnetonka, Minn.

Following Thompson’s death, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz expressed his condolences on X, calling the tragedy a “terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota.”

“Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team,” the governor added.

He became CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021

Thompson joined UnitedHealthcare in 2004 after spending over six years at PwC, per his LinkedIn.

He began as the director of corporate development and went on to become CEO of the healthcare group in April 2021.

UnitedHealthcare is a division of UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S., per Insurance Business.

He was shot and killed outside a Manhattan hotel

Thompson was shot and killed by a masked gunman outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel on Dec. 4. NYPD officials shared at a press conference that morning that the CEO had been in N.Y.C. for an investors’ conference taking place at the hotel.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the attack as “brazen” and said the gunman had been “lying in wait” outside the building before carrying out the targeted shooting.

Police sources also told ABC News that the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were reportedly discovered by detectives on shell casings found at the scene.

While the motive remains undisclosed, Thompson’s wife told NBC News that her husband had recently received “some threats.”

She added, “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”

On Dec. 9, police arrested Luigi Mangione in connection to the fatal shooting of Thompson. Mangione was charged with second-degree murder in Manhattan, and he faces five charges in Pennsylvania.

He was facing allegations of fraud

According to CNN, Thompson was sued in May 2024 for alleged fraud and illegal insider trading.

The Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund claimed UnitedHealth executives — including Thompson — hid a U.S. Justice Department antitrust investigation to boost stock prices.

The lawsuit stated that Thompson, who was allegedly aware of the investigation since October 2023, sold 31% of his shares for a $15 million profit shortly before the news caused the stock to drop by 5%, according to the outlet.

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He had a wife and two sons

Thompson is survived by his wife, Paulette, and their two sons. According to The Wall Street Journal, they had been living in separate homes in Maple Grove for several years.

Paulette, a physical therapist with Park Nicollet Health Services, earned her master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Iowa in 1999, according to Local Channel2 Now.

Per the Minnesota Star Tribune, Thompson’s elder son graduated from high school in the spring of 2024, while his younger son is currently a sophomore.

The older son played lacrosse throughout high school, with assistant coach Brandon Carlson telling the outlet that Thompson was “present” for many of the team’s events.

He added that Thompson and his wife “were very supportive of their son.”

He was described as “whip-smart” and a “respected colleague” after his death

Following Thompson’s death, tributes flooded social media from friends and colleagues reflecting on his legacy and mourning his loss.

UnitedHealth Group expressed their shock and sadness in a LinkedIn statement, writing, “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”

Additionally, Matt Burns, a former UnitedHealthcare communications executive who worked with Thompson, described the CEO as “whip-smart” and “affable,” adding that he was “a guy who could grasp the complexities of health care and explain them in simple, relatable terms true to his Iowa upbringing.”

“His star ascended rapidly and yet I don’t recall him forgetting those he worked with in the trenches along the way. He toggled between his leadership role and relatable Joe as effectively and easily as anyone I’ve encountered professionally,” Burns wrote on LinkedIn. “Rest easy, BT. You are gone too soon.”