Ge Li

Li was born in China and graduated from Affiliated High School of Peking University. He received his B.A. from Peking University in 1989 and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Columbia University in 1994.{{Cite web |title=Columbia Chemistry Receives $21.5 Million Gift from Alumni Dr. Ge Li and Dr. Ning Zhao {{!}} Chemistry |url=https://chem.columbia.edu/news/columbia-chemistry-receives-215-million-gift-alumni-dr-ge-li-and-dr-ning-zhao |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=chem.columbia.edu}}{{Cite web |title=MEMBERS |url=https://www.committee100.org/member/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=committee100.org |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=李革校友：为科学、知识与技术提供平台-北大教育基金会 |url=http://www.pkuef.org/old/info/1158/2359.htm |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.pkuef.org}} At Columbia, Li's mentors included W. Clark Still and Koji Nakanishi.{{Cite web |title=Landmark Gift Goes to Columbia Chemistry |url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/news/landmark-gift-goes-columbia-chemistry |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Columbia College |language=en}}

During his employment at Pharmacopeia, Inc., Li went to China to establish a joint business venture for the company.{{Cite web |last=Tremblay |first=Jean-Francois |date=March 14, 2016 |title=C&EN profiles WuXi AppTec, Chinese contract research giant |url=https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i11/CEN-profiles-WuXi-AppTec-Chinese.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=cen.acs.org}} Following this visit, Li left the company and co-founded WuXi AppTec along with his wife, Ning Zhao,{{Cite web |last=Bandell |first=Brian |title=Biotech executive buys Fort Lauderdale mansion (Photos) |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2021/07/15/biotech-exec-buys-ft-lauderdale-mansion-photos.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.bizjournals.com}} in Shanghai in 2000.{{Cite web |last=DiStefano |first=Joseph N. |title=China-based WuXi AppTec wins $19M from taxpayers for giant Delaware drug plant |url=https://www.inquirer.com/business/wuxi-apptec-delaware-drug-factory-pharmaceutical-20210628.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=28 June 2021 |language=en}} In 2016, WuXi AppTec opened a facility in San Diego, California, expanding its presence in the United States.{{Cite web |title=WuXi's subsidiary (STA) opens facility in San Diego |url=https://biopharma-asia.com/sections/wuxis-subsidiary-sta-opens-facility-in-san-diego/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Biopharma Asia |language=en}} The facility's intent was to support small molecule screening, discovery biology, and process research and development, as well as provide Phase I Good manufacturing practice (GMP) services for North American clients. The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange before being listed in Hong Kong in 2018.{{Cite web |date=2018-12-01 |title=China's leading biotech research firm focused on US acquisitions |url=https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2175888/leading-chinese-biotech-firm-wuxi-apptec-says-us-hurdles-will-not-dim |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-07-15 |title=Well sequenced {{!}} |url=https://www.weekinchina.com/2016/07/well-sequenced/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Week In China |language=en-US}} It recorded a year-on-year revenue growth of 23.8% in 2018.{{Cite web |last=AppTec |first=WuXi |title=WuXi AppTec Reports Strong 2018 Annual Results |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wuxi-apptec-reports-strong-2018-annual-results-300816989.html |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}

In 2011, Li was selected as a member of the C Committee of One Hundred, a group of prominent Chinese Americans in various fields.{{Cite web |title=New Member: Ge Li {{!}} Committee 100 |url=https://www.committee100.org/2011/01/31/new-member-ge-li/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |language=en-US}}

As of 2022, Li's net worth was estimated at $10 billion by Forbes, based on WuXi AppTec’s growth and valuation, ranking him among the wealthiest individuals associated with the pharmaceutical industry in both China and the United States.{{Cite news |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index - Li Ge |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/ge-li/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |newspaper=Bloomberg.com}} . In 2020, he was listed as the second-wealthiest American pharmaceutical businessperson by Forbes.{{Cite web |last=Parrish |first=Megan |date=May 11, 2020 |title=Pharma's richest of the rich in the U.S. |url=https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/articles/2020/pharmas-richest-of-the-rich-in-the-u-s/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.pharmamanufacturing.com}}{{Cite web |date=7 October 2021 |title=15 people in healthcare among Forbes' 400 richest people in America |url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/rankings-and-ratings/15-people-in-healthcare-among-forbes-400-richest-people-in-america.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.beckershospitalreview.com}} Forbes China included him in its top ten list of Chinese CEOs in 2022.{{Cite web |last=赵诗悦 |title=Top 10 Chinese CEOs by Forbes China |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202110/12/WS6164bd46a310cdd39bc6e31f.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}

In 2018, Li and Zhao donated 100 million RMB to Peking University to establish the "Li Ge-Zhao Ning Education Fund". Following this contribution, they were named honorary trustees of the university.{{Cite web |title=Alumni couple Li Ge and Zhao Ning donates 100 million RMB to Peking University |url=https://newsen.pku.edu.cn/news_events/news/focus/7334.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=newsen.pku.edu.cn}}

In 2020, the couple donated $21.5 million to Columbia University to support research and teaching in chemistry,{{Cite web |title=Chemical Science Gets $21.5M Boost |url=https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/chemical-science-gets-215m-boost |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Columbia Magazine |language=en}} and in 2021, they contributed $20 million to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for lung cancer research.{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2021 |title=Memorial Sloan Kettering Announces New Initiative to Focus on Lung Cancer Research |url=https://www.newswise.com/articles/memorial-sloan-kettering-announces-new-initiative-to-focus-on-lung-cancer-research |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=Newswise}}<{{Cite web |date=May 17, 2021 |title=Memorial Sloan Kettering receives $20 million for lung cancer research |url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/memorial-sloan-kettering-receives-20-million-for-lung-cancer-research |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=Philanthropy News Digest}}

Li was married to Ning Zhao, a classmate from Peking University, a fellow Ph.D. graduate from Columbia University, and former senior vice president and global head of human resources at WuXi AppTec.{{Cite web |title=身家超500亿，这对学霸夫妇是如何做出一家医药龙头企业的？_李革 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/445641050_563936 |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.sohu.com |language=en}} Zhao died on May 16, 2023, after a 20-year long illness.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ywang/2023/05/17/pharma-billionaire-zhao-ning-dies-at-56-after-battling-cancer-for-20-years/?sh=4a4f5ec11a6f|title=Pharma Billionaire Zhao Ning Dies At 56 After Battling Cancer For 20 Years|work=Forbes}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-19 |title=China's pharma billionaire Zhao Ning dies aged 56 |url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/667676 |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=The Edge Malaysia}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Peking University alumni

Category:Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni

Category:American billionaires

Category:Chinese billionaires

Category:American people of Chinese descent

Category:American philanthropists

Category:American company founders

Category:Chinese company founders

Category:Businesspeople in the pharmaceutical industry

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)