Hansjörg Wyss
Hansjörg Wyss | |
|---|---|
| Born | Johann Georg Wyss 19 September 1935 Bern, Switzerland |
| Education | ETH Zurich (BS, MS) Harvard University (MBA) |
| Title | Former CEO, Synthes Chairman, Wyss Foundation Co-owner, Chelsea |
| Children | Amy Wyss |
Johann Georg "Hansjörg" Wyss (/ˈhɑːnzˌjɜːrk ˈwiːs/ HAHN-zyohrg WEESS; born 19 September 1935) is a Swiss billionaire businessman and donor to politically liberal and environmental causes in the United States. He is the founder and former president and chairman of Synthes, a medical device manufacturer. His Wyss Foundation has nearly $2 billion in assets.
As of 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$4.8 billion, while Bloomberg estimated his net worth at $12.7 billion. Having donated hundreds of millions of dollars to environmental causes, he has more recently increased his donations to groups promoting progressive causes. In 2024, Wyss additionally donated $100 million to the City of Berne which bequeathed honorary citizenship on him. In the United States, Wyss is a major donor of the Democratic Party. Wyss's political giving has come under scrutiny since foreign nationals without permanent residency in the United States are prohibited from donating directly to federal political candidates or political action committees.
He is the co-owner of Premier League football club Chelsea. He is one of the anchor shareholders of Lalique Group, with Müller Handels AG Schweiz, Dharampal Satyapal Limited, Hansjörg Wyss and Claudio Denz, they hold 42.67% of Lalique Group shares. In 2019, Hansjörg Wyss and Swiss entrepreneur Silvio Denz acquired the historic Glenturret Distillery in Scotland.