Hansjörg Wyss is a philanthropist and conservationist committed to preserving the natural world, spurring innovation in healthcare, and creating economic opportunities for Americans.
Wyss first encountered the vast landscapes of the American West as a young student in the 1950s. A summer job with the Colorado Highway Department introduced him not only to the beauty of the Rockies, but also to the powerful American idea that our country’s most extraordinary natural places should belong to everyone. That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to protecting the public lands and wild spaces that define America.
After earning his MBA from Harvard in 1965, Wyss went on to build Synthes USA, a medical device company headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Through innovation and hard work, Wyss grew the company from just ten employees to 4,800. Synthes became one of the world’s largest manufacturers of bone fracture and trauma treatment devices, ultimately helping millions of patients by reducing their recovery times from months to mere weeks.
As his company grew, Wyss committed himself and his resources to the greater good. Since the 1990s, he has invested billions in philanthropy, driving groundbreaking medical and research innovations; protecting land, water, and wildlife; and working to improve economic opportunities for people. Wyss galvanized a global conservation movement and is one of the most impactful conservationists in the world, responsible for protecting more than 120 million acres of land and more than 3 million square kilometers of ocean.
Having spent nearly half a century living in the United States and guided by a deep appreciation for its landscapes and its people, Wyss has dedicated his life to giving back to the country that gave him so much. A firm believer in Thomas Jefferson’s conviction that “there is a debt of service due from every man to his country proportioned to the bounties which nature and fortune have measured to him,” Wyss sees his philanthropy as personal responsibility and moral obligation.
“Wild lands and waters are best conserved not in private hands, locked behind gates, but as public national parks, wildlife refuges and marine reserves, forever open for everyone to experience and explore…For the sake of all living things, let’s see to it that far more of our planet is protected by the people, for the people and for all time.”
Hansjörg Wyss
