Noubar Afeyan, George Soros, Elon Musk, Arnold Schwarzenegger Among America’s Richest Immigrants 2025

Noubar Afeyan has been named one of America’s richest immigrants in 2025 by Forbes. The Lebanese-born Armenian-American entrepreneur, scientist, and humanitarian joins a list that includes some of the most influential names in the world—Elon Musk, George Soros, Sergey Brin, Jensen Huang, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

A record 125 billionaires living in the United States today were born abroad. They came from 41 different countries but built their fortunes in America. Among them, Afeyan stands out not just for his wealth, but for what he represents: the success of a people who have faced genocide, war, and displacement—and still found a way to thrive.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1962 to Armenian parents, Afeyan and his family were forced to flee their home during the Lebanese Civil War. They found refuge in Montreal, Canada, in 1975. Like many Armenians in the diaspora, they carried with them a strong sense of identity and a deep commitment to education, hard work, and giving back.

Afeyan earned a Ph.D. in biochemical engineering from MIT in 1987 and went on to put down roots in Massachusetts. There, he founded Flagship Pioneering, a life sciences innovation firm that has launched more than 100 scientific ventures, including the world-famous vaccine company Moderna, which played a central role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through his leadership at Flagship and Moderna, Afeyan has not only helped improve global health but has also created thousands of jobs and contributed to scientific progress. But he never forgot his roots. As a proud Armenian, he has supported humanitarian efforts in Armenia and Artsakh, helped preserve Armenian culture, and served as a leading voice in the global Armenian diaspora.

Afeyan says that what makes America great is its openness to immigrants and the opportunities it offers to those willing to work hard and contribute. “The immigrant mindset basically says, ‘I’m not owed anything, I’m not entitled to these things by birth, I’ve got to work for it and own making it better,’” he told Forbes.

He believes that immigrants gain a special kind of strength from adversity—something Armenians around the world understand deeply. “The immigrant journey is often filled with adversity but the acquired resilience of taking that journey is an advantage if you choose to use it that way. The more expectant and demanding you become, the less immigrant you become and the more that advantage dissipates,” Afeyan said.

This year’s list highlights how immigrants continue to shape the United States in major ways. Elon Musk, the richest man in the world with a net worth of $393.1 billion, was born in South Africa. Google cofounder Sergey Brin, worth $139.7 billion, fled anti-Semitism in Russia. Jensen Huang, head of Nvidia, came to the U.S. from Taiwan via Thailand.

India, Israel, and Taiwan are the top birthplaces of billionaire immigrants, but Armenians worldwide are proud to see one of their own among the most influential and successful.

Afeyan continues to advocate for preserving the U.S. as a land of opportunity for newcomers. “I’ve seen a lot of different countries and cultures, and there really is no place like the U.S. as an ‘immigrant land,’” he says. “I think we need to do everything we can to protect it.”