{
  "id": 2168857,
  "title": "Moderna co-founder is a billionaire once again at $1.7 billion—he once turned down 20 high-paying job offers to ‘have more of an impact on the world’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/moderna-co-founder-is-a-billionaire-once-again-at-1-7-billion-he-once",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-20T15:23:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/08/20/moderna-cofounder-robert-langer-billionaire-again-1-7-billion-once-turned-down-20-high-paying-job-offers-have-more-impact-on-world/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Moderna cofounder Robert Langer has once again joined the ranks of billionaires, with his net worth now valued at approximately $1.7 billion. This wealth surge followed promising cancer vaccine trials conducted by Moderna and Merck, which sent the company's stock soaring. Langer, often referred to as the \"Edison of Medicine,\" reached this milestone after his equity in the biotech company doubled in value.\n\nThis is the second time Langer has earned his place among the ultra-wealthy. Back in November 2020, his net worth reached $4.9 billion following Moderna's successful Phase 3 trials for its COVID-19 vaccine. However, his fortune dropped to $343 million in early January of this year, when Moderna's shares hit a low point of $29.81.\n\nLanger, now 77 years old, advises young professionals to prioritize meaningful work over money and job security. He turned down 20 lucrative job offers to pursue his dream of making a significant impact on the world. Langer encourages young workers to be broad and open-minded when it comes to their careers, rather than simply seeking the most lucrative opportunities.",
  "summary": "Billionaire biotech pioneer Robert Langer advises workers to do what makes them happy over money and job security: “If you give up too easily, that's not good.”",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}