Bill Gates Meets Willy Wonka: Inside How 82-Year-Old Billionaire CEO Judy Faulkner Built Her Software Empire

Epic Systems’ CEO Judy Faulkner, 82, founded the health-care software giant in 1979 and has kept it private, avoiding public markets and acquisitions to maintain control. With $5.7 billion in annual revenue, Epic dominates electronic health record software, serving thousands of hospitals and millions of patients worldwide. Faulkner, known for her unconventional leadership, has a succession plan ensuring Epic remains private, managed by a trust committee after her death. Despite criticism and legal challenges, she has built one of the most powerful U.S. health tech companies, emphasizing software reliability and independence above all.