Edited By Alex Knapp and Michael Noer, Forbes
No less an icon than the Statue of Liberty celebrates America’s 50 million foreign-born residents, welcoming the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Lady Liberty is herself foreign-born, an 1885 gift to the nation from France, and a reminder that this is a place where people come to build a new life for themselves and their children. In that spirit, for the country’s 250th anniversary, we have ranked America’s 250 greatest living immigrants (the greatest in history can be found here) and also looked at immigrants’ impact as a whole on the nation. As many billionaire immigrants told us themselves, despite any current challenges, the American Dream is alive and well.
FORBES 250
America’s Most Successful Immigrants
Noubar Afeyan is listed number 29 and Ardem Patapoutian number 129
#29. Noubar Afeyan, 63 • Lebanon
Afeyan came to the United States to study biochemical engineering. He stayed to become an investor, whose firm Flagship Pioneering has launched more than 70 healthcare companies.
#129. Ardem Patapoutian, 58 • Lebanon
Before the 2021 winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine conducted his research on how sensory perception works, he helped pay for his undergraduate education by delivering pizza.
In addition, Aso Tavitian is number 216 on the list of America’s most successful historic immigrants.