Judy R. Faulkner

Judith “Judy” R. Faulkner (born in 1943) is a United States billionaire. She is the CEO of Epic Systems, a healthcare software company that she co-founded in 1979. Back then, the company was called Human Services Computing. Today, Epic Systems holds the medical records of over 200 million people. Among other things, it is a highly important tool for medical researchers.

As of 2019, Faulkner is one of the world’s wealthiest self-made female billionaires. Her net worth is $3.9 billion (July 2019).

Short facts about Judy R. Faulkner

Original name: Judith R. Greenfield

Current name: Judith R. Faulkner

Born: August 1943

Nationality: USA

Alma maters: Dickinson College, Pennsylvania; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin

Residence: Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Spouse: Gordin Faulkner

Children: 3

Philantrophy

Faulkner’s estate plan has the money from her Epic shares going into a foundation. This foundation is chiefly focused on health care, particularly in reducing the disparity of care, and improving education (especially for individuals who don’t have equal opportunities).

Both Faulkner’s and Epic had donated to political causes, local schools and health care facilities nationwide.

The Giving Pledge

Faulkner has signed The Giving Pledge, and aims to give not just half but 99% of her assets to philantrophy.

“Many years ago I asked my young children what two things they needed from their parents. They said ‘food and money’. I told them ‘roots and wings’. My goal in pledging 99% of my assets to philanthropy is to help others with roots – food, warmth, shelter, healthcare, education – so they too can have wings.” – Faulkner’s statement on The Giving Pledge site

About Faulkner

Judith R. Greenfield was born to Louis and Del Greenfield in 1943, and grew up in the Erlton neighborhood of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Her father Louis was a pharmacist and her mother Del was the director of Orgeon Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Greenfield graduated from Moorestown Friends School in 1961. She recieved a BA in mathematics from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, and then proceeded to earn a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She founded Human Services Computer in a basement in Madison together with Dr. John Greis in 1979, shortly after recieving her master’s degree. This is the company that we today know as Epic Systems. Human Services Computer was started with a $70,000 investment from friends and family. The company has never taken investment from venture capital or private equity, and it has also never aquired another company.

Faulkner still lives in Madison, Wisconsin. She is married to the pediatrician Dr. Gordon Faulkner and they have two daughters and a son.