Who Is Brian Thompson’s Family? Murdered Healthcare CEO’s Estranged Wife, Children

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson‘s estranged wife and sons are in mourning following his murder. Inside the executive’s complicated family life.

Brian Thompson and His Wife Paulette Thompson Were Estranged

At the time of Thompson’s murder on December 4, 2024, he and his wife, Paulette “Pauley” Reveiz Thompson, were estranged, The Wall Street Journal was first to report. The pair were living in separate homes in the same neighborhood of Maple Grove, Minnesota, within one mile of each other.

Brian Thompson and Wife Paulette Shared Two Sons

The former couple share two sons, who were 19 years old and 16 years old as of the time of their dad’s murder. They were raised by their parents in a $1.5 million home in Maple Grove, Minnesota, where Paulette currently resides.

Paulette Thompson and Her Family Were ‘Shattered’ by Brian Thompson’s Murder

After Thompson was gunned down outside the Midtown Manhattan Hilton Hotel, Paulette released a statement later that day to media outlets about her family’s heartbreak.

“We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian,” she said. “Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed. We appreciate your well wishes and request complete privacy as our family moves through this difficult time.”

What Does Paulette Thompson Do for a Living?

Paulette works as a physical therapist at Park Nicollet Health Services in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Brian and Paulette Thompson Met While in College

The duo both attended the University of Iowa. Brian graduated in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting. Paulette graduated in 1999 with a Master of Physical Therapy degree.

Paulette Thompson Loves Spending Time With Her Sons

In the bio of her now-deleted Instagram page, Paulette wrote, “I love spending time with my two boys and taking them to all of their activities. I also love boating, spending time with family and friends, playing piano, biking, and traveling,” People reported.

Paulette Thompson Said Brian Thompson Had Been Receiving ‘Threats’

Following Brian’s assassination-style murder, Pauley told NBC News, “Yes, there had been some threats basically I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know the details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”

She added, “I can’t really give a thoughtful response right now. I just found this out and I’m trying to console my children.”

What Happened to Brian Thompson?

Brian was walking to a UnitedHealthcare shareholders meeting at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan when a masked gunman shot him in the back and leg. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Police quickly called it a “targeted attack.”

Authorities were able to track the assailant to a nearby hostel, where he stayed prior to the killing. Police obtained a photo of the alleged killer briefly pulling his mask down to show his full face to the hostel clerk. The photo was disseminated worldwide in the manhunt for Thompson’s killer.

On December 9, 2024, patrons at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, recognized a man later identified as Luigi Mangione as the person in the photo and alerted the manager, who called local police.

Mangione was arrested by Altoona P.D. for having several fake IDs on him, including one that matched the New Jersey ID used at the hostel prior to Thompson’s murder. He was also in possession of a gun that matched the description of the one used in the healthcare exec’s killing, which the NYPD later confirmed was the murder weapon.

Mangione was initially held on two felonies — forgery and carrying a firearm without a license — in Pennsylvania. He was later charged with one count of murder in New York City. As of December 12, 2024, Mangione was being held without bail in Pennsylvania while fighting extradition to New York.