In the wake of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s tragic shooting, concerns about safety among business leaders and billionaires have intensified.
Back in January 2025, David Balland, a French cryptocurrency entrepreneur, was kidnapped for ransom and reportedly had a finger severed by his captors.
Forbes has noted that rising hostility toward affluent individuals is connected to heightened political polarization, global tensions, and growing wealth disparity.
Interestingly, a survey found that 41% of young adults aged 18 to 29 viewed the alleged murder of Thompson by Luigi Mangion as “acceptable.”
Furthermore, risk management firm NISOS reported a 41% surge in threats against CEOs just six weeks following Thompson’s death, while Mangion has pleaded not guilty.
Security Measures Among the Wealthy
This troubling landscape has led the ultra-wealthy to invest heavily in security measures, including professional protection services and discreet tracking technology.
Recently, there has been a notable uptick in demand for personal security, with Forbes highlighting that the wealthiest individuals are increasingly concerned about the safety of their children amid fears of potential harm or abduction.
Allied Universal, a leading private security firm, reported a staggering 1,500% rise in requests for threat assessments compared to the previous year.
Common security services now include trained private drivers (costing between $250,000 and $500,000 for a pair), advanced residential security systems (ranging from $750,000 to over $1 million), and travel protection whose costs vary significantly based on location. It appears that there is an increasing need for teams to manage threats and personal information breaches online.
Forbes associates indicate that a standard executive protection team typically commands a minimum of $2 million, with individual team members often earning around $200,000 each. This team may include part-time bodyguards and specialists trained in emergency medical response.
As a case in point, in 2024, SNAP allocated $2.8 million for the protection of its CEO, Evan Spiegel. Alphabet invested $8.3 million for Sundar Pichai’s security, while Meta reportedly spent $24.4 million safeguarding Mark Zuckerberg and his family.
While high-profile individuals may attract focus, those in sectors such as drugs, energy, healthcare, and insurance appear particularly susceptible to threats, according to Michael Evanov, director of the U.S. government’s diplomatic security.
