Albert Bourla

Albert Bourla

Personal details
Born	Albert Bourla 1961/10/21 (age 64) 🇬🇷 Thessaloniki, Greece
Nationality	🇬🇷 Greek 🇺🇸 American (naturalized)
Education	DVM, PhD Biotechnology
Spouse	Myriam Alchanati Bourla (married)
Children	2 (daughter Selise, son Mois)
Career details
Occupation	Pfizer Chairman & CEO
Compensation	$24.6 million (2024)
Net worth	~$40 million (est. 2023)

Albert Bourla (; born 21 October 1961) is a Greek-American veterinarian and businessman serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer since January 2019, leading the pharmaceutical giant through the historic development of the first authorized COVID-19 vaccine in record time. Born in Thessaloniki, Greece to Sephardic Jewish Holocaust survivor parents, Bourla trained as a veterinarian before joining Pfizer's animal health division in 1993 and rising through ranks over 25 years to become CEO. His compensation reached $24.6 million in 2024 following a rebound year for Pfizer.

Under Bourla's leadership, Pfizer partnered with BioNTech to develop the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in Western countries (November 2020), completing clinical trials in unprecedented 8 months—a process that typically takes years. The achievement brought Pfizer $100 billion revenue in 2022, more than double pre-pandemic levels, while earning Bourla Time Magazine's "Heroes of the Year" (2021) and Genesis Prize ($1M donated to Holocaust education). However, his tenure sparked intense controversies: Senator Elizabeth Warren accused Pfizer of "pure and deadly greed" over plans to quadruple vaccine prices to $130/dose (10,000% markup over production costs), Republican lawmakers alleged deliberately delaying vaccine results past the 2020 election, and hedge fund Starboard Value took $1B stake demanding changes after Pfizer stock lost half its value since 2021 peak.

Married to Myriam Alchanati, Bourla has two children: daughter Selise (who has cerebral palsy) and son Mois. He left Greece at age 34 (1995) after Pfizer promotion, lived in seven cities across four countries, and became U.S. citizen. Still known as "Akis" in his native Thessaloniki, he maintains strong ties to Greece and Holocaust remembrance through Yad Vashem visits with his wife.

Early Life and Education

Born 21 October 1961 in Thessaloniki, Greece, to Sephardic Jewish family of Holocaust survivors. Mother escaped firing squad execution after capture during Holocaust. Grew up in Thessaloniki, still considers it "epicenter of his life." Known as "Akis" to family and friends in Greece.

Studied veterinary medicine at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Earned DVM degree 1985, PhD in biotechnology of reproduction 1991. Doctoral thesis titled "Effect of melatonin implants on sperm characteristics and on the freezability of Karagouniki ram semen." Began career as practicing veterinarian.

Career

Early Pfizer Career (1993-2010)

Joined Pfizer 1993 as doctor of veterinary medicine and technical director for animal health division in Greece. Rose through various positions in animal health across Europe. Left Greece age 34 (1995) after promotion, relocating with wife Myriam. Lived in seven cities across four countries during Pfizer career. Immigrated to United States 2001.

Executive Rise (2010-2019)

Served various executive roles including Chief Operating Officer of Pfizer's Animal Health division. Held leadership positions across multiple geographies and business units. January 2019: Appointed CEO of Pfizer, succeeding Ian Read.

COVID-19 Vaccine Development (2020-2021)

March 2020: Partnered with BioNTech (led by Turkish-German scientists Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci) for COVID-19 vaccine development. Bourla set "impossible" goal: complete vaccine trials in 8 months (typical vaccine development takes years). November 2020: Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine became first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in Western countries. December 2020: FDA emergency use authorization granted. Vaccine became most administered COVID vaccine globally, with 3.5 billion doses delivered by end 2021.

Recent Leadership (2022-Present)

2022: Pfizer revenue reached $100B, more than double from two years prior. 2023: Revenue plummeted as COVID vaccine demand collapsed; stock lost half value from 2021 peak. October 2024: Activist hedge fund Starboard Value took $1B stake demanding changes. Bourla defended leadership amid investor pressure.

Personal Life

Married to Myriam Alchanati, originally from Greece, Greek nationality. Two children: daughter Selise (has cerebral palsy) and son Mois (attended college). Wife Myriam devoted to ensuring Selise leads thriving life. During pandemic, Bourla would bounce ideas off son Mois between calls with world leaders and scientists.

Left Greece 1995 age 34 with wife after Pfizer promotion. Lived seven cities in four countries. Became U.S. citizen. Resides Scarsdale, New York. Maintains strong connection to Thessaloniki, where he's still called "Akis." Visits Yad Vashem with wife for Holocaust remembrance, honoring his family's survival.

Compensation

$24.6 million total compensation 2024 (14% increase): $8.82M cash, $14.83M equity, $996K pension/other. Received $7M incentive award 2024 (nearly double $3.6M target). $33M (2022) when COVID products peaked. $21.6M (2023, 35% drop) after misjudging plummeting vaccine demand. Net worth estimated ~$40M (2023), mostly Pfizer stock (123,055+ units valued $11.7M+ as of March 2022).

Awards & Recognition

Time Magazine "Heroes of the Year" (2021) for vaccine development. Genesis Prize 2022 ($1M donated to Holocaust education initiatives). Criticized by former CDC chief Tom Frieden as engaging in "war profiteering" for pandemic pricing.

Controversies

Vaccine Price Gouging Allegations

December 2022: Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote Bourla accusing Pfizer of "pure and deadly greed" over plans to charge up to $130/dose—quadruple previous price, 10,000% markup over estimated production costs. Price increase projected to bring Pfizer additional $2.5-3B annual revenue. Former CDC director Tom Frieden called pricing strategy "war profiteering." Warren warned price could result in "COVID-induced fatalities of many uninsured Americans."

Republican Political Attacks

May 2025: Rep. Jim Jordan (House Judiciary Committee) sent letter alleging "three most senior people in Pfizer R&D were involved in decision to deliberately slow down clinical testing so it would not be complete prior to results of presidential election" in late 2020. Pfizer denied allegations.

Stock Performance & Activist Pressure

October 2024: Hedge fund Starboard Value took $1B stake in Pfizer seeking changes. Stock lost half value since 2021 peak. Yale analysis defended Bourla's leadership, noting activist critics missed facts about pandemic response complexity.

BBC Interview Ethics Violation

2021: British Medical ethics Authority determined Pfizer violated ethical code following BBC interview by "misleading the public, making unsubstantiated claims, and failing to present information in factual and balanced way."

Vaccine Misinformation Comments

November 2021: Bourla called people spreading vaccine misinformation "criminals," sparking controversy from vaccine skeptics and free speech advocates.