David Cordani and John Paulson are two prominent American business leaders who built careers in very different industries. Cordani spent decades at Cigna, rising to CEO. Paulson founded Paulson & Co. and became famous for betting against the housing market. This guide covers their ages, careers, net worth, family lives and the one documented connection between them, using filings and reputable reporting.
Profile Bio
| David Cordani | John Paulson | |
| Full name | David M. Cordani | John Alfred Paulson |
| Born | February 10, 1966 | December 14, 1955 |
| Age | 60 | 70 |
| Birthplace | Waterbury, Connecticut | Queens, New York |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Education | Texas A&M; University of Hartford (MBA) | NYU; Harvard Business School (MBA) |
| Profession | Healthcare executive | Investor and hedge fund manager |
| Known for | Led Cigna as CEO, 2009 to 2026 | Founding Paulson & Co.; the 2007 subprime trade |
| Current role | Executive Chair, Cigna | Head of the Paulson & Co. family office |
| Height | Not reliably disclosed | Not reliably disclosed |
| Net worth | Not publicly verified | About $8.46B (Bloomberg) to $10.8B (Forbes), October 2026 |
| Spouse | Sherry Cordani | Reportedly engaged to Alina de Almeida |
Who Is David Cordani?
David M. Cordani was born on February 10, 1966, in Waterbury, Connecticut, and is 60 years old. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University and an MBA at the University of Hartford. Before joining Cigna in 1991, he worked at Coopers & Lybrand. His career has centered on healthcare services, strategy and long-term organizational growth.
Cordani’s Career at Cigna
Cordani became president of Cigna HealthCare in 2005 and CEO in December 2009. His biggest deal was the $67 billion Express Scripts acquisition, completed in December 2018, which expanded Cigna into pharmacy services. On July 1, 2026, Brian Evanko succeeded him as CEO, and Cordani became Executive Chair of the board, ending nearly 17 years in the top job.
David Cordani’s Net Worth
Cordani’s total net worth is not publicly verified. Cigna’s 2026 proxy reported $22.9 million in total compensation for 2025, down slightly from $23.3 million in 2024. MarketScreener valued his disclosed Cigna shares at about $172 million in March 2026. Those figures show pay and holdings, not his complete wealth, so treat any single number cautiously.
Cordani’s Family and Lifestyle
Cordani’s wife is Sherry Cordani, and together they founded the David and Sherry Cordani Family Foundation. Public sources give little detail about children or siblings, so none are listed here. Outside work, he is an endurance athlete who has completed more than 125 triathlons and supports Achilles International’s program for wounded veterans. He lives in Connecticut.
Who Is John Paulson?
John Alfred Paulson was born on December 14, 1955, in Queens, New York, and is 70 years old. He studied finance at New York University and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1980. He was the third of four children, and his father’s family came from Ecuador. He is not the same person as former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.
Paulson’s Career and Paulson & Co.
Paulson founded Paulson & Co. in 1994 and focused on event-driven investing. He became famous in 2007 by using credit default swaps to bet against subprime mortgages, a trade that earned billions. His 2010 pay of $4.9 billion set a hedge fund record. Returns faded after 2011, and in 2020 he converted the fund into a family office.
John Paulson’s Net Worth
Estimates vary by source. Forbes’ real-time tracker showed about $10.8 billion on October 24, 2026, and ranked him 110th on its 2026 Forbes 400. Bloomberg’s index listed $8.46 billion, after subtracting assets managed for his family foundation. Older articles citing $3 to $4 billion are outdated, so always check the date before quoting a figure.
Paulson’s Family and Philanthropy
Paulson married Jenny Zaharia in 2000 and filed for divorce in September 2021, a case that drew heavy media coverage. Forbes lists two children, and Bloomberg reported he later became engaged to Alina de Almeida. His giving includes $400 million to Harvard, which renamed its engineering school for him, and $100 million to NYU.
David Cordani and John Paulson: Their Connection
The documented link dates to April 14, 2020, when the White House announced the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups to help plan the post-COVID-19 recovery. Paulson & Co.’s John Paulson and Cigna’s David Cordani both appeared on the published list, in different industry groups. Beyond that shared appointment, no reliable source shows a business partnership or family relationship.
Height and Social Media
Neither man has a reliably confirmed height in corporate or financial sources, so those numbers are left out. Both appear in standard business dress at public events. Neither appears to run a celebrity-style online presence. Cordani’s public voice comes mainly through Cigna and business events, while Paulson’s profile rests on financial coverage and philanthropy. Treat unverified accounts using their names with caution.
Final Thoughts
David Cordani and John Paulson show two routes to business success. Cordani rose inside one company and led a major healthcare transformation, and he now serves as Executive Chair. Paulson built his own firm, made one of Wall Street’s most famous trades and now manages a family office. Their only documented link is the 2020 White House industry groups.
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FAQs
Are David Cordani and John Paulson related?
No. Nothing in filings or reputable reporting suggests a family tie. Their names appear together online because of a shared 2020 White House appointment, not a relationship.
What is the connection between them?
Both were named to the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups, announced on April 14, 2020. Cordani represented Cigna in healthcare, and Paulson represented Paulson & Co. in finance.
What is John Paulson’s net worth?
It depends on the source. Bloomberg listed $8.46 billion, while Forbes showed about $10.8 billion in October 2026. The gap comes from how each counts his assets.
What is David Cordani’s net worth?
It isn’t publicly verified. Filings show $22.9 million in 2025 pay and Cigna shares valued near $172 million in March 2026, which is not the same as total wealth.
Is David Cordani still the CEO of Cigna?
No. Brian Evanko took over as CEO on July 1, 2026. Cordani remains with the company as Executive Chair of the board.
