See Photos: America's Highest-paid Businesswoman is a Transgender

 

The highest paid female business executive in the United States was born a man. Martine Rothblatt, 

who earns $38 million-a-year as head of United Therapeutics, was a married father-of-four before 

undergoing a sex change in 1994.

Born into a Jewish family in San Diego, Martin trained as a lawyer at UCLA, married, had children, 

and went into business. Twenty years later, she has been named top in New York Magazine's list of 

the 200 most successful entrepreneurs - one of just 11 women in the list. She rocketed to success as a
man in 1990, investing in the $19 billion digital radio industry years before any other company. Last 

year, the firm posted a revenue of $1.1 billion, making her the most successful businesswoman in the 

world's most powerful nation.

Rothblatt is still married to her wife of 32 years Bina. Her children still know her as 'dad', while her 

grandchildren have adopted the nickname 'Grand Martine' instead of grandmother.

Martin with wife