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Founder Profile

Richard T. Burke

Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya

Who is Richard T. Burke?

Richard T. Burke is a founder of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, which was founded in 1977.

Company founded
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Founded
1977

Background

Richard T. Burke worked in health plan administration in Minnesota during the early HMO era of the 1970s, when federal policy began encouraging prepaid, managed care plans.

Founding Story

Richard T. Burke founded Charter Med in 1974 and formed United HealthCare Corporation in 1977 to manage newly created health maintenance organizations, starting with the Physicians Health Plan of Minnesota. He led the company through its 1984 IPO and early regional growth, later served on the board, and stepped away from day-to-day management as William McGuire took over in the early 1990s.

Richard T. Burke was born in 1943.

Richard Taylor Burke was born in 1943. A hockey fan, he was responsible for moving the Winnipeg Jets to Arizona, where the team became the Coyotes.

Sources

Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.