Barry Sherman

Barry Sherman (born Bernard Charles Sherman, February 25, 1942 – December 15, 2017) was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who was chairman and CEO of Apotex Inc., a pharmaceutical company he founded in 1974. With an estimated net worth of $3.2 billion at the time of his death, Sherman was one of the richest people in Canada.

Early life and education

Sherman was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a Jewish family. His father, Herbert Dick Sherman, a business partner at a zipper company, died when Sherman was ten. After his father's death, Sherman was raised by his uncle, Louis Lloyd Winter, who was a pioneer in the Canadian generic drug industry.

Sherman attended Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, where he excelled academically. He entered the University of Toronto's engineering science program at 16, and then earned a PhD in astrophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Career

In 1974, Sherman founded Apotex Inc., a pharmaceutical company that specializes in generic drugs. Under his leadership, Apotex grew to employ over 10,000 people and sell over 300 generic pharmaceuticals in more than 115 countries around the world.

Sherman was known for his aggressive business tactics, often engaging in lengthy legal battles with multinational pharmaceutical corporations. Despite these controversies, Sherman was respected for his contributions to the Canadian pharmaceutical industry and his philanthropic efforts.

Philanthropy

Sherman was a significant philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to the University of Toronto, the United Jewish Appeal, and other charitable organizations. He was also a major donor to the Liberal Party of Canada.

Death

Sherman and his wife, Honey, were found dead in their Toronto home on December 15, 2017. The cause of death was later determined to be ligature neck compression, and the case is being investigated as a double homicide.

Legacy

Sherman's death sparked a public outcry and led to increased scrutiny of the pharmaceutical industry in Canada. His life and career have been the subject of several books and documentaries.

See also

• List of unsolved deaths
• Pharmaceutical industry in Canada