American businessman Michael Jaharis has an estimated net worth of $1.9 billion as of March 2013 according to Forbes. He is known to be the founder of Vatera Healthcare Partners and Kos Pharmaceuticals. He is also one of the founders of Arisaph Pharmaceuticals.

After graduating from Carroll University and DePaul University where he completed his PhD, Michael Jaharis started working for Miles Laboratories from 1961 through 1972. Since 1972, he worked as CEO and President of Key Pharmaceuticals until its merger with  Schering-Plough Corporation sometime in 1986. Two years later, Michael Jaharis founded Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He is known to pioneer Niaspan, a cholesterol-fighting drug which he later sold to Abbott Labs for $4.2 billion.

Michael Jaharis has given generous contributions to various organizations which include Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Opera, Art Institute of Chicago, the Tufts University School of Medicine as well as the Columbia University Medical Center.