Franck Gougeon Net Worth: Estimated Wealth & Career Outline

Franck L. Gougeon is a Minnesota-based medical device entrepreneur best known as a co-founder, long-time director, and former President and CEO of AGA Medical Holdings. When St. Jude Medical acquired AGA in late 2010 for approximately $1.1 billion, Gougeon's documented stake as a major stockholder translated into gross proceeds likely in the range of $50 million to $210 million (pre-tax, pre-debt) depending on which share-count methodology you use from the SEC filings. After accounting for a documented $49.5 million secured loan against his shares and federal capital-gains tax, a conservative net worth estimate for Franck Gougeon sits in the range of $30 million to $100 million, with a mid-point estimate of approximately $60 million. This is not a celebrity whose finances are tracked by gossip columns; every meaningful figure here traces back to SEC prospectuses, stockholder agreements, and deal-announcement filings.

Executive Summary

Franck L. Gougeon built his wealth almost entirely through one vehicle: AGA Medical Holdings, Inc., a Plymouth, Minnesota-based medical device company he co-founded in 1995. He served as Executive Vice President and director from inception, was promoted to President and CEO in July 2005, and stepped back from day-to-day leadership in June 2008 under a formal transition agreement that included a $500,000 one-time transition payment. At the time of AGA's October 2010 acquisition by St. Jude Medical at $20.80 per share, Gougeon-affiliated entities held a documented beneficial ownership of roughly 20.2% of outstanding shares (per the AGA prospectus), and a specific entity, Gougeon Shares, LLC, held at least 4,694,638 shares per SEC beneficial ownership tables. Those documented holdings, valued at the acquisition price, produce gross pre-tax proceeds of roughly $97 million to $211 million depending on which filing line you use. After subtracting the documented $49.5 million Bank of America secured loan and applying a blended federal capital-gains rate, the estimated net worth attributable to the AGA exit is in the $30 million to $100 million range. Adding the Edina, Minnesota residential property and other personal assets, the headline net worth estimate for Franck Gougeon is approximately $60 million, with moderate confidence.

The Net Worth Estimate and Confidence Level

The headline estimate is approximately $60 million (as of mid-2026), with a plausible range of $30 million to $100 million. Confidence is graded moderate. This is not a public figure who files annual disclosures, runs a publicly traded company today, or regularly surfaces in financial press. The number is anchored entirely to documented public records: SEC filings, the St. Jude acquisition prospectus, and property records. No media outlet has published an independent net worth figure for Gougeon, so there is no third-party corroboration to cross-check against. The wide range reflects two legitimate sources of uncertainty: first, the gap between the two documented shareholding measures (20.2% of total shares vs. the specific 4,694,638-share line for Gougeon Shares, LLC); and second, the unknown disposition of shares sold or transferred prior to the 2010 closing, including a documented multi-million share block sold to WCAS in April 2008.

How the Estimate Was Calculated

The methodology here is straightforward and document-anchored. AGA Medical had 50,268,924 shares of common stock outstanding as of October 13, 2010, per the St. Jude offer prospectus. The AGA prospectus (Form 424B4) reported that the Gougeon Stockholders would beneficially own approximately 20.2% of common stock following the offering. Multiplying 50,268,924 by 20.2% gives roughly 10,154,362 shares attributable to Gougeon entities, and at $20.80 per share that is a gross implied value of approximately $211 million. The second, more conservative anchor is the specific beneficial ownership table line for Gougeon Shares, LLC: 4,694,638 shares times $20.80 equals approximately $97.6 million gross. The true answer probably sits between these two figures, because the 20.2% figure likely reflects multiple Gougeon-affiliated entities and family holdings that may not all net to Franck Gougeon personally. From the higher figure, subtract the documented $49.5 million Bank of America secured loan and apply a rough federal long-term capital-gains rate of approximately 23.8% (20% plus the 3.8% net investment income tax applicable to high earners) on the gain, leaving an after-debt, after-tax range of roughly $30 million to $100 million. Personal living expenses and any additional undocumented liabilities are unquantifiable. The methodology and its limitations are flagged throughout; nothing here should be read as a precise accounting.

Confidence grade: Moderate. The gross proceeds range is firmly anchored in SEC documents. The after-tax, after-debt estimate introduces real uncertainty because undisclosed share transfers, additional liabilities, and post-2010 investment performance are not visible in public records.

Career Timeline and Income-Generating Milestones

Where the Money Came From: Income Sources Broken Down

Equity in AGA Medical Holdings

By far the dominant income source is the equity Gougeon accumulated and ultimately monetized through AGA Medical. As a co-founder in 1995, his initial stake was likely acquired at near-zero cost basis, making the 2010 exit proceeds almost entirely capital gain. The documented 20.2% beneficial ownership at the time of the acquisition is the single largest driver of his estimated net worth. AGA grew to approximately $200 million in annual revenue at the time of the sale, which helps explain why St. Jude paid a premium.

Executive Compensation

As President and CEO from 2005 to 2008, Gougeon would have received a market-rate executive salary, bonuses, and additional equity or option grants. The specific compensation figures are not detailed in the publicly available SEC exhibits reviewed, but for a CEO of a company with $200 million in revenue, total annual compensation including equity would typically range from $1 million to $3 million per year. The $500,000 documented transition payment in June 2008 is the only single cash compensation figure that appears explicitly in public filings.

Consulting and Director Fees (Post-2008)

After stepping down as CEO in June 2008, Gougeon continued as a director and consultant under a formal transition agreement. Director fees for a company of AGA's size typically range from $50,000 to $150,000 annually, plus equity compensation. The consulting arrangement terms are not publicly quantified beyond the transition payment reference.

IPO Share Sales (2009)

During AGA's October 2009 IPO, affiliates of Franck L. Gougeon sold approximately 7,241,000 shares in the offering, according to Simpson Thacher press materials and SEC registration exhibits. At the IPO price, this represents a material pre-acquisition liquidity event. The exact IPO price per share at which these were sold is not specified in the available research, but it provided Gougeon-affiliated entities with meaningful cash well before the 2010 St. Jude deal closed.

Post-Acquisition Investments

What Gougeon has done with the AGA sale proceeds after 2010 is not visible in public records. Typical wealth-management paths for entrepreneurs at this scale include private equity co-investments, real estate, and tax-advantaged structures. No new ventures, board roles, or public investment disclosures have been identified in available research.

No Endorsements, Royalties, or Media Income

Unlike other public figures tracked on this site, including athletes like Franck Kessié or salon entrepreneurs like Franck Provost, Gougeon has no documented endorsement deals, book royalties, or media appearances that would constitute a separate income stream. For readers interested in athlete finances, see the separate profile on Franck Kessié net worth for details on his earnings from club contracts and transfers. His wealth is concentrated in a single, well-documented entrepreneurial exit.

Major Assets and Liabilities

The Deals That Actually Moved the Needle

The St. Jude Medical Acquisition (October 2010)

This is the defining wealth event. St. Jude Medical announced the acquisition of AGA Medical in October 2010 for approximately $1.1 billion in cash and stock, or roughly $1.3 billion including assumed debt. The per-share consideration was $20.08 to $20.80. Multiple outlets including Forbes and the Star Tribune covered the deal extensively, noting AGA's approximately $200 million annual revenue base and the company's unusual path to sale. Star Tribune, “AGA Medical nearly ran off the road as it careened toward buyout riches” (Oct 2010) reported on the St. Jude acquisition, noting AGA’s roughly $200 million in annual revenue and summarizing the purchase price and deal context Star Tribune — “AGA Medical nearly ran off the road as it careened toward buyout riches” (Oct 2010). For Gougeon, this deal converted a 15-year founder equity stake into a realized cash event. The Forbes headline at the time called it a 'wild ride,' which is accurate: AGA had survived internal litigation, private equity ownership by WCAS, and a restructuring before reaching this outcome.

The 2009 AGA Medical IPO

Before St. Jude came calling, AGA went public in October 2009. Simpson Thacher represented the underwriters and its announcement confirmed that Gougeon affiliates sold approximately 7,241,000 shares as selling shareholders in the IPO. This was a partial liquidity event that let Gougeon entities extract meaningful cash from the company while retaining a substantial position for the eventual acquisition premium.

The 2008 WCAS Share Transfer and Loan

In April 2008, Gougeon sold or transferred a large block of AGA shares to WCAS (Welsh, Carson, Anderson and Stowe), the private equity firm that was AGA's dominant investor. Simultaneously, Gougeon Shares, LLC borrowed $49.5 million from Bank of America with shares pledged as collateral. This combination reduced Gougeon's ownership percentage, introduced significant leverage, and came paired with his transition away from the CEO role two months later in June 2008. It is a reminder that even large paper fortunes can carry real debt loads, and that the documented $49.5 million liability must be netted against any gross proceeds figure.

The $500,000 Transition Payment

The formal transition agreement between AGA Medical Corporation and Franck L. Gougeon, filed as a public exhibit, includes a documented one-time transition payment of $500,000. This is a relatively modest figure compared to the equity story, but it is one of the few precise cash compensation numbers visible in public filings.

Annual Earnings and Historical Income Estimates

Specific annual salary figures for Gougeon are not disclosed in available SEC exhibits, which is common for privately structured companies before an IPO. As a general benchmark, the CEO of a U.S. medical device company generating roughly $200 million in annual revenue would typically earn total compensation (salary, bonus, and equity) in the range of $1.5 million to $4 million per year during the period 2005 to 2008. The $500,000 transition payment in 2008 is confirmed. Director and consulting fees post-2008 are unquantified but likely modest relative to the equity story. The most significant 'annual earnings' figure in practical terms is the capital gain realized in 2010, which, at the mid-point of the gross proceeds range (~$150 million) minus the $49.5 million loan, would represent a single-year gross income event of approximately $100 million, before federal and state taxes.

Public Records and Media Citations

The sourcing for this profile is unusually clean for a non-celebrity subject, because SEC-registered companies generate a substantial paper trail. Here are the key verified documents and media references:

• AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. Registration Statement and Prospectus (Form 424B4), SEC EDGAR filing: primary source for beneficial ownership percentages, share counts, and Gougeon Shares, LLC holdings.
• St. Jude Medical Offer to Exchange / Prospectus (Form 424B3), SEC filing: source for shares outstanding (50,268,924 as of Oct 13, 2010) and the $20.80 per-share acquisition price.
• Third Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, AGA Medical Holdings (SEC exhibit): documents Gougeon's address (4729 Annaway Drive, Edina, MN) and entity structure.
• AGA Medical / Franck L. Gougeon Transition Agreement (public exhibit, Justia contracts repository): documents the $500,000 transition payment and consulting terms.
• AGA Medical Stock Purchase Agreement (SEC exhibit): documents the $49.5 million Bank of America secured loan against Gougeon Shares, LLC holdings.
• Simpson Thacher press release (October 2009): confirms Gougeon affiliates as selling shareholders in the AGA IPO, with approximately 7,241,000 shares sold.
• Forbes, 'St. Jude Is AGA's Final Destination After Wild Ride,' October 18, 2010: corroborates the deal price and AGA revenue scale (~$200M/year).
• Star Tribune, 'AGA Medical nearly ran off the road as it careened toward buyout riches,' October 2010: local-market corroboration of the acquisition and company history.
• Minnesota Court of Appeals and district court records, Afremov v. Amplatz and related AGA litigation (2002–2006): public court opinions documenting founder-era disputes in which Gougeon was a named party.
• Redfin/Zillow public property data, 4729 Annaway Drive, Edina, MN 55436: aggregated tax-assessment and property characteristics data.

Franck Gougeon vs. Similarly Named Public Figures

This site tracks a number of public figures whose first name is Franck, and it is worth a brief disambiguation because search queries for any of these names can easily surface the others. Franck Gougeon is a medical device entrepreneur whose wealth came from a single focused company exit. That is a fundamentally different wealth-building pattern from, say, Franck Provost, the French hairdresser who built a global salon franchise over decades, or Franck Kessié, the Ivorian footballer whose wealth derives from transfer fees and professional contracts at clubs including FC Barcelona. Franck Goddio is an underwater archaeologist and explorer, while Franck Nicolas is a pastry chef and television personality. None of these individuals share a profession, industry, or wealth magnitude with Gougeon, so the naming similarity is purely coincidental. If you arrived here looking for one of those profiles, each is covered separately on this site. For details on the French hairdresser's financial profile, see Franck Provost net worth. For information on a different individual named Franck Nicolas, see the Franck Nicolas net worth profile.

What We Do Not Know

Transparency requires flagging the gaps. We do not know Gougeon's post-2010 investment portfolio, whether he reinvested the AGA proceeds into new ventures, the full scope of his real estate holdings beyond the Edina address, his current compensation from any private directorships, or the resolution of tax obligations from the 2009 IPO and 2010 acquisition events. The Third Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. (exhibit) lists Franck L. Gougeon's U.S. address for notice purposes as 4729 Annaway Drive, Edina, MN 55436. The $49.5 million BofA loan repayment status after the 2010 liquidity event is also not confirmed in public records, though the shares pledged as collateral would logically have been used to retire it. Any meaningful update to this profile would require new SEC filings, a new public company role, or verifiable press coverage of subsequent business activity.