University of Texas, Austin (BS) University of California, Berkeley (MBA) Stanford University
Known for
Former president and COO of Theranos
criminal fraud
Criminal status
Incarcerated April 20, 2023
Conviction(s)
(2) counts of conspiring with Holmes, (6) counts of defrauding investors and (4) counts of patient fraud (2022)
Criminal penalty
12 years and 11 months
Partner(s)
Elizabeth Holmes (2003–2016)
Imprisoned at
Terminal Island FCI
Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani (born June 13, 1965)[1] is a businessman, former president and chief operating officer of Theranos, which was a privately held health technology company founded by his then-girlfriend Elizabeth Holmes. He and Holmes fraudulently represented that they had devised a revolutionary blood test that required only small amounts of blood, such as from a fingerstick. Both Balwani and Holmes were convicted of fraud.[3] The consequences of the fraud led to the collapse of Theranos and the loss of billions of dollars to investors.[4]
Starting in 2015, Theranos came under criticism in the media due to its questionable claims and practices. The company was eventually liquidated. Balwani and Holmes were criminally charged by federal authorities for operating the business as a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors and patients. Holmes was found guilty and sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in prison.[5] Balwani was found guilty on all counts.[6] He was sentenced to 12 years and 11 months, plus three years of probation and surrendered on April 20, 2023.[7][8] Holmes and Balwani were further ordered to pay $452 million to the victims of the fraud, with responsibility for the payment shared between them.[9]
^ abSommerlad, Joe (November 30, 2021). "Ramesh Balwani: Who is Elizabeth Holmes' ex at the heart of the Theranos trial". The Independent.
^Cite error: The named reference Raghavan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Wile, Rob (December 7, 2022). "Former Theranos executive Sunny Balwani gets nearly 13 years in prison for his role in company's fraud". NBC News. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
^Levine, Matt (March 14, 2018). "The Blood Unicorn Theranos Was Just a Fairy Tale". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
^Primack, Dan (March 25, 2022). "Trial begins for ex-Theranos exec Sunny Balwani". Axios. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
^Rosenblatt, Joel (July 7, 2022). "Theranos ex-President Sunny Balwani found guilty of fraud". Bloomberg. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
^Goswami, Rohan (December 7, 2022). "Former Theranos COO Sunny Balwani sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison". CNBC. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
^"Sunny Balwani: Former Theranos executive gets nearly 13 years in prison". BBC News. December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
^Godoy, Jody (May 16, 2023). "Theranos founder Holmes loses bid to stay out of prison, hit with huge restitution bill". Yahoo! News. Reuters.
Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani (born June 13, 1965) is a businessman, former president and chief operating officer of Theranos, which was a privately held health...
Holmes and former company president SunnyBalwani were charged with fraud by the SEC in 2018. Holmes and Balwani were also charged with wire fraud and...
Holmes, and former Theranos chief operating officer (COO) Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani with raising $700 million from investors through a "massive fraud" involving...
The Brave One (2007), and Diana (2013). In 2022, he portrayed Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani in the Hulu miniseries The Dropout. Andrews was born in Lambeth, London...
who goes on to found healthcare startup Theranos Naveen Andrews as SunnyBalwani, Holmes' lover and Theranos' COO Elizabeth Marvel as Noel Holmes, Elizabeth's...
v. Elizabeth A. Holmes, et al., which convicted Holmes and partner SunnyBalwani of criminal fraud. During his time working for Holmes, Robertson was...
June 2, 2023. Storey, Kate; Covington, Abigail (December 8, 2022). "SunnyBałwani Just Received a Nearly 13-Year-Long Prison Sentence". Esquire. Archived...
v t e Theranos Key people Elizabeth Holmes (CEO) SunnyBalwani (COO) Ian Gibbons (CSO) Creditors, investors, and partners Walgreens Safeway Cleveland...
v t e Theranos Key people Elizabeth Holmes (CEO) SunnyBalwani (COO) Ian Gibbons (CSO) Creditors, investors, and partners Walgreens Safeway Cleveland...
November 28, 2016. "SEC.gov | Theranos, CEO Holmes, and Former President Balwani Charged With Massive Fraud". www.sec.gov. Retrieved August 23, 2020. Carreyrou...
counts of wire fraud, and one of conspiracy to commit wire fraud Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani - found guilty of nine counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy...
v t e Theranos Key people Elizabeth Holmes (CEO) SunnyBalwani (COO) Ian Gibbons (CSO) Creditors, investors, and partners Walgreens Safeway Cleveland...
v t e Theranos Key people Elizabeth Holmes (CEO) SunnyBalwani (COO) Ian Gibbons (CSO) Creditors, investors, and partners Walgreens Safeway Cleveland...
Ayer, former chairman and CEO of The Hartford Financial Services Group SunnyBalwani, former President and Chief Operating Officer of Theranos Prith Banerjee...
v t e Theranos Key people Elizabeth Holmes (CEO) SunnyBalwani (COO) Ian Gibbons (CSO) Creditors, investors, and partners Walgreens Safeway Cleveland...
Amar Lal - Special Adviser in control of Madrasas in Pakistan OTHERS : SunnyBalwani - Businessman Fakeero Solanki - Sculptor Surendar Valasai - Journalist...
the criminal trial of former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes and COO SunnyBalwani. Holmes was found guilty on four counts on fraud in January 2022 and...
been previously gutted by the Trump administration. Theranos executive SunnyBalwani is found guilty on all 12 charges for defrauding Theranos patients and...
Dopesick as Richard Sackler (Hulu) Naveen Andrews – The Dropout as SunnyBalwani (Hulu) Peter Sarsgaard – Dopesick as Rick Mountcastle (Hulu) Will Poulter...
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