Through July 4, The Post, in conjunction with the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, is featuring US citizens explaining what the American dream means to them in 2026 — including George Yancopoulos, president of Regeneron.
I grew up in New York City but my family hearkens from northern Greece. As in many immigrant families, my parents both were working really hard just to survive.
The biggest privilege is having a supportive family. That’s what, unfortunately, is not there for so many kids. I don’t believe it has to do, you know, with money. In fact, the hunger of not having things is a great driver. But it’s very hard to make up for the lack of a support system … This is what many immigrants have. They don’t have the money, but they’re raised within the extended family structure. When I was small, we had both my grandparents, my parents, and my sister and me all living in a one-bedroom apartment. But everybody was there to help each other out.
English was not my first language. I struggled with English. But I was always very good at numbers, and I was good at science, and I was good at gadgets.
There was a remarkable Greek[-American] scientist who actually became world renowned, whose name is Roy Vagelos.
It was his laboratory that invented the first statin. He rose from head of [research and development] at Merck to become COO of Merck, and he is acknowledged as one of the true fathers of the modern biopharmaceutical industry
And my father said, “Well, if you’re going to become a scientist, don’t become like any run of the mill scientist. Become like Roy Vagelos. Look at this guy — he’s a first-generation immigrant like you. If he can do these things, you can too.”
Roy was my role model and my hero. Unbelievably, when [my co-founder Leonard S. Schleifer and I] started our company … Regeneron, we eventually convinced the great Roy Vagelos to become chairman of our company.
I ended up … for almost 30 years working together with my role model and mentor that my dad told me to be like. We worked together to build Regeneron and develop a great number of important new medicines.
The American Dream Video Project showcases real stories that illuminate pathways to opportunity. Featured at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), this series is part of the Center’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. MCAAD is Washington, DC’s newest cultural institution, offering interactive exhibits and stories about achieving the American Dream. For more information, visit mcaad.org.
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