Geshe Michael Roach was born in California and graduated from Princeton University with honors. He has also received the Presidential Scholar Medallion from the President of the United States, at the White House.

He was the first American to complete and receive the “Geshe” degree after 25 years of study with Sera Mey Buddhist Monastery of India. At the same time, he helped to found Andin International Diamond Corporation in New York City, which grew from a small investment to $250 million USD in annual sales, and was purchased in 2009 by super-investor Warren Buffet. Geshe Michael’s profits from Andin International were used almost entirely to create and support several charitable organizations.