Over the past years, genetic studies on lipid traits have substantially extended our understanding of the relationship between lipid metabolism and coronary artery disease (CAD). Thereby, novel pathways and interactions in lipid metabolism unraveled by genetic studies have led to promising novel treatment strategies that are currently evaluated for prevention and treatment of CAD, such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering by inhibition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). This review article discusses findings from recent genetic studies and their implications for the understanding of the relation between lipid metabolism and CAD as well as the development of novel therapeutic strategies supported by these studies.