The tech billionaires trying to hack longevity and live forever

Lakshmi VaranasiJan 15, 2024, 07:37 IST

From Sam Altman (from top left, clockwise) to Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Sergey Brin, many of the world's wealthiest billionaires seem to be on a quest for the fountain of youth.Lucy Nicholson/Reuters/Marco Bello/Getty Images/Evan Agostini/Invision/APDrew Angerer/Getty ImagesAnadolu Agency / Getty Images

A growing number of the world's richest entrepreneurs are using their wealth to fight aging.
They're taking supplements, abiding by fitness routines, and investing millions into research.

When they're not launching major social networks, search engines, or e-commerce companies, many of the world's wealthiest tech execs have a side project they're working on: extending the human lifespan.

And they're funneling millions of dollars of their own fortunes into the endeavor.

Some — like Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman — are investing in companies trying to reverse aging at the cellular level. Others — like Sergey Brin and Sean Parker — are directing their wealth to combating age-related conditions, from cancer to Parkinson's disease. And others like Bryan Johnson are investing intensive nutrition, exercise, and wellness plans in a serious attempt to slow the aging clock.

Here are 13 of the world's wealthiest tech leaders who are funneling their wealth into extending life itself.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has funneled some of his wealth into extending the human lifespan.

OpenAI's Sam Altman reportedly invested $180 million into a longevity startup called Retro Biosciences, according to MIT Technology Review.Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

Tech billionaire Peter Thiel may be best known for co-founding companies like PayPal and Palantir Technologies, but he's also funneled millions into the field of longevity research.

Peter Thiel, who has a net worth of $9.14 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is a prominent backer of longevity research.Marco Bello/Getty Images

Tech billionaire Peter Thiel may be best known for co-founding companies like PayPal and Palantir Technologies, but he's also funneled millions into the field of longevity research.

Oracle founder Larry Ellison has devoted millions over the years to fighting what he sees as the mysterious phenomenon of death.

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, with a net worth of $130 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, has donated millions to anti-aging research since 1997.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

In 2013, Google co-founder Larry Page announced the launch of an anti-aging endeavor called the California Life Company, more commonly known as Calico Labs.

Google co-founder Larry Page, has a net worth of $119 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, and also helped launch anti-aging research firm Calico Labs.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Sergey Brin's interest in longevity research is fueled — in part — by his own genetic predisposition to Parkinson's disease.

Sergey Brin, with a net worth of $113 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, has poured more than $1 billion into researching Parkinson's disease.Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg has also long been preoccupied by questions of life and death.

Mark Zuckerberg, with a net worth of $116 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, once told physicist Stephen Hawking he wanted to know what would enable humans to live forever.Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Sean Parker is widely recognized as co-founder of the file-sharing service Napster, and later, Facebook's first president, but he also struggles with life-threatening food allergies, and has dedicated millions into funding research in the life sciences.

Sean Parker, with a net worth of $2.8 billion, according to Forbes, has donated millions into life sciences research.Miguel Villagran / Getty

Sean Parker is widely recognized as co-founder of the file-sharing service Napster, and later, Facebook's first president, but he also struggles with life-threatening food allergies, and has dedicated millions into funding research in the life sciences.

Some might call Jack Dorsey the former CEO of Twitter, or the current CEO of mobile payment company Block, once known as Square.

Jack Dorsey, with a net worth of $4.3 billion, according to Forbes, has become known for a regimented health routine that includes fasting, meditation, and ice baths.Chesnot/Getty Images

Jeff Bezos has also gotten into longevity investment game in recent years.

Jeff Bezos, with a net worth of $171 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is a reported investor in longevity research company Altos Labs.Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

Russian-born billionaire Yuri Milner, who made his money as an early backer of Facebook and Twitter, is also an investor in Altos Labs.

Yuri Milner, with a net worth of $6.8 billion according to Forbes, is a known backer of longevity research company, Altos Labs.David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Russian entrepreneur, Dmitry Itskov, is the founder of the online media company, New Media Stars.

Dmitry Itskov, who was cited as a "Russian multimillionaire" by The New York Times, is on ambitious journey to rewire synthetic avatars with human personalities.AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

David Murdock, the former chairman of Dole, has a more modest request than other billionaires. The 100 year old just wants to make to the age of 125.

100-year-old David Murdock, with a net worth of $3.4 billion according to Forbes, hopes to live until 125.Patrick McMullan / Contributor/ Getty Images

The 46-year-old biotech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has the heart of 37-year-old, the skin of a 28-year-old, and the lungs of a young adult

Bryan Johnson, a 46-year-old biotech founder, hopes to rewind the clock of his body a few decades through a program he started, called Project Blueprint.Dustin Giallanza

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The tech billionaires trying to hack longevity and live forever

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has funneled some of his wealth into extending the human lifespan.

Tech billionaire Peter Thiel may be best known for co-founding companies like PayPal and Palantir Technologies, but he's also funneled millions into the field of longevity research.

Oracle founder Larry Ellison has devoted millions over the years to fighting what he sees as the mysterious phenomenon of death.

In 2013, Google co-founder Larry Page announced the launch of an anti-aging endeavor called the California Life Company, more commonly known as Calico Labs.

Sergey Brin's interest in longevity research is fueled — in part — by his own genetic predisposition to Parkinson's disease.

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg has also long been preoccupied by questions of life and death.

Sean Parker is widely recognized as co-founder of the file-sharing service Napster, and later, Facebook's first president, but he also struggles with life-threatening food allergies, and has dedicated millions into funding research in the life sciences.

Some might call Jack Dorsey the former CEO of Twitter, or the current CEO of mobile payment company Block, once known as Square.

Jeff Bezos has also gotten into longevity investment game in recent years.

Russian-born billionaire Yuri Milner, who made his money as an early backer of Facebook and Twitter, is also an investor in Altos Labs.

Russian entrepreneur, Dmitry Itskov, is the founder of the online media company, New Media Stars.

David Murdock, the former chairman of Dole, has a more modest request than other billionaires. The 100 year old just wants to make to the age of 125.

The 46-year-old biotech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has the heart of 37-year-old, the skin of a 28-year-old, and the lungs of a young adult