At 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a broad-shouldered, muscular build and an angular face, Diamandis resembles a genie from a fairytale. But instead of granting three wishes, he offers the vision of an ageless life.
"It's just a hardware or software problem, and we can absolutely solve it!" Diamandis declared enthusiastically to 200 doctors and scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, north of San Francisco, last December.
At 64, Diamandis, a Greek-American entrepreneur, holds a bachelor's degree in molecular genetics and a master's degree in aerospace engineering from MIT, and he also graduated from Harvard Medical School. However, he doesn't practice medicine. His role is as an "ambassador of possibilities," connecting science, technology, and investment to advance new fields like space travel, AI, and especially longevity.
In 1996, he founded XPrize, a $10 million award for the first team to build a private spacecraft capable of carrying a person into space twice within two weeks. The success of XPrize paved the way for a series of other awards in ocean exploration, education, and carbon capture.
For longevity, he launched XPrize Healthspan, an international competition with an award of up to $81 million for the team that can improve the muscle, brain, and immune function of patients by 20 years in one year of treatment.
Simultaneously, Diamandis runs Fountain Life, a chain of high-end clinics offering comprehensive checkups, early cancer detection, and other serious diseases using AI technology, in-depth genetic and gut bacteria testing, biometric indicators, and therapies like plasma exchange, supplement injections, and intravenous infusions. The basic service package starts at $21,500 per year, not including thousands of USD for specialized treatments.
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Peter Diamandis, Greek-American entrepreneur. Photo: Rich Roll |
Peter Diamandis, Greek-American entrepreneur. Photo: Rich Roll
The patients are primarily affluent, mostly successful white men, who take dozens of supplements daily and believe technology can delay or reverse aging. Diamandis calls the ecosystem around him the "Peterverse," where startup founders, venture capitalists, scientists, and patients are simultaneously customers, shareholders, and promoters of longevity technology.
In addition to clinics and awards, Diamandis also runs the annual Abundance360 conference and organizes Platinum Trips, journeys to meet renowned geroscientists worldwide for both investment and treatment. He co-founded the investment fund Bold Capital with a portfolio of $600 million, of which about 60% is invested in longevity and biotechnology companies. For him, "the two biggest wealth creation opportunities right now are AI and longevity."
He is not alone. Billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Yuri Milner, and Sam Altman have poured hundreds of millions of USD into anti-aging research companies. Some startups are experimenting not on mice but on their ultra-wealthy clients, who have both the money and the willingness to take risks.
However, the wave of investment in the longevity industry has been met with skepticism. Drugs and medical devices require laboratory research, animal testing, and then clinical trials to ensure safety. Afterward, companies submit data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If approved, the product still undergoes monitoring before market release. On average, the FDA takes about 12 years to approve a new drug and 3-7 years for a medical device.
The FDA has not yet approved any drug or therapy specifically for treating aging. The agency doesn't consider aging a disease, but a natural process. Methods like plasma exchange, stem cell injections, NAD+ supplements, and rapamycin use still lack sufficient clinical evidence in humans. The human body is a complex system; impacting one sign of aging can disrupt another. For example, rapamycin reduces inflammation but can also suppress the immune system.
Diamandis acknowledges the risks and conflicts of interest, but he believes there's a need for "daredevils" to pave the way. He often quotes his own law: "The day before something is a breakthrough, it's a crazy idea."
He compares his patients to early testers, accepting risks but also opening the path for the future.
"They spent their health to make money, now they're using money to regain their health," a doctor at Fountain Life said.
Diamandis's bigger dream is to build a city on the moon. But before that, he wants to help humanity live longer to witness it.
"I want to see my great-grandchildren and the world through their eyes," he said. While waiting for real breakthroughs, he maintains a strict lifestyle including meditation, exercise, biometric tracking with three devices simultaneously, taking 50 pills daily, and trying the therapies at his own clinic.
Some experts consider him a dreamer. Others say he's building the new religion of the 21st century, where faith in technology replaces faith in the divine. But for those pursuing longevity, Diamandis is a symbol of belief and opportunity.
"I'm not sure we'll succeed," he once said, "but I know for sure if we don't start now, we'll never have a chance."
Thuc Linh (From New Yorker)
