How Billionaires Live Longer and Healthier Lives

A fascinating article in the Financial Times, titled “Why 94 is the new 54 for moguls”, explores how some of the world’s wealthiest individuals are living significantly longer and healthier lives. Notable figures such as Rupert Murdoch, Warren Buffett, Giorgio Armani, Larry Ellison, and Les Wexner have maintained influence and vitality well into their 80s and 90s. The FT highlights that these individuals are shaping politics, technology, and global affairs over decades, thanks to their extended healthspans. So, how do billionaires achieve such longevity and vitality?

The Lifestyle Habits of Billionaires That Promote Longevity

Billionaires often have the resources to implement personalised health and wellness plans. They prioritise:

Regular use of saunas and cold plunges
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
Consistently eating nutritious, healthy foods
Access to top fitness professionals and specialised gyms
Cutting-edge therapies such as stem cell treatments and peptides, often inaccessible to the general public

These individuals understand that ageing is a natural biological process that requires active management, rather than a disease to be cured.

Why Age Is Not a Disease: The Biological Perspective

Many billionaires recognise that ageing is a fundamental biological process. Unlike diseases, it cannot be fully prevented with traditional drugs tested through double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, such trials are scarce for anti-ageing interventions. The key is to find a team of experts who appreciate that managing the underlying mechanisms of ageing involves strategies beyond conventional medicine. While illnesses and risk factors must be addressed, the real challenge lies in influencing the body's biological momentum of ageing.

Traits That Enable Billionaires to Extend Their Healthspan

Beyond resources, certain personal traits contribute to longer, healthier lives:

Future Focus: They have a clear vision for the future, turning ambitious goals into reality.
Intense Focus on Results: Persistent determination and obsessive focus on achieving health-related outcomes.
Bias for Improvement: A continuous drive to innovate and optimise their health and performance.

What Can We Learn from Billionaires? Practical Steps to Extend Your Lifespan

While most of us have fewer financial resources, we can adopt the principles that contribute to longevity:

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good; set achievable health goals.
Develop a personalised health plan and stick with it.
Regularly monitor key health markers such as blood pressure, inflammation, and blood sugar.
Incorporate stress reduction techniques like meditation.
Use saunas and cold plunges regularly, if possible.
Maintain a healthy diet rich in protein and low in sugar.
Keep active, aiming for a VO2 max above 40.
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
Screen for common age-related conditions, such as heart disease and cancer, annually.
Engage in lifelong learning to keep your mind sharp.

Summary: Achievable Ageing Goals for a Longer, Healthier Life

Maintain blood pressure close to 120/80 mmHg
Keep inflammation levels low (CRP < 1)
Sustain normal glutathione levels to minimise oxidation
Keep HbA1c below 5.7% to regulate blood sugar
Preserve healthy body composition with adequate muscle and bone density
Maintain balance with eyes closed
Manage stress through meditation
Regularly use sauna and cold plunge therapies
Stay physically active to keep VO2 max above 40
Adhere to a nutritious diet with sufficient protein and minimal sugar
Limit alcohol intake
Undergo annual health screenings, including CT coronary angiograms if at risk
Keep your mind active by learning new skills and knowledge

Dr Tim Trodd

Family Medicine, Functional Medicine, General Practice

MBBS (London)
DCH (London)
DRCOG (UK)
MRCGP (UK)
FHKAM (Family Medicine)

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References

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Cohen, P. (2016) 'The role of inflammation and oxidative stress in ageing', Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 15(12), pp. 857–872.
Kennedy, B. et al. (2014) 'The biology of ageing: implications for health and longevity', The Lancet, 383(9924), pp. 1913–1924.
Lemoine, M. et al. (2020) 'Lifestyle interventions and their impact on healthspan and lifespan', Ageing Research Reviews, 62, p. 101113.
Mattson, M.P. (2015) 'The biology of ageing and neurodegeneration', Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 16(9), pp. 573–585.
Sprott, R. (2010) 'The importance of hormesis in ageing and health', Biogerontology, 11(4), pp. 533–541.