Bryan Johnson: Biotech entrepreneur and self-proclaimed longevity enthusiast Bryan Johnson has revealed his intentions to either wind up or sell his anti-aging startup, Blueprint, calling it a “pain-in-the-a** company.” The 47-year-old, known for spending over Rs 17 crore annually on his ambitious Project Blueprint program to reverse aging, said that managing the startup has started to conflict with his deeper philosophical goals.
In a recent interview with Wired, Johnson said, “Honestly, I am so close to either shutting it down or selling it. I don’t need the money, and it’s a pain-in-the-a** company.” The statement underscores a notable shift in priorities for the entrepreneur, who in March launched his own religion called Don’t Die, focused on the pursuit of eternal life.
Johnson Says Business Affects His Philosophical Credibility
Blueprint sells a range of wellness products, including a Rs 4,700 “longevity mix” and a Rs 3,600 mushroom-based coffee alternative named Super Shrooms. Johnson originally launched the company after friends expressed interest in his personal health regimen. “It evolved in a way where I was trying to do people a solid,” he said.
However, Johnson now feels that his business undertakings are undercutting his credibility in the philosophical space. “People see the business and give me less credibility on the philosophy side,” he said, adding, “I will not make that trade-off. It is not worth it to me. So yeah, I don’t want it.”
Blueprint Has Faced Financial Strain, Reports Suggest
Earlier this year, The New York Times reported that Blueprint was missing its break-even target by at least $1 million a month, citing internal documents and court records. Johnson did not directly address those claims in that report. However, he recently told Wired, “We are break-even, and I’ve said that publicly many times. We’ve had profitable months, we’ve had loss months.”
While Johnson maintains that Blueprint is not in financial crisis, the potential sale or closure of the company suggests that his focus is increasingly shifting away from commercial ventures and toward his philosophical mission.