Bryan Johnson, the tech entrepreneur known for his anti-aging initiatives, has come under fire following accusations that he used non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence employees at his startup, Blueprint, regarding his unconventional behavior.

According to a report by The New York Times, the NDAs required employees to acknowledge that they were okay with him wearing “little and sometimes no clothing/no underwear” and hearing “discussions of sexual activities, including erections”. The agreement also stipulated that employees confirm they did not find his behavior “unwelcome, offensive, humiliating, hostile, triggering, unprofessional, or abusive.”

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Johnson, 47, defended the agreements, claiming they were “fair to all concerned” and ultimately in everyone’s best interest.

Details from the NYT report

The New York Times report revealed that the Blueprint employee agreement was a lengthy 20 pages, outlining numerous confidentiality clauses. These included provisions requiring workers to keep private any details about Johnson’s personal spaces, including his home, office, vehicles, and any other private areas that were not open to the public.

Additionally, the report highlighted allegations that Johnson frequently wandered around in minimal clothing and occasionally flirted with his predominantly female staff. However, because of the NDAs, employees reportedly had no avenue to lodge complaints about his behavior.

Johnson, who sold his payments company Braintree to PayPal for millions in 2013, has since invested a significant portion of his wealth into his anti-aging research. His personal life has included a high-profile divorce, hiring prostitutes, and experimenting with drugs like LSD, Ibogaine, and DMT, according to the report.

Johnson’s response to the report

Bryan Johnson, the man behind “Project Blueprint” and the inspiration for the Netflix documentary “Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever”, fired back at The New York Times after their recent report. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Johnson claimed that the newspaper “tried to come for him” but ultimately failed.

“What was supposed to be a takedown ended up reading more like a profile piece,” he wrote just hours after the article’s release.

“After a year of investigation and speaking to 30 people, including disgruntled former employees, the Times couldn’t find anything substantial. They even propped up my ex-wife, who unsuccessfully tried to extort $9 million from me,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

In closing, he sarcastically “thanked” The New York Times for the coverage, framing it as an attempt that ultimately failed to damage his reputation.

Last month, Mr. Johnson publicly addressed the “fact-checking” questions that were sent to him by The New York Times reporter prior to the publication of the story.

Johnson dismissed the criticism of his opt-in agreements, explaining, “I post nudes on social media, track my nightly erections, and my team openly discusses my semen health. We make funny memes. Rather than springing this on people unexpectedly, we disclose it upfront in writing so no one is caught off guard.”

He added that the agreements were meant to ensure transparency, not coercion. “If someone isn’t comfortable with our culture, they are free to work elsewhere. Nobody is forced to sign anything. The goal is clarity and to prevent misunderstandings.”

Johnson’s defense of his confidentiality agreements

Johnson also emphasized that confidentiality agreements are “standard and normal” in business, particularly for public figures like himself. “If you didn’t sign one at The New York Times, I’d be surprised,” he remarked. “My life is under constant scrutiny, and these agreements help set clear boundaries, ensuring trust is maintained.”

He also explained that his contracts, like everything else, are constantly evolving. “The goal is precision. When people know where they stand, it’s a win for everyone,” Johnson concluded.

Johnson, who reportedly spends $2 million annually on his quest to reverse aging, has consistently maintained that his lifestyle choices and workplace agreements are a reflection of his commitment to transparency and innovation.