Key points from article :
We are closer than ever to extending human life well beyond 100 years, thanks to major advances in longevity science. From high-throughput biology and gene editing to cellular reprogramming and synthetic organs, the technological foundations have been laid. Founders and scientists working on these breakthroughs understand that the longevity “tech tree” is now unlocked—meaning key innovations are enabling practical, investable solutions to ageing. Yet funding remains scarce, especially from billionaires who could dramatically accelerate progress with just a fraction of their wealth.
The idea of a “tech tree,” drawn from strategy games, explains how breakthroughs build on one another—just as the internet relied on earlier computing advances, or AI needed decades of algorithm development. Longevity is at a similar turning point today. Emerging companies are tackling ageing from multiple angles: regenerating tissues, resetting cellular age, and delivering targeted therapies with next-generation tools. But despite the scientific momentum, most institutional investors have yet to realize the sector’s potential.
So why aren’t billionaires investing? The reasons include skepticism from years of snake oil, a lack of understanding about how far the science has come, and a culture that prioritizes wealth signalling over solving real problems. There’s also a perception issue—longevity is often dismissed as a vanity project rather than a public health mission. But ageing affects everyone, regardless of income, and solving it could reduce suffering, add healthy years to life, and unlock a trillion-dollar industry.
With historical parallels like the eradication of smallpox—achieved with a small coordinated investment—the case is clear. Now is the moment to back longevity science with serious funding. Those who act today will be remembered not just for capturing outsized returns, but for helping reshape what it means to live a full human life.
