Longevity: Wealth of Time, Ownership of the Future?
(From the Mad Max Wealth Bad Time Stories)
The quest for longer life has become the ultimate status symbol. In a dystopian future scenario where life-extension technologies are only available to the ultra-wealthy, a new kind of inequality emerges — time inequality. The rich are no longer just wealthier—they live longer, while the rest of society is left to age and die. Is time the new currency of wealth, and will only the rich get to live forever?
Did you know? Studies predict that by 2050, global life expectancy could increase to an average of 85 years, but for the rich, life-extending technologies could push lifespans beyond 120. [WHO]
George Frederic Watts "Time, Death, and Judgment"
Healthcare as a Commodity:
Imagine a future where your financial portfolio isn’t just measured in dollars or assets but in years. Personalized health plans and regenerative medicine funds become the new currency of wealth, but these are only available to the privileged few. The ultra-wealthy enjoy access to advanced gene therapies, custom-tailored health plans, and anti-aging treatments, while the rest of society is forced to make do with decaying healthcare systems and rationed resources.
In this Mad Max version of the world, the rich literally buy more time. Healthspan—the number of years lived in good health—becomes a luxury. Multigenerational families extend their dynasties over centuries, their wealth and influence compounding over time.
Key Fact: By 2040, the global market for life-extension therapies is expected to reach $600 billion, but only the wealthiest 1% will have access to the most advanced treatments. [Fortune Business Insights]
Aging as Punishment:
For the less fortunate, aging isn’t just a natural process — it’s a punishment. In the past, medical advancements like antibiotics extended life expectancy for all, but in this world, only the wealthy benefit from life-saving biotech. The gap between rich and poor becomes a gap in time itself.
Historical Insight: Just as the introduction of antibiotics in the 20th century boosted global life expectancy, the current era of breakthroughs in biotechnology and personalized medicine is creating a similar shift. But unlike the 20th century, these advancements now come with a price tag — one that only the wealthiest can afford.
The rich live longer, accumulating wealth and power, while the poor are left to fight against time. What was once an economic divide has now become a divide in human lifespans.
The Black Market for Life:
Desperation fuels a shadow economy. The lower and middle classes, unable to access legitimate life-extension therapies, turn to illegal gene therapies and unregulated biotech. This black-market healthcare system is riddled with risks, offering dangerous treatments with fatal consequences.
Key Fact: By 2030, the black market for unregulated biotech is projected to reach $50 billion. The race to extend life becomes a gamble with deadly stakes. [MarketWatch]
TIME BECOMES THE ULTIMATE CURRENCY:
In this Mad Max scenario, longevity redefines wealth. The ability to live longer gives the wealthy more time to grow their resources and influence. Time becomes the most valuable asset of all. For the poor, time is scarce, and every year lived in poor health is a burden.
Wealth Gap in Time: A wealthy individual who lives 150 years will accumulate exponentially more wealth than someone who only lives 80. The rich don’t just control resources—they control time itself.
Legacy Redefined: Multigenerational wealth takes on a new meaning. Families with extended lifespans pass on their wealth over centuries, creating a closed loop of power where the poor are left to wither away.
life as the ultimate commodity?
In the Mad Max version of longevity, life itself becomes the ultimate commodity. The rich live longer, healthier lives, while the poor are left behind, fighting against time in a world where time is money. Time inequality becomes the starkest division of all, with only the wealthy afforded the privilege of eternal life.
The future of wealth won’t just be about money — it will be about who controls the clock. Your clock.
The Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci
here’s the naked wealth koan:
When wealth no longer buys possessions, but extends time itself, how do we measure the value of a single day?
This koan challenges us to think beyond money and assets and reflect on the ultimate wealth — time. In a world where time is stretched for some and limited for others, the question isn’t just about wealth but about the value of the days we have left.
… and, as always, while you reflect, some inspirationals:
Books:
"Homo Deus" by Yuval Noah Harari – Explores the future of humanity and technology, including the pursuit of immortality.
"The Age of Em" by Robin Hanson – A speculative look at a future where digital emulations of the mind create a new society.
"Sapiens" by Yuval Noah Harari – A deep dive into human history, evolution, and how we might adapt in the future.
"Altered Carbon" by Richard K. Morgan – A sci-fi novel where consciousness can be transferred to new bodies, exploring the implications of immortality.
"The Price of Time" by Tim Tigner – A thriller that revolves around the consequences of discovering a treatment that stops aging.
"The Longevity Economy" by Joseph F. Coughlin – A look at the economic implications of an aging population and the opportunities in longevity.
Movies:
"Elysium" – A future where the rich live in a utopian space station, while the poor struggle on a dying Earth.
"In Time" – A dystopian world where time is literally the currency, and the wealthy can live forever while the poor die young.
"Blade Runner 2049" – A vision of a future where technology and wealth control who lives and who dies.
"Gattaca" – A world where genetic engineering creates a divide between the genetically elite and the rest.
"Children of Men" – A dystopian future where society is crumbling as humans face extinction.
"The Island" – Explores the exploitation of clones created to provide organs for the rich.
Documentaries/Podcasts:
"A Life of its Own" – Documentary about the rise of biotechnology and gene therapy.
"The Joe Rogan Experience" (Episode with David Sinclair) – A deep conversation about aging and life-extension technologies.
"The Immortalists" – A documentary following scientists on a quest to achieve immortality.
"Transcendence" Podcast – Discusses the merging of humanity and technology, featuring thinkers on life-extension.
"Life After Life" – Documentary on scientists exploring near-death experiences and what it could mean for life and death.
"Human Nature" – A documentary exploring the science and ethics of CRISPR, a gene-editing technology that could reshape the future of health.