Young blood, “vampires” and cryonics

In August 2016 Inc. published an interview in which Thiel discussed his interest in parabiosis, the study of what happens when young blood circulates in older bodies. The New Republic and others turned it into vampire satire. [1][2]

In 2017 Jesse Karmazin, founder of Ambrosia, a start-up selling young-plasma infusions, told TechCrunch he “was never contacted by Thiel or anyone associated with Thiel Capital.” Inc.’s reporter answered that Karmazin had told him in July 2016 that Thiel Capital’s medical director had expressed interest, and Gizmodo, citing emails, reported that “the original story remains accurate.” [3][4]

Thiel told the DealBook conference in 2018: “I want to publicly tell you that I’m not a vampire. On the record, I am not a vampire.” [5]

In 2019 the FDA said it was not aware of evidence that young-donor plasma had any clinical benefit against aging and warned of risks. [6]

Fortune reported in 2023 that Thiel said he still planned to be frozen after death, recalling a 2014 report that he had signed with the cryonics firm Alcor. He said: “I don’t necessarily expect it to work, but I think it’s the sort of thing we’re supposed to try to do.” [1][2]