Why the ultra-wealthy put health first
Near the end of a 2026 Family Office Club event, Richard talked about health. His team likes to interview pro athletes and focus on being ultra-healthy, not just ultra-wealthy. He made the case from two directions.
What you end up with
Richard says people move up a hierarchy of needs. In the end they see that what they have is family, new experiences and health. Without health, he says, you have nothing.
The money case
His second argument works even for the greediest person alive. You make more money by living longer, having more energy and taking care of your health. He described a doctor's event where members paid $30,000 a year to belong, yet nobody in the room paid that much for their health.
What he does
Richard says he and his wife go to CrossFit three or four days a week, which is also time together. He also warned against the opposite picture: chasing money until your family stops talking to you.
In Richard's words
"So, we like to interview pro athletes, we like to focus on being ultra-healthy, not just trying to become ultra-wealthy, and document stuff around that." (Richard C. Wilson, 2026 Family Office Club event)
"is your family, your novel experiences, and your health. And if you don't have your health, you don't have anything." (2026 Family Office Club event)
"you will make more money by staying alive longer, having more energy, and optimizing your health." (2026 Family Office Club event)
How to use this
- Budget for health the way you budget for a key hire.
- Put workouts on the calendar like meetings. Do them with someone you want time with.
- Check whether your spending matches what you say matters.
- Treat energy as a business asset.
Questions and answers
Why do wealthy people focus on health?
Richard says that in the end people realize health sits near the top, and without it you have nothing.
Is there a financial case?
Yes. Richard argues you make more money by living longer and having more energy.
What does Richard do for his health?
He says he and his wife do CrossFit three or four days a week.
Does Billionaires.com cover health?
Richard says his team likes to interview pro athletes and document how to be ultra-healthy, not just ultra-wealthy.