Born in 1977 in East Hampton, New York, Tim Ferriss is an entrepreneur, author, and podcaster known for his influence on productivity and lifestyle design. A graduate of Princeton University, he gained initial prominence through his 4-Hour book series before transitioning his focus toward professional investment, extensive media projects, and philanthropic support for scientific research into psychedelic medicine.
Early Career and Internet Business
Ferriss began his professional life working in sales at a data storage company. In 2001, he founded BrainQUICKEN, an internet-based nutritional supplements enterprise originally called BodyQUICK. He managed the company while maintaining his existing employment, later noting that his book The 4-Hour Workweek, released in 2007, was based on his experiences during this period. He sold the business to a London-based private equity firm in 2010.
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As an investor and advisor, Ferriss participated in the growth of various startups including Facebook, Twitter, Uber, Duolingo, and Shopify. He provided strategic guidance to firms such as Evernote and TaskRabbit. By 2013, he formed an AngelList syndicate to raise funds for Shyp, though the company ceased operations in 2018. Following a 2015 decision to reduce his active investment role to concentrate on writing and media, he launched Tim Ferriss Publishing in 2013, focusing on works by authors such as Rolf Potts and Ryan Holiday.
Podcast and Television Production
Since 2014, Ferriss has hosted The Tim Ferriss Show, an interview-centered podcast that has surpassed one billion downloads. His television career includes The Tim Ferriss Experiment, which debuted on HLN in 2013, and the 2017 series Fear{Less} with Tim Ferriss. These projects served as vehicles for his interest in speed learning and innovation. In 2016, Fortune magazine named him to its 40 Under 40 list.
Philanthropy and Scientific Advocacy
Influenced by his own experience with bipolar disorder and addiction within his family, Ferriss has directed significant resources toward psychedelic research. In 2015, he began funding studies led by Roland Griffiths at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He later contributed to the Center for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London and helped raise $30 million for research into PTSD treatments involving MDMA. Through the Saisei Foundation, founded in 2018, he supports educational initiatives, including a journalism fellowship at UC Berkeley.
Fast facts
- Born: 1977, East Hampton
- Education: Princeton University
- Notable Book: The 4-Hour Workweek
- Podcast: The Tim Ferriss Show
- Foundation: Saisei Foundation
- Notable Achievement: First American to hold a Guinness World Record for tango spins
- Notable Achievement: National Chinese Kickboxing Championship winner
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of the Saisei Foundation?
The foundation supports scientific research into psychedelics and created a journalism fellowship at UC Berkeley focused on the subject.
Which companies did Tim Ferriss invest in?
His investments include Facebook, Twitter, Uber, Duolingo, Shopify, and various others like Reputation.com, Digg, and Neko Health.
Achievements
- Educated at Princeton University
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