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Silicon Valley Executives Tap Psychedelics for Creativity and Well‑Being🌱

Sarah Johnson

A surprising number of high-profile tech leaders have opened up about using psychedelics—like LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and ayahuasca—to boost creativity, personal clarity, and mental health.

1. Steve Jobs: Creativity Fueled by LSD

  • Steve Jobs described his early-1970s LSD trips (10–15 times over two years) as “profound”, crediting them with shaping his values—prioritizing innovation and deep human connection over profit.

2. Sam Altman: From Anxiety to Calm

  • OpenAI’s Sam Altman calls his guided psychedelic retreat in Mexico a lifesaver. He credits it with easing deep-seated anxiety and launching a calmer mindset. Since then, he's supported clinical psychedelic ventures like Journey Colab.

3. Sergey Brin & Venture Funding

  • Google cofounder Sergey Brin has reportedly used psilocybin and has invested in psychedelic research through initiatives such as Catalyst4.

4. Bill Gates: A “Cosmic” Flash of Insight

  • Bill Gates has admitted to trying LSD in college and later described the experience as “cosmic”, even drawing a parallel between his brain and a computer deleting memory.

5. Demis Hassabis: Staying Grounded

  • DeepMind’s CEO Demis Hassabis avoided psychedelics altogether, choosing scientific exploration and gaming over drug experiences to preserve his finely tuned mental focus.

Why It’s Meaningful

  • Creativity and self‑reflection: Many leaders believe psychedelics offered profound personal insight, inspiring deeper meaning in their work.

  • Mental health adoption: What was once fringe behavior is now part of a broader cultural shift towards therapeutic psychedelics—seen in investments from Silicon Valley and biotech.

  • A cautious balance: While some tech icons embrace these experiences, others like Hassabis prefer traditional, scientifically grounded paths—highlighting a mindful debate on cognition and innovation.

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