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A surprising trend has emerged in Silicon Valley: top founders and CEOs are embracing psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA not for recreation, but for creative insight, leadership growth, and emotional wellbeing.
🧠 Visionaries Who’ve Experimented
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Steve Jobs famously called LSD “a profound experience” that shaped his priorities pursuing creativity and meaning over profit using it 10 – 15 times in the early 1970s.
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Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, credits guided psilocybin retreats in Mexico for drastically reducing his anxiety and fostering calmness a far more impactful experience than casual psychedelic use. He’s also backed clinical psychedelic research, including the startup Journey Colab.
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Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, is reported to have experimented with magic mushrooms and supports psychedelic science through firms like Catalyst4.
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Bill Gates reflected on experimenting with LSD in college, including a memorable “cosmic” night, though he stepped away after recognizing its limitations.
In contrast, Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, has opted out favoring mental clarity and intelligence-building activities like gaming and reading over psychedelics.
Why Are Psychedelics Resurfacing?
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Creativity and emotional clarity: Many tech leaders are exploring psychedelics for breakthroughs in problem-solving, leadership presence, and emotional balance.
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A surge in research: Investments in psychedelic-driven biotech led by figures like Altman, Thiel, and Y Combinator signal a shift from fringe to credible therapeutic potential.
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Structured experiences matter: Leaders emphasize guided retreats over casual use, ensuring safe and purposeful journeys .
The Road Ahead
The Silicon Valley embrace of mind-altering substances is emblematic of a broader cultural evolution one that blends tech innovation with wellness. As legalization and scientific validation grow, psychedelics may become mainstream tools for creativity, mental health, and leadership development.
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