Health Is The New Wealth 4/2/26

Summary

Podcast Summary: Your Money Minute

Episode: Health Is The New Wealth
Date: April 2, 2026
Host: Jessica Ettinger, CNBC

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Overview

This episode of Your Money Minute explores the growing trend among wealthy Americans to prioritize health and wellness as the ultimate form of wealth. With the U.S. population aging and people living longer, the desire is not just for a longer life, but for a longer, healthier, and more active one. The discussion highlights evolving attitudes toward longevity, the emergence of luxury health trends, and the role of fitness and wellness brands in meeting this new demand.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Shift: Health as the New Luxury

• Introduction by Jessica Ettinger [00:00]

  • Sets the stage by noting that for wealthy Americans, “health is the new wealth.”
  • This marks a cultural transition from simply accumulating financial resources to investing in health as the ultimate status symbol.

• Harvey Spivak (Chairman, Equinox) on Evolving Expectations [00:07]

  • Emphasizes the growing desire among older Americans to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle into advanced age.
  • “We're sticking around longer, and nobody wants to stick around longer in a sedentary way. They want to continue to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. You know, you can talk about health is the new wealth, but really health is the new luxury.”
    — Harvey Spivak, 00:10

Demographic Trends and the Pursuit of Longevity

• Jessica Ettinger on Census Data [00:22]
  • Shares statistics from the 2020 census: 1 in 6 Americans is at least 65 years old.
  • Living to 100 remains rare in the United States, with only 2 in 10,000 reaching that milestone.
  • Contrasts the U.S. with countries like Japan and Italy, which have the highest proportions of centenarians among developed nations.
  • “The wealthy, though, are looking for a fountain of youth, and they're willing to spend for it.” — Jessica Ettinger, 00:44

From Lifespan to ‘Healthspan’: The New Focus

• Robert Frank (CNBC Wealth Reporter) on Current Trends [00:50]
  • Crystallizes the new focus on not just living longer (lifespan) but living healthier for longer (healthspan).
  • “We don't want a long lifespan. We want to live healthy longer. As Harvey said, we don't want to have a sedentary life where we're just lying around for 10 years. So it's really about extending that active period of your life.”
    — Robert Frank, 00:51
  • Notes popular trends and treatments among the wealthy:
    • IV drips
    • Plasma replacement
    • Cryotherapy
  • Points out the gap in the market for a credible single luxury health brand, and how Equinox is positioning itself to fill this space.

Notable Quotes

• “Health is the new luxury.” — Harvey Spivak, 00:21
• “The wealthy, though, are looking for a fountain of youth, and they're willing to spend for it.” — Jessica Ettinger, 00:44
• “The new word is health span. We don't want a long lifespan. We want to live healthy longer.” — Robert Frank, 00:50

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Important Timestamps

• 00:00 — Episode opens with the theme: health becoming the new wealth for affluent Americans.
• 00:07 — Harvey Spivak discusses the luxury aspect of health and active aging.
• 00:22 — Jessica Ettinger presents key aging and longevity statistics.
• 00:50 — Robert Frank explains the concept of “healthspan” and new luxury wellness trends.
• 01:18 — Jessica Ettinger wraps up; directs listeners to CNBC for further information.

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Tone and Language

• The episode employs accessible, direct language while offering expert insight.
• Quotes from Harvey Spivak and Robert Frank add credibility and an insider feel.
• The mood is forward-looking and practical, focusing on trends with implications for financial and personal well-being.

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For more in-depth reporting, visit cnbc.com.

Transcript

[A]

With ocnbc, you Money minute, I'm Jessica Edinger. For wealthy Americans, health is the new wealth.

[B]

The population is aging. We're sticking around longer, and nobody wants to stick around longer in a sedentary way. They want to continue to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. You know, you can talk about health is the new wealth, but really health is the new luxury.

[A]

That's Equinox chairman Harvey Spivak on CNBC. In the 2020 census, we one in every six people in the U.S. was at least 65 years old. The Census Bureau says living to 100 is still rare. Two out of every 10,000Americans make that. Japan has the highest proportion of centenarians, followed by Italy among developed nations. The wealthy, though, are looking for a fountain of youth, and they're willing to spend for it.

[C]

The new word is health span. We don't want a long lifespan. We want to live healthy longer. As Harvey said, we don't want to have a sedentary life where we're just lying around for 10 years. So it's really about extending that active period of your life. And so there are all these things like the IV drips and plasma replacement and cryotherapy. And so Equinox really sees an opportunity because there really isn't a single luxury brand that's credible in that space.

[A]

CNBC wealth reporter Robert Frank. See the full [e-mail] I'm Jessica Ettinger. CNBC

[D]

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