She was charged with fraud by the SEC and the DOJ, and in 2022, she was convicted of defrauding investors and sentenced to 11 years in prison. She was also fined $452 million to be paid to the victims of her scam. Holmes was known for her charisma, secrecy, and personal connections with influential people, as well as for her distinctive black turtleneck outfits and deep voice.
Elizabeth Holmes Age, Education and Religious Beliefs:
Elizabeth Holmes was born on February 3, 1984, in Washington, D.C, making her 39 years old as of 2023. She grew up in a well-connected family and showed an early interest in science and technology. She attended St. John’s School, a prestigious private school in Houston, Texas, and spent time in China during high school. She enrolled at Stanford University in 2002, where she studied electrical and chemical engineering. However, she dropped out of Stanford after her freshman year to pursue her idea of creating a revolutionary blood-testing device. She founded Theranos in 2003, when she was only 19 years old.
Elizabeth Holmes’s religious beliefs are not very clear, as she has not publicly spoken about them in detail. However, some sources suggest that she may have been influenced by Buddhism and Christianity at different points in her life. According to an interview with journalist Roger Parloff, Holmes disclosed her spirituality and mentioned seeking guidance from Buddhist teachings, such as compassion, forgiveness, and loving-kindness. She also said that she meditated regularly and read books by the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. On the other hand, The Wiki Feed claims that Holmes believes in the Christian religion, although it does not provide any evidence or citation for this statement. It is possible that Holmes may have been exposed to Christianity through her family or education, as her father’s ancestors were Danish and Hungarian immigrants who likely followed Protestant or Catholic traditions.
Holmes also wears a signet ring from MIT on a chain around her neck, which was given to her by her husband Billy Evans when he proposed to her. The ring has a Latin inscription that translates to “Mind and Hand,” which could be interpreted as a Christian motto. However, it is also the official motto of MIT, so it may not have any religious significance for Holmes. Therefore, it is hard to say for sure what Holmes’s religious beliefs are, or if she identifies with any specific faith or denomination. She may draw inspiration from various belief systems or maintain a more personal and individualistic approach to spirituality.
Elizabeth Holmes Husband, Family, Affair:
Elizabeth Holmes is married to William “Billy” Evans, a hotel heir and former tech worker. They met at a party in 2017, when Theranos was already under scrutiny for its fraudulent claims. Evans proposed to Holmes with his MIT signet ring, which she wears on a chain around her neck. They got married in a secret ceremony in 2019, and have two children together: a son named William, born in 2021, and a daughter named Invicta, born in 2023. Evans has supported Holmes throughout her trial and conviction, despite his family’s initial disapproval of their relationship. He reportedly lives with Holmes and their children in a rented house in Atherton, California.
Elizabeth Holmes had a secret affair with Sunny Balwani, her former business partner and COO of Theranos, for 12 years. They met in Beijing in 2002, when Holmes was 18 and Balwani was 37. They started dating and living together in 2005, but kept their relationship hidden from investors, employees, and the media. They claimed to have invented a breakthrough blood-testing technology that could perform hundreds of tests with a few drops of blood. However, they lied about the accuracy and reliability of their product, and defrauded millions of dollars from investors and patients. Their affair ended in 2016, after their fraud was exposed by the Wall Street Journal. In 2018, they were both charged with multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy by the federal government. In 2021, Holmes testified that Balwani had emotionally and sexually abused her, and influenced her decisions at Theranos. Balwani denied these allegations. Holmes was found guilty on four charges and Balwani on six charges. They were both sentenced to prison in 2022.
Elizabeth Holmes Career and Achievements:
Holmes set up Theranos in Palo Alto, California, and began working on developing her blood-testing technology. She hired Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, an Indian-born software engineer who was 19 years older than her, as her chief operating officer and romantic partner. Together, they raised millions of dollars from investors such as venture capitalists, billionaires, and corporations.
Holmes claimed that Theranos had invented a device called Edison that could perform hundreds of tests on a single drop of blood from a fingerprick, using proprietary nanotainers and cartridges. She also claimed that Theranos had developed another device called miniLab that could perform similar tests on small samples of blood or other fluids in remote locations. She said that these devices were faster, cheaper, more accurate, and more convenient than conventional laboratory methods.
Holmes marketed Theranos as a revolutionary company that could democratize health care and empower people to take control of their own health. She attracted media attention for her charismatic personality, her distinctive black turtleneck outfits (inspired by Steve Jobs), and her visionary rhetoric. She also recruited influential people to serve on her board of directors or as advisors, including former U.S. secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, former U.S. secretary of defense Jim Mattis, former U.S. senator Bill Frist, former U.S. secretary of education Betsy DeVos, and retired U.S. Marine Corps general James Mattis.
In 2013, Theranos announced a partnership with Walgreens, one of the largest pharmacy chains in the U.S., to offer its blood-testing services at select stores across the country. In 2014, Theranos also announced a partnership with Safeway, another major grocery chain, to install its devices at its stores. By then, Theranos had raised more than $700 million from investors and was valued at $9 billion. Holmes herself owned 50% of the company’s shares and was estimated to be worth $4.5 billion by Forbes magazine. She was hailed as the youngest self-made woman billionaire in the world and one of the most influential people in business and health care.
Elizabeth Holmes Scandal and Downfall:
However, behind the scenes, Theranos was plagued by problems and secrets. The Edison device was unreliable and inaccurate, often producing erroneous or inconsistent results. The miniLab device was still under development and not ready for use. Theranos relied on conventional machines from other companies to perform most of its tests, often diluting or manipulating the samples to fit them into the machines’ requirements. Theranos also faced technical challenges, regulatory hurdles, quality-control issues, employee turnover, lawsuits, and complaints from customers and patients.
The first cracks in Theranos’s facade appeared in October 2015, when The Wall Street Journal published an investigative report by John Carreyrou that exposed many of the company’s flaws and falsehoods. The report revealed that Theranos had misled investors, patients, and regulators about its technology, its partnerships, its revenues, and its capabilities. The report also cited former employees who alleged that Holmes and Balwani had created a culture of secrecy, intimidation, and deception at Theranos, and had ignored or silenced anyone who raised concerns or doubts about the company’s claims.
The Wall Street Journal report triggered a series of journalistic and regulatory investigations that further eroded Theranos’s credibility and reputation. In January 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) found that Theranos had violated several federal standards for clinical laboratories at its Newark, California, facility, and threatened to revoke its license and impose fines and sanctions. In March 2016, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched a probe into Theranos’s finances and disclosures. In May 2016, Walgreens terminated its partnership with Theranos and sued it for breach of contract. In June 2016, Forbes revised its estimate of Holmes’s net worth to zero, and Fortune named her one of “The World’s 19 Most Disappointing Leaders”. In July 2016, Theranos announced that it had voided or corrected two years’ worth of test results from its Edison device, affecting tens of thousands of patients. In September 2016, Theranos shut down its clinical labs and wellness centers, laying off about 40% of its workforce.
In March 2018, the SEC charged Theranos, Holmes, and Balwani with raising $700 million from investors through “an elaborate, years-long fraud” involving false or exaggerated claims about their blood-testing technology. Holmes settled the charges by paying a $500,000 fine, returning 18.9 million shares to the company, relinquishing her voting control of Theranos, and accepting a ten-year ban from serving as an officer or director of a public company. Balwani contested the charges and went to trial separately. In June 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Holmes and Balwani on fraud charges, accusing them of defrauding investors, doctors, and patients with their deceptive schemes. They pleaded not guilty and faced up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Holmes’s trial began in August 2021 after several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Holmes’s pregnancy (she gave birth to her first child with her fiancé Billy Evans in July 2021). The trial lasted for four months and involved dozens of witnesses, including former employees, investors, patients, experts, and journalists. Holmes took the stand in her own defense for seven days, portraying herself as an idealistic entrepreneur who believed in her vision but made mistakes along the way. She also accused Balwani of being abusive and controlling toward her during their relationship, claiming that he influenced her decisions and actions at Theranos. She denied any intention to defraud anyone or harm anyone with her products.
On January 3rd ,2022 ,the jury reached a verdict after seven days of deliberations .They found Holmes guilty on three counts of wire fraud for deceiving investors about Theranos 's technology ,partnerships ,and financial situation .They also found her guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for scheming with Balwani to defraud investors .They acquitted her on four counts of wire fraud for misleading patients about Theranos 's test results .They were unable to reach a unanimous decision on three other counts related to defrauding patients ,resulting in a mistrial on those charges .
On May 17th ,2022 ,Holmes was sentenced by U.S .District Judge Edward Davila to serve 11 +1⁄4 years (135 months )in prison ,beginning on May 30th ,2023 .She was also ordered to pay $452 million in restitution to the victims of her fraud ,along with Balwani ,who was convicted on all eight counts against him in his separate trial .Judge Davila said that Holmes 's conduct was "egregious "and "caused widespread harm "to investors ,patients ,employees ,and society.
Elizabeth Holmes Height, Weight, and Body Measurements:
Elizabeth Holmes is a tall and slim woman with a striking appearance. She stands at 169 cm (5 ft 6) and weighs 55 kg (121 lbs). Her body measurements are 34-26-34 inches. She has blue eyes and blonde hair, which she usually styles in a bob cut. She is known for wearing black turtlenecks, black pants, and black flats as her signature outfit. She has said that she adopted this minimalist wardrobe to simplify her life and focus on her work.
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elizabeth Anne Holmes |
| Nickname | Liz, EAH |
| Profession | Former biotechnology entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Theranos |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Hair Colour | Blonde |
| Height | 169 cm (5 ft 6) |
| Weight | 55 kg (121 lbs) |
| Bra | 34B |
| Body Measurements | 34-26-34 inches |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | February 3, 1984 |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., U.S |
| Age | 39 (as of 2023) |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Signature |  |
| Hometown | Houston, Texas |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Billy Evans (2019–present) |
| Children | Son name (William) Daughter name (Invicta) |
| Parents | Christian Rasmus Holmes IV (father) Noel Anne Daoust (mother) |
| Siblings | Christian Holmes V (brother) |
| Money Factor | |
| Net Worth | Between $100,000 and $1 million (as of 2023) |
| Salary | Unknown |
| Social Media | |
| Unknown (she does not appear to have an official account) | |
| Unknown (she does not appear to have an official account) | |
| @eholmes2003 (last tweet was in December 2015) | |