Overview
Aubrey Marcus is an American entrepreneur and wellness advocate who founded Onnit, a holistic health company built around the philosophy of "Total Human Optimization."[3] Marcus grew the company from an $80,000 startup in 2010 to a wellness empire with 250+ products that was acquired by Unilever in 2021 for nine figures.[3][8]
Born in Santa Monica and raised in Austin, Marcus was exposed to alternative wellness through his stepmother Dr. Janet Zand, founder of Zand Herbal.[7] After graduating from the University of Richmond with a degree in Philosophy and Classical Civilization, he founded a boutique marketing agency before launching Onnit with a single nootropic supplement called Alpha Brain.[2][3]
Beyond Onnit, Marcus became a New York Times bestselling author with "Own The Day, Own Your Life" and hosts a podcast that has generated over 250 million views.[9] He currently operates from Austin, Texas and Sedona, Arizona, continuing to build companies and content around human optimization.[2]
Early life and education
Marcus was born February 28, 1981, in Santa Monica, California, and raised in Austin, Texas.[2] His early exposure to wellness came through his stepmother, Dr. Janet Zand, who founded the herbal supplement company Zand Herbal.[7] As a youth basketball player, Marcus would take a stack of supplements before games, an experience that shaped his later approach to human optimization.[7]
He attended the University of Richmond, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Classical Civilization in 2004.[2] The philosophical foundation would later influence his holistic approach to wellness and business.[4]
Career
Marketing Agency (2004–2010)
After graduating from Richmond, Marcus founded a boutique marketing agency specializing in brand development and eCommerce.[3] The agency provided the business foundation and capital that would later enable him to launch Onnit.[3]
Onnit (2010–2021)
Marcus founded Onnit in 2010 with $80,000 in funding and a single product: Alpha Brain, a nootropic supplement designed to enhance cognitive function.[3] The company was built around his philosophy of "Total Human Optimization," which approached wellness holistically rather than focusing on individual aspects.[7]
The initial marketing strategy relied heavily on influencer partnerships, particularly with podcaster Joe Rogan, who became both an early adopter and investor.[3] This approach helped Onnit grow rapidly in the emerging podcast advertising space.[3]
Under Marcus's leadership, Onnit expanded from a single supplement to a comprehensive wellness brand offering over 250 products including supplements, fitness equipment, foods, and apparel.[8] The company achieved Inc. 500 status in 2016 and grew to 172 employees with estimated annual revenue of $51.1 million.[6]
In 2021, Unilever acquired Onnit for nine figures, marking one of the largest exits in the wellness supplement space.[3] Marcus transitioned from the company following the acquisition.[3]
Post-Onnit Ventures (2021–present)
Following the Onnit exit, Marcus has focused on building a portfolio of companies and content platforms around human optimization.[9] He continues to host his podcast, which has generated over 250 million views, and operates from bases in Austin, Texas and Sedona, Arizona.[9][2]
Recognition and public engagement
Marcus achieved New York Times bestseller status in 2018 with "Own The Day, Own Your Life," a guide to daily optimization practices.[9] Onnit was recognized as an Inc. 500 company in 2016, acknowledging its rapid growth trajectory.[6]
He has appeared as a speaker at major industry conferences and maintains an active presence in the wellness and entrepreneurship communities through his podcast and writing.[8][1]
Public statements
We call that total human optimization and it's really hard to do that by focusing on one aspect alone
On Onnit's holistic approach — Art of Manliness, 2015[7]
I wanted something really simple. Instead of 10 bottles of something for the brain, I wanted one bottle that encompassed everything
On creating Alpha Brain — The Art of Charm, 2016[7]
Personal
Marcus is married to Vylana and divides his time between Austin, Texas and Sedona, Arizona.[2] He legally changed his name from Michael Aubrey Christopher Marcus to simply Aubrey Marcus following a transformative ayahuasca experience.[2] He maintains an active lifestyle and continues to practice the optimization principles that formed the foundation of Onnit.[5]
References
- Aubrey Marcus | HuffPost — HuffPost, January 2023
- Who Is Aubrey Marcus? — Refinery29, September 2019
- He Had One Product, $80K in Funding, and One Influencer - And Unilever Just Acquired His Company for 9 Figures — Capitalism, March 2021
- Aubrey Marcus: A Warrior Poet On Embracing Resistance, Self-Love & Why Outward Success Is An Inside Job — Rich Roll, May 2020
- Who Is Aubrey Marcus? — Ben Greenfield Life, August 2022
- Onnit Labs: Revenue, Competitors, Alternatives — Growjo, January 2023
- Art of Manliness Podcast #93: Total Human Optimization With Aubrey Marcus — Art of Manliness, March 2015
- Aubrey Marcus | AMZSummits.com — AMZ Summits, January 2023
- About – Aubrey Marcus — Aubrey Marcus Official Site, January 2023