The ultra-wealthy are turning to cryogenic freezing—an extreme and futuristic method of preserving the body at ultra-low temperatures—in the hope that future science and technology will one day bring them back to life.
So far, around 500 individuals have already undergone cryopreservation, while an estimated 5,500 more have signed up to follow in their footsteps.
But what exactly is cryogenic freezing?
How does it work—and is there any real science behind the idea of coming back from the dead?
Inside the World of Cryonics
The origins of cryogenic freezing—or cryonics—can be traced back to the 1940s, when French biologist Jean Rostand first laid the scientific groundwork. However, the idea of using this method to potentially achieve immortality was popularized by American physics teacher and war veteran Robert Ettinger in his 1962 book, The Prospect of Immortality. Inspired by Rostand’s research and science fiction, Ettinger proposed that death might not have to be final.
In 1967, James Hiram Bedford, a psychology professor from the University of California, Berkeley, became the first person to undergo cryonic preservation after dying of kidney cancer. His body remains in cryonic suspension to this day, frozen in the hope that future science will one day reverse death.
The word cryonics comes from the Greek krýos, meaning “icy cold.” It refers to the process of preserving human bodies at extremely low temperatures—typically around -196°C using liquid nitrogen—with the hope that future medical breakthroughs will make revival possible. The underlying idea is that someone who dies today from an incurable condition might be restored to life when a cure becomes available.
To understand the logic behind cryonics, consider real-life cases where individuals fell into frozen lakes and were submerged for extended periods, only to be revived later with little or no brain damage. These rare survivals are attributed to cold temperatures drastically slowing the body’s metabolism and oxygen needs—essentially placing the body in a state of suspended animation.
However, cryonics is much more complex than accidental hypothermia. For one, it’s illegal to perform the procedure on living individuals. A person must be declared legally dead—meaning their heart has stopped—before preservation can begin. But this raises the question: if someone is already dead, how can they be brought back?
Proponents of cryonics argue that legal death is not the same as biological or irreversible death. Legal death simply marks the cessation of heartbeat and circulation, but if brain cells are still intact and can be preserved at the moment of death, there’s a possibility—however speculative—that future technologies could repair cellular damage and revive the individual.
In this sense, cryonics is not about freezing the dead, but about preserving the potential for life.
James Bedford: The First Frozen Man
Born in 1893 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, James Hiram Bedford encountered mortality early. At just four years old, he endured a prolonged battle with diphtheria—a fight he barely survived. This near-death experience seemed to ignite a lifelong resilience and an appetite for exploration that would shape the rest of his life.
As a young man, Bedford moved west to California, where he earned a master’s degree in education from the University of California, Berkeley, while teaching high school in the rural town of Escalon. His academic focus was on vocational training and career development—a passion he turned into several published books. In a 1938 Los Angeles Times interview, Bedford said, “Many young people face the future with feelings of doubt, cynicism, and despair.” He made it his mission to guide them toward hope and purpose.
Yet Bedford’s curiosity extended well beyond the classroom. He was an adventurer at heart, embarking on safaris in Africa, trekking through South America’s rainforests, and flying across Europe. His life was rich with movement, discovery, and wonder.
But in his 70s, Bedford faced a different kind of journey when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Confronted once again with the prospect of death, he turned to a bold and untested idea: cryonics.
Through his research, Bedford came into contact with Robert Nelson, then-President of the Cryonics Society of California—an organization with ambitious promises, though some described Nelson as merely a television repairman. Despite the uncertainty, Nelson assured Bedford that they could preserve his body at ultra-low temperatures, potentially giving science the time it needed to catch up and offer a second chance at life.
And so, on January 12, 1967, James Bedford became the first person in history to be cryogenically frozen. It was his final—and most daring—adventure, one that ensured his name would live on in both scientific history and the ongoing conversation about life, death, and the boundaries of possibility.
Where Science Meets Hope: Bedford’s Preservation
On January 12, 1967, James Bedford lay in hospice care at a neighbor’s home on Eleanore Drive in Glendale, California. At 73, he was nearing the end of a painful battle with terminal cancer. Removed from the hospital for his final moments, Bedford was surrounded by nurses and doctors who knew this day had been coming.
Shortly after noon, Dr. B. Renault Able arrived, summoned by reports that Bedford’s time was near. As the doctor approached his bedside, Bedford managed a final whisper: “I’m feeling better.” Just minutes later, at 1:15 p.m., he quietly passed away.
Or so it seemed.
What followed was unlike anything the world had seen. Instead of being prepared for burial or cremation, Bedford’s body was quickly transferred into the care of the Cryonics Society of California. His remains were cooled, treated, and eventually stored at ultra-low temperatures—launching one of the most unusual scientific experiments in modern history.
More than 55 years later, Bedford’s body is still suspended in a cryogenic chamber at a facility in Arizona. Neither alive nor traditionally dead, he holds the distinction of being the first human to undergo cryonic preservation—a symbol of scientific ambition, human hope, and the fine line between genius and speculation.
His story, at once deeply human and profoundly futuristic, continues to spark debate. Was this the beginning of humanity’s conquest of death—or just a fascinating detour on the road of wishful thinking?
A Milestone in Cryonics: Bedford’s Historic Freezing
The clock was ticking. The doctors from the Cryonics Society had just seven minutes after James Bedford’s legal death to begin the groundbreaking preservation process. To keep oxygen flowing to his brain, artificial respiration was immediately started, while dimethyl sulfoxide—a chemical intended to prevent damaging ice crystals—was infused to replace his blood.
Once stabilized, Bedford’s body was carefully placed on ice inside a custom-built, metal, tube-shaped capsule. Interestingly, the design came from an unlikely source: a Phoenix wigmaker named Ed Hope. The capsule was then discreetly transported by hearse from a Los Angeles mortuary to a cryonics facility in Arizona.
“We were sworn to secrecy on this,” an anonymous mortuary worker later told the Los Angeles Times. “We didn’t look inside, but a doctor said it held a body.”
Days after the procedure, the Cryonics Society announced that the first human had been successfully cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen, ready for a future revival when cures for diseases like cancer—and perhaps death itself—might be possible.
This achievement followed two earlier unsuccessful attempts. One involved a San Francisco schoolteacher who had been dead too long for preservation to be effective. In another case, a California woman was embalmed before freezing, rendering the process futile and leading to her traditional burial.
Despite these setbacks, James Bedford’s successful preservation opened a daring and controversial chapter in humanity’s pursuit of immortality—marking the beginning of cryonics as a real, albeit experimental, scientific endeavor.
Paused Eternity: How Cryonics Stops the Clock
Once your body’s water is replaced with a special cryoprotectant, the cooling process begins. You’re gradually chilled on a bed of dry ice until reaching an astonishing -130°C (-202°F). At this ultra-low temperature, vitrification occurs—your tissues transform into a glass-like, ice-free state, preventing damage from ice crystals.
Next, your body is carefully placed into a custom aluminum container, which is then lowered into a large, insulated tank filled with liquid nitrogen. Inside this tank, temperatures plunge even further, to about -196°C (-320°F). Interestingly, bodies are stored head-down—a safety measure to keep the brain submerged in liquid nitrogen should a leak ever occur.
Cryonic preservation isn’t cheap. Whole-body suspension can cost upwards of $150,000. For those seeking a less costly option, neurosuspension—preserving only the brain—is available for around $50,000, with the hope that future science can regenerate or clone the rest of the body.
In storage, each patient—whether whole-body or neurosuspended—is housed in their own aluminum container, known as a “neuropod” or “wholebody pod.” These pods are submerged together in large nitrogen-filled tanks. So, if you choose cryonic suspension, you won’t be alone: many others share the same frozen fate, silently waiting for the day science might unlock the secrets to revival.
The Billionaire Bet: Cryonics as the Ultimate Life Extension
More than 5,500 people have already signed up for cryogenic preservation, with around 500 bodies currently suspended in liquid nitrogen, waiting for a future scientific breakthrough. According to Bloomberg, wealthy Americans are taking a bold and radical step to defy death by freezing their bodies in hopes of being revived when medical technology can cure the diseases that ended their lives.
But the preservation goes beyond their physical selves—it also includes their fortunes. Lawyers have begun designing “revival trusts,” legal tools that ensure these individuals’ wealth remains secure and accessible when they return to life, ready to fund their second chance.
For these billionaires, cryonics isn’t just a bet on future science; it’s an investment in immortality—both of the body and their bank accounts.
Cryonics and Resurrection: Myth or Feasible Science?
The question of whether cryopreserved bodies can ever be revived remains one of science’s biggest unknowns. Currently, medical technology cannot reverse the cryopreservation process or repair the cellular damage that freezing and long-term storage can cause, according to MSN.
Still, proponents of cryonics remain hopeful. They believe that future advances in nanotechnology and regenerative medicine could one day enable the repair of cellular damage, the revival of preserved bodies, and even the cure of the diseases that originally caused death. The Department of Anatomy at AIIMS Rajkot shares this optimism, suggesting that future scientific breakthroughs might allow reversal of preservation effects and address the root causes of death.
Despite these hopeful projections, the possibility of revival remains purely speculative—a question that science has yet to definitively answer.
How Long Until Science Can Bring the Frozen Back to Life?
The biggest question about cryonics remains: When might a successful revival actually happen? Hundreds have chosen to be frozen, their metal capsules marked not with an expiration date, but with an open-ended question.
“I think 50 years is probably too soon—it’ll fly by faster than we expect,” says Gibson. “And 200 years feels like a long time, especially when you consider how far we’ve come since the Industrial Revolution. So, somewhere in that window seems plausible.”
But would you really want to wake up sometime between 2069 and 2219? By 2100, the United Nations projects the global population will reach 11.2 billion, and the world might feel a little crowded. Teenagers of the future could effortlessly navigate whatever replaces Instagram on their iPhone SXXX with elongated, hyper-flexible thumbs—while you, with your quaint 21st-century mindset, might feel like an antique artifact on display.
Then there’s the loneliness to consider. Waking up in a distant future where everyone you knew is long gone could be isolating. Some cryonics companies, like Russia’s KrioRus, have even thought about this—they offer clients the option to preserve their pets alongside them, a comforting, if slightly surreal, solution to the uncertainty of awakening.
So who are some of the people who’ve chosen to freeze their bodies until times unknown?
The Chilling Story of Ted Williams’ Cryonic Preservation
When baseball legend Ted Williams passed away on July 5, 2002, his legacy seemed immortalized forever in the annals of sports history. Renowned as one of the greatest hitters to ever step up to the plate, Williams left behind an extraordinary career, record-breaking feats, and the enduring admiration of fans around the globe. Yet, his story didn’t end with his final at-bat. Instead, it took a remarkable and controversial detour—his body was preserved inside a towering, 10-foot stainless steel cryonic storage unit at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Arizona, the world’s largest cryonics facility.
“The Last Inning: Where Ted Williams’ Story Truly Ends”
Ted Williams, famously known as “The Splendid Splinter,” was a hero to millions of baseball fans. Yet, instead of resting beneath a traditional headstone, his remains lie preserved in a futuristic cryogenic chamber, chilled in liquid nitrogen at an astonishing -196°C (-320°F). Unusually, his head and body are stored separately—his head in a smaller container and his body in a larger tank. This isn’t science fiction, but cryonics: the controversial practice of freezing humans in hopes that future medical breakthroughs might one day revive them.
The premise behind Williams’ preservation is simple yet deeply speculative. If future scientists can cure currently incurable diseases and reverse the damage caused by death and aging, those kept in cryonic suspension could theoretically be brought back to full health.
However, Williams’ cryogenic journey was anything but straightforward. Following his death, a bitter family dispute over his final wishes thrust the baseball legend into an unexpected and highly publicized posthumous drama.
The Ultimate Showdown: Who Controls Ted Williams’ Cryogenic Fate?
Shortly after Ted Williams passed away, his daughter Bobby-Jo Williams Ferrell challenged the decision to preserve him through cryonics. She believed her father wanted a traditional burial, with his ashes scattered in the Florida Keys—a place he loved dearly.
In contrast, Bobby-Jo’s half-brother, John-Henry Williams, had a different perspective. He, along with their sister Claudia Williams, claimed that the three of them had made an agreement in 2000 to be cryogenically frozen after death. This alleged pact formed the basis of John-Henry’s insistence that their father’s body remain at the Alcor cryonics facility.
Bobby-Jo, however, was suspicious of her half-brother’s intentions. She publicly accused him of trying to preserve their father’s body for financial reasons, such as exploiting Ted Williams’ DNA for cloning or other commercial uses. These allegations stirred intense media attention, adding further drama to an already unusual and controversial story.
The Delicate Deal Over Ted Williams’ Legacy
The conflict eventually escalated to the courts, where the siblings engaged in a fierce legal battle over their father’s remains. Since lawsuits involving cryonics are uncommon, this case attracted intense public interest, raising new ethical and legal questions about the practice.
Following extensive legal proceedings and growing media attention, the Williams family reached a compromise. Ted Williams would remain cryogenically preserved at Alcor, as John-Henry desired, with both his body and head stored. However, John-Henry agreed to a crucial condition: he would never sell or exploit his father’s DNA.
While this outcome wasn’t exactly what Bobby-Jo had hoped for, it ended the bitter dispute. Ted Williams’ body stayed suspended in time, and the family gradually withdrew from the spotlight.
Cryonics: Groundbreaking Science or Mere Fantasy?
The unusual story of Ted Williams brings up important ethical questions and highlights the ongoing debate surrounding cryonics. While some scientists remain skeptical about its feasibility, supporters hold onto the hope that future breakthroughs in nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, and artificial intelligence could eventually make revival possible. Critics, on the other hand, point to the damage caused to cells during freezing and see the entire concept as highly speculative and unlikely to succeed. Ultimately, cryonics is not just a scientific issue but also one rooted in hope, legacy, and humanity’s deep desire to overcome death. Although Ted Williams was not the first person to be cryogenically preserved, his case remains the most well-known and continues to fuel discussions about life, death, and what may lie beyond.
Tomorrow’s Promise: Looking Ahead to What Lies Beyond
For now, Ted Williams lies preserved in liquid nitrogen, caught in a state of technological suspension. Whether science will eventually unlock the secrets to reversing death and repairing cellular damage remains unknown. However, what is undeniable is that his story continues to fascinate people—not only for his legendary baseball career but also for the unusual, futuristic path his legacy has taken.
During his lifetime, Ted Williams was a pioneer on the baseball field. In death, he has become a powerful symbol of humanity’s enduring hope that one day science will overcome the finality of mortality.
Until that day arrives, the Splendid Splinter remains frozen in time—an immortal icon patiently awaiting a possible second chance at life.
Peter Thiel and the Quest to Defy Death: Technology, Beliefs, and Cryonics
Peter Thiel, billionaire tech investor and PayPal co-founder, is known for his provocative takes on innovation and humanity’s future. He frequently criticizes what he sees as a slowdown in America’s scientific and technological advancement—from the decline of nuclear energy to the sluggish progress in curing cancer. For Thiel, society has grown too complacent about tackling its biggest challenges.
But one issue stands above all others in his perspective: death itself. In a recent Honestly with Bari Weiss podcast, Thiel confronted a timeless question—can we conquer death? More provocatively, should we even try? His answer was blunt and unapologetic: “We haven’t even tried. We should either conquer death or at least figure out why it’s impossible.”
For Thiel, the battle against death goes beyond science; it’s a cultural and ideological challenge. He questions why humanity accepts mortality so quietly and urges that we at least make an effort to defy it.
Embracing Mortality or Challenging the Inevitable?
Thiel’s criticism extends beyond scientists—it targets society as a whole. He argues that humanity has become too resigned to death, accepting it as an unavoidable end. For centuries, religions, philosophies, and cultural stories have helped people come to terms with mortality.
However, Thiel views this acceptance as a lack of imagination and ambition. He believes science and technology should be used not just to ease death, but to challenge and possibly overcome it.
This perspective is shared by a growing group of Silicon Valley leaders who treat death as a technical problem to be solved. Thiel is part of this movement, alongside figures like Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, who have invested significantly in anti-aging research and biotech ventures aimed at extending human life.
Cryonics: Reality, Aspiration, or Science Fiction?
Cryonics—the practice of preserving a person’s body or brain at extremely low temperatures after death in hopes of future revival—remains one of science’s most debated and controversial areas. Advocates argue that ongoing breakthroughs in nanotechnology, cellular repair, and biotechnology could one day enable doctors to reverse freezing damage, cure the conditions that caused death, and restore life.
On the other hand, skeptics dismiss cryonics as costly pseudoscience, pointing out that freezing causes irreversible tissue damage that likely makes revival impossible. They also raise ethical and philosophical concerns about identity, questioning whether a revived individual would truly be the same person or merely a recreated copy.
Still, for Peter Thiel and others who support cryonics, it’s less about guaranteed success and more about seizing a slim chance—a hope that someday death might not be the final chapter.
Cryonics in the Spotlight: Celebrities Betting on a Second Shot at Life
Cryonics—the process of preserving a person’s body or brain at ultra-low temperatures after death with the hope of future revival—has often straddled the line between science fiction and emerging science. Despite the many unknowns and controversies, a number of prominent figures have openly embraced the idea of cryopreservation. From technology innovators to movie stars, these individuals are investing their hopes—and wealth—in the possibility that future advancements will make revival possible.
Animated Ambitions: Seth MacFarlane’s Thoughts on Cryonics
Seth MacFarlane, the creative force behind Family Guy, American Dad!, and the film Ted, is celebrated for his sharp wit and fearless humor. But beyond the laughs, he harbors a sincere curiosity about the future—and a personal interest in extending his own lifespan.
In a 2012 interview with legendary broadcaster Larry King, MacFarlane shared his fascination with cryonics, echoing King’s own hopes of being preserved after death. Both men see cryonics not as a means of escapism, but as a testament to humanity’s unyielding drive to explore the unknown and push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Cryonics: Fact, Fiction, and the Quest for Eternal Life
Driven by a mix of fear, curiosity, and the urge to defy limits, cryonics continues to captivate the famous and influential alike.
Though the technology to revive cryopreserved individuals remains out of reach, the interest from high-profile figures highlights a fundamental human desire: to cheat death or at least postpone it indefinitely.
While the ultimate success of cryonics is still unknown, its place in our cultural imagination is undeniable—standing as a powerful symbol of humanity’s unyielding quest for immortality.
Larry King and the Hope for a Second Life
Famed talk show host Larry King was always open about his thoughts on death and his desire to avoid it. In interviews from 2009 and 2011, he openly expressed his wish to be cryopreserved after passing, even joking about receiving “the full Ted Williams treatment,” referencing the baseball icon preserved at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation.
However, when King died in 2021, many wondered if his wishes had been fulfilled.
It seems they were not. Family members revealed that King had a sincere conversation with them about his final wishes and ultimately chose not to pursue cryonics. Though the details remain private, the legendary broadcaster decided on a more traditional burial.
Walt Disney’s Frozen Legend: The Truth Behind the Cryonics Story
No name is more famously linked to cryonics rumors than Walt Disney. As the visionary behind the Disney empire, he has become the central figure in one of the 20th century’s most persistent urban legends.
The tale claims that after his death in 1966, Disney was cryogenically frozen and stored either beneath Sleeping Beauty’s Castle or somewhere under the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
However, the truth tells a different story: Walt Disney was not cryogenically preserved. Instead, his body was cremated, and his ashes were laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
At the time Disney passed away, cryonics was still in its early stages. The Cryonics Society of California performed the first human cryopreservation just weeks after Disney’s death, making it very unlikely that he was part of such a procedure.
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