Entrepreneurs Face 10% Lower Death Risk, Stevens Study Finds

Entrepreneurs show roughly a 10 percent lower risk of death than people who spend their careers working for others, according to a Stevens Institute of Technology study published October 22, 2026, in the Journal of Business Venturing.

The research, led by Cristiano Bellavitis, associate professor in the School of Business at Stevens, draws on more than two decades of data covering over 27,000 Americans aged 50 and older. The gap holds even after the researchers controlled for age, income, education and health.

That finding cuts against conventional wisdom. The long hours and pressure of running a business are widely assumed to damage health. The data says otherwise.

"Most people think of entrepreneurship as extremely stressful, and it certainly can be," Bellavitis said. "But entrepreneurship also gives people a high degree of autonomy and the opportunity to pursue something they genuinely love or care about. Our findings suggest those benefits may have lasting effects."

Why might founders live longer?

Autonomy, purpose and personal control appear to drive the pattern, the researchers suggest. Mental health played a measurable role: entrepreneurs in the sample reported lower levels of depression and loneliness, both of which correlate with better health outcomes and greater longevity.

The advantage isn't uniform, though. It was strongest among opportunity-driven entrepreneurs — people who launched ventures because they wanted to start a business and chase a promising opportunity. People pushed into entrepreneurship by necessity, such as after losing a job, did not reap the same benefits.

"What seems to matter is not entrepreneurship alone, but the circumstances under which people enter it," Bellavitis said. "When entrepreneurship reflects greater choice and opportunity, the autonomy and sense of purpose that can come with it may provide psychological benefits that extend beyond financial rewards."

The researchers also found that longer and more frequent engagement in entrepreneurship was associated with a longer lifespan.

Does ownership cause longevity?

The study identifies a strong relationship, not proof of causation. The authors are explicit on that point. Still, the link remained significant even after controlling for numerous demographic, economic and health factors and after additional analysis.

The study, titled "Do Entrepreneurs Live Longer?", was published in the Journal of Business Venturing on October 22, 2026.

What should employers take from it?

The findings don't apply to founders only, Bellavitis notes. Employers can borrow the mechanism. Organizations can give employees greater autonomy, ownership and visibility into the impact of their work. A more entrepreneurial workplace — where staff can make decisions, pursue ideas and see the results — may support engagement and well-being without the financial and personal risks of starting a company.

"In many ways, that could be the best of both worlds. Companies can foster the independence, purpose and excitement that often come with entrepreneurship while providing the stability of traditional employment," Bellavitis said.

He adds that "the broader lesson isn't that everyone should quit their job and start a company." Purpose, autonomy and meaningful engagement are what count. "Whether you're an entrepreneur or an employee, finding ways to have ownership of your work and a reason to be excited about what you do every day is important for long-term well-being."

For corporate leaders, the study's practical payoff is a design question: how much decision-making freedom and visible impact a company can hand employees before they go find it on their own — and, on this evidence, live longer doing so.