Entrepreneurs Show Roughly 10 Percent Lower Risk of Death in Two-Decade US Study

Entrepreneurs tend to live longer than people who spend their careers working for others, according to new research from Stevens Institute of Technology. Drawing on more than two decades of data from over 27,000 Americans aged 50 and older, the study found that people who had engaged in entrepreneurship had approximately a 10 percent lower risk of death than non-entrepreneurs, even after accounting for factors such as age, income, education and health. The research, titled “Do Entrepreneurs Live Longer?”, was published in the Journal of Business Venturing on October 22, 2026.

The study was led by Cristiano Bellavitis, associate professor in the School of Business at Stevens Institute of Technology, working with collaborators. The researchers suggest that the autonomy, purpose and personal control associated with entrepreneurship may help explain the pattern and contribute to long-term well-being. “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.”

Mental health appeared to be a statistically significant factor in the analysis. Entrepreneurs reported lower levels of depression and loneliness, both of which have been associated with better health outcomes and greater longevity. The longevity advantage was strongest among opportunity-driven entrepreneurs, meaning individuals who launched their ventures because they wanted to start a business and pursue a promising opportunity. By contrast, people who became entrepreneurs out of 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 emphasize that while the study identifies a strong relationship between entrepreneurship and longevity, it does not prove that entrepreneurship directly causes people to live longer. However, even after controlling for numerous demographic, economic and health factors and conducting additional analysis, the relationship remained significant. The team also found that longer and more frequent engagement in entrepreneurship was associated with a longer lifespan.

The findings, Bellavitis notes, are not relevant to entrepreneurs alone; employers can learn from them as well. Organizations can incorporate some of entrepreneurship’s benefits by giving employees greater autonomy, ownership and visibility into the impact of their work. Creating a more entrepreneurial workplace, where employees have the freedom to make decisions, pursue ideas and see the results of their efforts, may help support engagement and well-being while avoiding some of the financial and personal risks associated with starting a business. “In many ways, that could be the best of both worlds,” Bellavitis said. “Companies can foster the independence, purpose and excitement that often come with entrepreneurship while providing the stability of traditional employment.”

Bellavitis added that “the broader lesson isn’t that everyone should quit their job and start a company.” Rather, it is that purpose, autonomy and meaningful engagement matter. “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,” he said.

Subject of Research: The association between entrepreneurship and lower mortality risk among Americans aged 50 and older

Article Title: Stevens study points to the longevity advantage of entrepreneurship

Article References: Stevens study points to the longevity advantage of entrepreneurship. Original publication (Bibliographic details unavailable.)

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Keywords: entrepreneurship, longevity, mortality risk, mental health, autonomy, well-being, opportunity-driven entrepreneurs, depression, loneliness, Journal of Business Venturing, Stevens Institute of Technology, workplace autonomy