Longevity experts say the 45-year-old CEO may be wasting his money by spending $2 million a year on anti-aging

  The super-rich California CEO follows a strict diet, sleep relaxation rituals, exercise regimen, a daily round of supplements, and countless medical tests. According to Bloomberg, Johnson expects to spend more than $2 million this year on medical tests and various procedures designed to help him reach his goal.

  Johnson’s intrigue about longevity science has us all wondering: Is it really worth it?

  Longevity scientist Dr Andrew Steele said it was an exciting time to be researching ageing and longevity drugs so people could live longer and, more importantly, healthier lives. But in Johnson’s case, he says science doesn’t bear out all of his rigorous methods.

  ”The real challenge is that beyond the obvious things like diet and exercise, we don’t yet have anything that I can confidently recommend to slow down the aging process,” he told Fortune. “Whatever effect he saw, a lot of it was probably just because he had a very rigorous exercise program. He’s eating more nuts and vegetables, and most things in his diet have improved.”

  So how long could Johnson live on his strict regimen?

  Steele said specific numbers are impossible. First, since Johnson devoted his life to adhering to a variety of approaches at once, it is hard to understand which, if any, model really works.

  ”It’s really hard to figure out, is it an exact combination of some kind of supplement that he was taking? Or is 90% of effective work something you can do for less than $2 million a year? ‘he said.

  Second, because, unfortunately for some people, we can’t control everything. A large part of the reason for living longer and avoiding debilitating chronic diseases is lifestyle changes. Another factor is genetics. Another is simply luck.

  Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, an internist in San Francisco, said that while monitoring lifestyle factors is key to healthy aging and to reducing the risk of chronic diseases that occur more frequently with aging, genetics still play a role. Unglade is the founder of a nonprofit focused on redefining the end of life.

  ”As much as we would like to be able to control our own destiny, that is not possible. Many of us carry genes that can undermine all our good intentions, “says Ungerleider.

  In addition, the human body is not meant to live beyond the age of 100, and even studies of centenarians have shown a strong genetic component to their longevity, Steele said.

  ”You can’t exercise to live to 100, let alone break a world record like 122,” he said. “No amount of diet or exercise is going to get you this amazing combination of genes.”

  Unglade also urges people to focus on quality rather than quantity.

  ”Our time is the only thing we can’t get back or buy more of,” she says. “From my experience caring for many dying patients, it is not the number of years but the quality of life that counts… In the case of Mr Johnson, it is difficult to predict whether these extreme measures will significantly extend his life expectancy.” Given that he has to follow strict rules on nutrition, exercise, medical testing and so on, I am worried that his quality of life will be affected.”

  While she doesn’t see it as reversing aging per se, there are steps people can take to slow aging and prevent disease. These include limiting alcohol consumption, avoiding highly processed foods, exercising regularly, maintaining social connections and prioritizing stress management, she said.

  The gold standard for longevity is 118, the age of a nun living in southern France who last year became the world’s oldest known person, according to a statement from the agency. She’s in January.

  Sister Andre regularly indulges in chocolate and a glass of wine every day at her nursing home.

  If Johnson does reach Andre’s age – at $2 million a year before reversing aging ends – he will cost nearly $150 million. Steele and Unglade want people to realize that there are viable ways to take control of some of the potential health outcomes in life without cashing a check.