Zoltan Istvan was born in Los Angeles in 1973 to his Hungarian immigrant parents Ilona and Steven (István) Gyurko.[20] He was a swimmer andwater polo player in his youth.[21][22] Istvan later graduated fromColumbia University inNew York City with a degree in philosophy and religion.[4] During his freshman year, Istvan was arrested by undercover cops for selling $80 worth ofmarijuana to fellow students.[23] His arrest and subsequentfelony conviction, which was later dismissed and expunged, influenced how he views the US government'swar on drugs.[23][24]
Istvan was a director at the nonprofit wildlife organizationWildAid.[36][37] He is an entrepreneur who works in real estate.[4][38][39] Istvan owns various investment properties.[40] He also ownsvineyard properties under the name Zoltan Istvan Vineyards[41] in Mendoza, Argentina,[42] Bordeaux, France,[43] andNapa Valley.[44] His 2023 Argentine Malbec wine won Best Bordeaux Style Blend at the Winemaker Challenger International Wine Competition.[45]
After publishingThe Transhumanist Wager, Istvan began actively promoting transhumanism and other futurist issues via speeches, media interviews, activism and his writings.[46][47][48][49][50] Istvan has written forGizmodo,[51]New Scientist,[52]Salon,[53]TechCrunch,[54]The Daily Dot,[55]International Business Times[56]Singularity University'sSingularity Hub,[57]TechInsider,[58]Newsweek,[59]Futurism[60]Slate,[61] andWired magazine.[62]
In October 2014, Istvan announced that he was "in the very early stages of preparing a campaign to try to run" for US President in 2016. He stated that his goals would be to support scientists in "overcoming human death and aging within 15–20 years" to encourage Americans to embrace "radical technology and science" and to set up safeguards against dangers including potential abuse of such technology.[75][76][77]
In October and November 2014 interviews, Istvan explained that he aimed to unify the transhumanist community, which otherwise was splintered, and to establish a single voice.[78] He said great changes in society could happen and that Transhumanism could provide ideas, safeguards and policies.[79] He said the aim for a Transhumanist Party would be to get onto as many state ballots as possible.[80]
In March 2015, Istvan reported progress in organizing a campaign and explained his wish to get major candidates to address issues. He had funded nearly all of his campaign's expenses on his own and was seeking donations.[81]
Istvan helped to publicize his campaign in late 2015 by driving a bus shaped like a casket—theImmortality Bus—across the United States.[82][83] Istvan planned the bus tour to raise awareness of life extension.[83][84] At the end of the Immortality Bus tour, Istvan delivered a "Transhumanist Bill of Rights" to the US Capitol.[85] His 20-point platform includes a universal basic income, increased funding for space travel and taking money from the military and putting it into science and medicine.[86][87][88]
In February 2016, it was reported that Istvan was likely to voteDemocrat, placing himself "somewhere between Bernie and Hillary in terms of political ideologies",[85] but later in 2016 he also wrote articles supporting Libertarian presidential candidateGary Johnson.[89][90] On October 15, 2016, Istvan stated on his social media accounts that he would be voting for himself.[91] Istvan was not on the ballot in any state, though he claimed to have substantial potentialwrite-in backers.[92]
Istvan emphasized science, technology, longevity, transhumanism and Libertarian values in his California gubernatorial run, along with support forbasic income.[8][93] He suggested basic income could be paid for without raising taxes through a "Federal Land Dividend". Under this program, the government would allocate monthly payments to households by leasing out federal land.[94][95] In his debut editorial forReason magazine, he argued that reparations for harm caused to marijuana users during the federal government'swar on drugs may be appropriate. He suggested reparations could be paid as tax credits or through the sale of federal lands, so as not to put further burden associated with the drug war on taxpayers.[23] Istvan got 15th overall in the 2018 California gubernatorial primaries with 14,462 votes.[96]
In December 2017, Istvan announced he was considering running for theLibertarian Party's Presidential nomination.[97] In March 2019 during an interview on the Bread and Circuses podcast, Istvan told Caleb Salvatore and Nick Koehler that he was again considering a run for President.[98] Istvan announced a run for theRepublican nomination on November 19.[99] He campaigned around the country[100][101][102] and got 6th overall in votes of the declared Republican candidates.[103]
Istvan states that in the 21st century, as modern man confronts the finitude of life, everyone faces a Transhumanist Wager, a concept that is explored inhis science fiction novel of the same name.[104] The Transhumanist Wager follows from a life philosophy Istvan calls Teleological Egocentric Functionalism (TEF). Istvan summarizes the Transhumanist Wager as follows:[105]
TEF is predicated on logic, a simple wager that every human faces:If a reasoning human being loves and values life, they will want to live as long as possible—the desire to be immortal. Nevertheless, it's impossible to know if they're going to be immortal once they die. To do nothing doesn't help the odds of attaining immortality—since it seems evident that everyone will die someday and possibly cease to exist. To try to do something scientifically constructive towards ensuring immortality beforehand is the most logical conclusion.
Istvan has promoted AI Day,[106] the idea of a robot AI president,[107][108] and the concept of a Longevity Peace Prize at the XPRIZE Foundation in 2019,[109][110] among other transhumanist concepts. Writing for The New York Times opinion section, Istvan argued conservatives should consider supporting artificial wombs to move the abortion debate forward.[111] Istvan also argued to allow surfing during the Covid lockdowns in The New York Times Opinion section.[112][113]
Istvan authored an article entitled "Transhumanism and Theistcideism" for publication inPandeism: An Anthology (2017).[114] Istvan wrote the short fictional story "The Jesus Singularity" on a religious AI that goes rogue and destroys the world. It was published inVice magazine.[115]
Istvan has a chip implanted in his hand and consulted with the US Navy on broad about the use of the implant in humans.[116][117]
Within the transhumanist community, reactions to Istvan's US Transhumanist Party have ranged from enthusiastic to sharply critical. Some transhumanist critics, such as Peter Rothman, have questioned whether the Transhumanist Party adds value to the overall goals of transhumanism.[118]
Istvan resides inMill Valley, California, with his wife, who is a physician, and his daughters.[16] He identifies as an atheist.[119]
In February 2015, he helped launch BiZoHa, an atheist orphanage, in Mukhoya,Kasese district, westernUganda.[120] Istvan's promotional article on the topic inVice'sMotherboard helped aGoFundMe campaign raise $5,820 to provide funding for the orphanage.[120][121]
