Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of Theranos, the billion-dollar health-tech startup that collapsed in a fraud scandal, has spent the last two years at a federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas. Holmes, 41, is serving an 11.25-year sentence, reduced to nine years for good behavior, after her involvement in a fraudulent scheme that cost investors hundreds of millions. Despite the circumstances, Holmes has established a daily routine that she says keeps her body and mind healthy.
"I wake up just after 5 a.m. every day. At 6 a.m., the compound opens and 6:30 a.m. is breakfast. I usually eat pieces of fruit," Holmes explains. "Then I work out every day for 40 minutes, lifting weights, rowing. I lift 20-lb. weights, I run track and do body weight exercises to keep my body and mind sound."
Holmes is separated from her young children—3-year-old son William and 2-year-old daughter Invicta—who are being raised by her partner Billy Evans, 33, nearby. Despite the separation, she cherishes the time spent with them during their weekend visits. "It's been pure pain since I've been here," Holmes admits. "It's been torture." During visitation, Holmes is able to spend time with her children in a bare room with blue plastic chairs, occasionally watching them explore the prison yard for insects.
She goes on to say, "It is impossible to say goodbye to my family when they leave. Every time it is like surrendering all over again. I don't use the word 'goodbye' because I am always with them." Her weekends are filled with these emotional visits, and weekdays are marked by work and personal projects.
By 8 a.m., Holmes is at the prison’s education building, working as a reentry clerk earning 31 cents an hour. She helps other inmates prepare résumés, apply for government benefits, and transition back into society after their release. Holmes also works on her recently launched initiative for criminal justice reform, having drafted a bill called the American Freedom Act, aimed at enhancing the presumption of innocence in criminal procedures.
However, legal experts like Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, express skepticism about Holmes' proposed reforms, especially given her conviction for one of the largest frauds in U.S. history. Rahmani suggests that Holmes should focus on taking responsibility for her actions, rather than attempting to reform the system. Holmes, while maintaining her innocence, acknowledges the gravity of the situation, stating, "I replayed mistakes I made a million times in my mind, burning them into my body." When pressed about the "mistakes," Holmes says, "Theranos failed. I take responsibility for that failure. Failure is not fraud."
FPC Bryan A minimum security federal prison camp.
In her role as a prison law clerk, Holmes assists inmates with their legal matters, including helping women secure compassionate release and providing counsel to rape survivors. "So many of these women don’t have anyone," she reflects. "And once they’re in there, they’re forgotten."
Holmes also attends weekly cognitive and behavioral therapy for PTSD, overseen by a psychiatrist, and continues to support fellow inmates in various ways. Despite the difficulties, she remains focused on her future, with her release scheduled for April 3, 2032. Holmes hopes to continue advocating for justice reform while spending as much time as possible with her family.
Although her dormitory has no decorations, Holmes keeps photos of her children and fiancé in a badge she wears around her neck. "I tape their pictures in all my books, and I lay them out in front of me as I work," she says. "They are what I live and fight for."
