Inside Elizabeth Holmes’ ‘sympathy’ pre-prison transformation: for a controversial interview, the disgraced Theranos founder swapped Steve Jobs polo necks for mum jeans – but not everyone’s buying it
- The disgraced founder of now-defunct health tech start-up Theranos was recently profiled in a piece by The New York Times, which has drawn controversy for its ‘empathetic’ portrayal of Holmes
- Netizens are speculating that the Stanford dropout, apparently also known as ‘Liz’, is revamping her image ahead of doing her prison sentence – and her fashion has changed too
Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced billionaire convicted with charges related to fraud for her now-defunct start-up Theranos, recently celebrated the Mother’s Day weekend with her kids and partner at their US$9 million mansion, per British media.
Looking radiant as ever dressed in “mum jeans” and a sun hat, seemingly without a care in the world, it was a far cry from where she was supposed to be by this time of the year – behind bars.
Holmes was scheduled to begin her prison sentence in late April, but a last-minute appeal has stalled her surrender date. Back in November 2022, the 39-year-old was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison after she was found guilty of wire fraud and conspiring to commit wire fraud, per The New York Times. As News AU stated, her “true offence” was much worse: the fact that she deceived patients with medical technology that didn’t work.
Over the past few months, Holmes has seemingly swapped out her previous “power dressing” – Steve Jobs-like suits and a deep voice – for a new persona involving her new mum life in an attempt to instigate a rehaul of her public image.
The former biotechnology entrepreneur has drawn criticism for this, as many were hoping that she’d take this opportunity to own up for the dangers she could have caused with Theranos.
To add fuel to the fire, The New York Times recently posted a 5,500 word profile piece about “Liz” in what’s been described as an “overly empathetic” angle surrounding the Stanford drop out.
Here’s what we know about Holmes’ controversial “transformation” – but not everyone’s buying it.
Why is Elizabeth Holmes going to jail?
