While money may not guarantee happiness, on the Golden Coast of Lake Zurich, it might well secure better sleep. High net-worth individuals are spending as much as $126,000 a week to sleep in luxurious villas around the town of Küsnacht, known as Switzerland’s most exclusive stretches of real estate.
At first glance, these private villas could easily be mistaken for the myriad of hotels and wellness retreats that have cropped up seemingly everywhere over the last decade, equipped with ultra-luxurious amenities, private butlers, chefs and tailored “family exclusive packages.”
“This is not a hotel,” Dr. Antoinette Sarasin Gianduzzo told Arabian Business, clarifying it’s “a very sophisticated, very exclusive and comprehensive [medical practice] based on the latest research.”
Dr. Antoinette Sarasin Gianduzzo specialises in Biomolecular Restoration, nutrition and lifestyle, and is one of several doctors at the Kusnacht Practice dedicated to treating sleep-related disorders among the ultra-rich.
Why sleep is becoming more important
The Kusnacht Practice has long been recognised as the most exclusive and – secretive – clinic for treating serious addictions and mental health issues. However, in recent years there has been a noticeable increase in HNWIs from the GCC region seeking the clinic’s specialised ‘sleep plans’ as a way to enhance overall health.
“As awareness around health grows, so does the recognition that maintaining health involves more than diet, supplements, infusions, or exercise… [it also includes] a healthy sleep architecture and sleep pattern,” explained Dr. Sarasin.
“Sleep plays a crucial role in active regeneration and is fundamental for promoting longevity and overall health. That’s why we’re seeing a heightened focus on this important lifestyle aspect,” Dr. Sarasin added.
Currently, over 20 percent of the clinic’s clientele come from the GCC, representing the largest geographic segment of their patients.
Comprising of 10 private villas and two penthouses in Geneva and Zurich, the clinic treats around 30 patients a year.
UHNWI’s are more likely to develop sleep disorders
A typical stay at the Kusnacht Practice begins at approximately $126,000 a week, with most patients staying between four to eight weeks, and some extending their treatment for several months. Which leads to a central question: does wealth make you more prone to unhealthy sleep behaviours, and does it make those behaviours harder to cure?
While sleep disorders are not necessarily unique for the ultra-wealthy, there are factors that make these individuals are more inclined to develop sleep-related issues.
“[When] they come to us, they often find themselves in a place where they’ve lost balance between a healthy diet, healthy life and business,” Dr. Jean-Marc Sobczyk, the clinic’s expert in integrative and longevity medicine explained.
“So, it’s something that we have experienced especially among business people who run large companies,” Dr. Sobczyk continued.
He pointed out that this connection is not only a by-product of modern living, but a direct consequence of the constant global connectivity required by many CEO’s and business leaders in today’s world “our clients are always, or most of them, suffering from this evolution of how business is done…..therefore, they are more likely and susceptible to have some sleep issues.”
Dr. Sobczyk also notes that high-pressure lifestyles often leads to poor dietary habits. “The pressure of having a lot of responsibilities can lead to skipping meals or not maintaining the best diet because you are always chasing the clock.” This, in turn, can lead to nutrient deficiencies critical for healthy sleep.
Billionaire sleep habits
It’s not uncommon for billionaires to thrive on significantly less sleep than the average adult. Public figures such as Donald Trump have long claimed to only sleep three to four hours on average per night. Elon Musk and Richard Branson say they get about six hours a night, one hour less than the minimum seven hours recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.
Despite being referred to as the ‘sleepless elite’, billionaires may face long-term health risks from chronic sleep deprivation. Research from the American Chemical Society highlights that lack of sleep can lead to brain impairments, specifically damaging areas of the brain that are critical for memory and learning. Moreover, sustained sleep shortages can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
It has also been widely reported that reduced sleeping habits may increase the risk of other health issues including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease as well as frequent characteristics of aging.
While it may seem simple to recommend a regular bedtime schedule for better sleep, the reality for many is far more complex.
“If somebody struggles from sleep, the underlying causes are complex and multiple,” Dr. Sarasin explained.
“As part of our holistic and 360-degree approach, our expert team really aims to understand the underlying reasons for sleep issues,” Dr. Sarasin added. This often involves in-depth longevity medicine treatments and a thorough examination of each patient’s complete biochemistry she noted.
Through a series of comprehensive assessments, the clinic aims to instill healthy habits and simple routines that help patients ‘train’ themselves to return to their natural sleep rhythms, avoiding reliance on pills and pharmaceuticals to induce sleep.
In addition to treating underlying health issues, every patient receives a tailored sleep plan complemented by “sleep baskets”. These baskets contain items such as anti-radiation mobile phone cases, meditation boxes, anti-stress face wipes, essential oil diffusers, and scented candles, all designed to foster the perfect conditions for a tranquil bedtime ritual.
Sleep is only the symptom
Sleep disorders are often just the tip of the iceberg for many of these high-achieving, high-performing patients, who often also suffer from extreme cases of burnout.
“[Today], diseases are more complex and they come from multiple factors. Lack of sleep can be one of them, but also exposure to toxins, poor diet, not handling stress and managing your private or business life can all be contributing factors…..when not managed correctly, this can lead to various health issues,” Dr. Sarasin explained.
The Kusnacht treatment is all-encompassing, where up to 40 trained professionals are devoted to meeting the individual needs of each patient. The team includes live-in private chefs and counsellors who micro-manage each patient’s nutrition programme. Patients also have sessions with psychotherapists, psychiatrists, personal trainers, masseuses, nurses, and specialists in alternative therapies – all delivered in the comfort and privacy of the patient’s own luxurious villa.
Focusing on long-term recovery
The spectrum of treatments involve a variety of programmes ranging from detoxification, metabolic stress assessments to weight management. However, a pivotal part of their service involves biomolecular restoration and rejuvenation therapy (BIO-R®), designed to boost both physical and mental vitality and prevent burnout and aging.
Dr. Sobczyk emphasizes the tailored support offered is not only to address existing health issues but to promote healthy lifestyle habits in the long-term “UHNWI’s want to keep performing at the highest level as long as they can and [we] support them by identifying the triggers that could lead to some [health] decline.”
He adds “they want to have their best life after retirement as well. We try our best to support them in that direction when they exit their business. They have plenty of things they still want to achieve and we are here to support them,” Dr. Sobczyk concluded.
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