Rich Roll

Richard 'Rich' Roll grew up in the United States and attended Stanford University, where he competed as a swimmer, and later earned a law degree from Cornell Law School before embarking on a career as an entertainment attorney. During his 30s he struggled with alcohol and substance problems that culminated in rehabilitation and a period of recovery that prompted a major life re-assessment. After achieving sobriety he left his corporate law career in his late 30s/around age 40 to pursue a different path despite limited immediate plans or resources. At about age 40 Roll adopted a plant-based diet, lost significant weight, and began training in endurance sports, rapidly progressing to world-class ultra-endurance competition. He completed notable feats including top finishes in ultradistance events and was named among Men’s Fitness “25 Fittest Men in the World” in 2009, achievements that brought media attention to his plant-based approach to performance. Roll translated his personal transformation into public influence through writing, podcasting, and speaking. His 2012 memoir Finding Ultra became a #1 bestseller and detailed his recovery and athletic metamorphosis. In 2013 he launched the Rich Roll Podcast, a long-running interview show featuring guests across wellness, science, entrepreneurship, and spirituality; the podcast has consistently ranked highly on platform charts and expanded his reach into business and personal development circles. More recently he has developed media and creator initiatives (e.g., Voicing Change Media) to support purpose-driven content creators and to scale conversations about leadership, ethics, and personal transformation.