The rise of the $40,000 gym membership
When it comes to working out, consumers want either luxury or thrift
In May Equinox, a luxury gym, launched a membership that costs $40,000 per year—half the median household income in America, where the chain is based. The plan includes blood tests, a sleep coach and a nutritionist, as well as access to the group’s swanky clubs. Julia Klim of Equinox explains why people pay: “You can buy a Chanel bag every year, but health and looking well is the ultimate luxury symbol.”
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Barbell effect”
Business September 28th 2024
Discover more
Elon Musk’s xAI goes after OpenAI
The fight is turning nasty
How to behave in lifts: an office guide
Life in an elevator
Donald Trump’s victory has boosted shares in private-prison companies
A hard line means hard cash
Gautam Adani faces bribery charges in America
Prosecutors allege one of India’s richest men paid off local officials
Nvidia’s boss dismisses fears that AI has hit a wall
But it’s “urgent” to get to the next level, Jensen Huang tells The Economist
Does Dallas offer a vision of America’s future?
The Texan city embodies the allure of small government