Celebrity Investors Behind Colossal Bioscience’s Dire Wolf Success: From Martin to Brady
The resurrection of the dire wolf represents not only a scientific breakthrough but also a remarkable confluence of technology, entertainment, and cultural influence. Colossal Biosciences has assembled an extraordinary roster of celebrity investors and advisors whose involvement extends beyond financial support to include substantive contributions to the company’s vision and public engagement strategy.
George R.R. Martin, creator of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series that reintroduced dire wolves to popular culture through HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” serves as both an investor and Cultural Advisor to Colossal. His reaction to seeing the living dire wolves was reportedly profound. “I get the luxury to write about magic, but Ben and Colossal have created magic by bringing these majestic beasts back to our world,” Martin stated in the company’s official announcement. This connection between fiction and scientific reality has created a unique narrative around the dire wolf project, helping to generate unprecedented public interest in what might otherwise remain an obscure scientific achievement.
Peter Jackson, the Academy Award-winning director of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, represents another significant connection in the entertainment industry. As both an investor and vocal supporter of Colossal’s work, Jackson brings expertise in visual storytelling and public engagement with fantastical concepts. His reported reaction to footage of the living dire wolves—”This is the first dire wolf howl in 10,000 years”—captures the emotional resonance of the achievement beyond its technical significance. Jackson’s involvement highlights how de-extinction bridges scientific achievement with cultural imagination, creating narratives that resonate beyond traditional scientific audiences.
Sports icon Tom Brady has also emerged as a significant investor in Colossal, drawn to the company’s innovative approach and potential impact. Brady’s interest reportedly extends beyond financial returns to include genuine fascination with the scientific possibilities. In a recent blog post, he recounted his first conversation with Colossal CEO Ben Lamm, revealing a personal connection to the company’s capabilities. According to Brady, he initially inquired whether Colossal could clone his late family dog, Lua—a request Lamm acknowledged was technically feasible, though not aligned with the company’s primary mission. This anecdote illustrates how Colossal’s technologies evoke personal connections even among individuals not directly involved in scientific fields.
Other notable investors include Paris Hilton, actor Chris Hemsworth, and producer Thomas Tull, each bringing substantial financial resources and cultural influence to the company. Tull, the founder of Legendary Entertainment and producer of blockbuster films including “Jurassic World,” invested $30 million in Colossal’s spinoff company Form Bio, demonstrating confidence in the commercial applications of technologies developed through de-extinction research.
Actor Joe Manganiello, known for his roles in “True Blood” and the “Magic Mike” franchise, has also joined Colossal as an investor. His public support for the company includes conducting interviews with CEO Ben Lamm at major events, such as South by Southwest, and helping to translate complex scientific concepts for broader audiences. Manganiello represents a growing trend of entertainment figures engaging meaningfully with cutting-edge science and technology ventures beyond superficial endorsements.
These celebrity connections serve multiple strategic purposes for Colossal beyond merely raising capital. They enhance the company’s cultural relevance, expand its audience beyond traditional scientific and investment communities, and help frame de-extinction in terms that resonate with popular imagination. This approach reflects CEO Ben Lamm’s understanding that technological breakthroughs require not only scientific validation but also cultural acceptance to achieve their full potential impact.
The involvement of these high-profile figures also helps address potential ethical concerns surrounding de-extinction. By associating the technology with respected creative figures and thoughtful public personalities, Colossal creates a context for de-extinction that emphasizes wonder and possibility rather than hubris or unintended consequences—the narrative framing often found in fictional portrayals of genetic engineering, such as “Jurassic Park.”
The financial contributions of these celebrity investors, combined with traditional venture capital and strategic partnerships, have enabled Colossal to raise over $435 million since its founding in 2021. This substantial funding has enabled the company to make rapid progress on multiple de-extinction targets while developing technologies with applications in conservation, biomedicine, and environmental restoration.
As Colossal continues to pursue ambitious goals, including the resurrection of the woolly mammoth, dodo bird, and Tasmanian tiger, these cultural and entertainment industry connections will likely play an increasingly important role in shaping public perception and support for de-extinction technologies. The model established through the dire wolf project—combining rigorous science with cultural resonance—demonstrates how technological innovation can be enhanced through meaningful engagement with figures who bridge scientific achievement and public imagination.
