The $35 eye mask the multimillionaire XPrize founder swears by for better sleep

So it was a surprise when the multimillionaire longevity investor told Business Insider that his “favorite sleep device” is a $35 eye mask that started out as a Kickstarter in 2017.

“It basically blocks out all the light,” Diamandis said of his Manta sleep mask. “I travel with it, and I love it. It’s not expensive, and it’s just a great asset.”

Sleep masks are a booming industry

Diamandis said he has never invested in Manta; he’s just a fan of the company, which has also developed something of a cult following on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.

Demand for sleep masks is rising fast as business travelers grow increasingly aware of the benefits of a good night’s rest (and a good nap in transit). Manta was one of the first sleep masks to prioritize side sleepers and include eyecups.

Decades of research have shown that the benefits of good sleep extend beyond feeling well-rested. It helps your brain encode memories and speed up learning. It also repairs the immune system, allowing the body to release essential hormones for muscle repair and relaxation. Plus, it can help control your appetite.

Of course, being rich is a great way to get good rest, because generally the less stressed you are about keeping food on the table and a roof over your head, the easier it is to nod off.

But Diamandis thinks our cultural awareness around the importance of sleep is also shifting for the better. He remembers what it was like back in the 1980s at Harvard, when operating on very little sleep was something he’d brag about.

“When I was in medical school, it was the last thing I would think about,” Diamandis said. “Now, I pride myself on getting eight hours of sleep.”

That usually means he’s in bed by 9:30, and asleep around 10. Sleep scientists are starting to coalesce around the importance of a consistent bedtime routine, with new findings supporting the idea that maintaining a good sleep schedule may be even more important than how many hours of shut-eye a person gets.

“Even at my events where I’ve got hundreds or thousands of people, it’s like, ‘Peter, stick around!’ Nope, I’m going to sleep,” he said. “I’m not sure that that’s the most sociable approach to life, but it’s my habit.”