Wellness Exit Deals 2026: Biggest Acquisitions in Health Tech

Wellness exit deals have reached unprecedented levels as strategics and private equity chase the $6.8 trillion wellness economy. Nutrafol sold to Unilever for a reported $1 billion. Oura raised at an $11 billion valuation. Understanding these transactions reveals both opportunity for founders and specific factors that drive premium valuations.

This analysis examines the biggest wellness acquisitions, factors driving valuations, and what founders should know about building exit-ready companies. For the complete picture of wellness wealth, see: The Complete Guide to Wellness Influencer Net Worth (2026).

What Are Wellness Exit Deals?

Wellness exit deals are acquisitions, mergers, or strategic transactions involving wellness, health tech, supplement, and fitness companies. These transactions create liquidity events for founders and investors, often generating overnight wealth for entrepreneurs who built successful brands.

The Billion-Dollar Exits

Several wellness exits have crossed the billion-dollar threshold in recent years:

Nutrafol — $1 Billion

Unilever’s acquisition of Nutrafol reportedly valued the hair wellness brand at approximately $1 billion, representing roughly 5x revenue multiples. The premium reflected Nutrafol’s clinical positioning and subscription revenue model.

Oura — $11 Billion Valuation

The smart ring maker raised over $900 million at an $11 billion valuation in October 2025. With $500 million in 2024 revenue and projections exceeding $1 billion in 2025, Oura demonstrates the value placed on recurring health tech revenue.

Athletic Greens — $1 Billion+

While not a traditional exit, AG1’s valuation reportedly exceeded $1 billion through private funding rounds. Revenue estimates range from $300-500 million annually. See more: Celebrity Wellness Brand Valuations.

Major Wellness Exit Deals 2024-2026

Company	Acquirer	Value	Year	Multiple
Nutrafol	Unilever	$1B	2024	~5x revenue
Oura	Funding Round	$11B valuation	2025	~20x revenue
Hiya Health	USANA	$261.5M	2025	~3x revenue
Youtheory	Jamieson Wellness	$210M	2024	~2x revenue
Primal Kitchen	Kraft Heinz	$200M	2019	~3x revenue
Bloom Nutrition	Nutrabolt	$110M	2025	~0.6x revenue

Fitness Industry Consolidation

2024-2025 witnessed unprecedented consolidation in fitness. Orangetheory Fitness merged with Self Esteem Brands (parent of Anytime Fitness) to form Purpose Brands, creating one of the largest fitness franchise operations globally.

PureGym acquired 67 Blink Fitness locations from Equinox. LA Fitness absorbed XSport Fitness. Barry’s received strategic investment from Princeton Equity Group. The pattern suggests continued roll-up activity as operators seek scale.

What Drives Exit Valuations?

Several factors determine wellness exit deal valuations:

Revenue Quality

Subscription revenue commands premiums over one-time purchases. Customer retention rates directly impact multiples. A brand with 80% annual retention trades significantly higher than one with 50% retention.

Brand Differentiation

Clinical, science-backed brands trade at premiums. Commodity products face compressed multiples regardless of revenue scale. See: The Supplement CEO Rich List.

Growth Trajectory

Companies growing 30%+ annually attract more interest and higher multiples than mature, slow-growth brands.

Strategic Fit

When multiple strategics want the same asset, bidding wars push valuations above market rates. Exclusive deal processes typically yield lower outcomes.

The Exit Timeline

Most wellness exit deals occur 5-10 years after founding. Earlier exits typically involve acqui-hires or distressed sales. Later exits may indicate founders who missed optimal windows.

The typical path: years 1-3 building product-market fit, years 3-5 scaling revenue to $10-30 million, years 5-8 reaching $30-100 million and attracting strategic interest, years 8-10 executing exit.

Founders should begin exit preparation 2-3 years before target timing. This includes cleaning financials, documenting processes, and building relationships with potential acquirers.

Strategic vs. Financial Buyers

Strategic acquirers (Unilever, Nestlé, CPG companies) typically pay premiums for assets that fill portfolio gaps or provide category entry. They value synergies that financial buyers cannot capture.

Financial buyers (private equity) seek returns through operational improvements and eventual resale. They typically pay lower multiples but may offer founders equity rollovers with upside potential.

The right buyer depends on founder objectives. Those seeking maximum immediate proceeds typically prefer strategics. Those seeking continued involvement may prefer financial sponsors.

Acquirer Profiles

Consumer Giants: Unilever, Nestlé Health Science, Procter & Gamble seek wellness assets for growth. They pay premiums for category leaders with clean operations.

Strategic Wellness: Companies like Nutrabolt, USANA, and Jamieson acquire to expand portfolios and distribution. They value operational synergies.

Private Equity: Firms including CVC, Bain, L Catterton build wellness platforms. They seek brands with improvement potential and add-on acquisition opportunities.

Preparing for Exit

Founders seeking wellness exit deals should address several areas:

Financials: Clean, audited financials accelerate diligence. GAAP compliance and clear revenue recognition matter.

Operations: Documented processes and capable management teams assure buyers of continuity. Founder dependency reduces valuations.

IP: Trademarks, patents, and proprietary formulations create defensible value. Clear ownership prevents diligence surprises.

Contracts: Clean supplier, customer, and employee agreements prevent issues. Change of control provisions require review.

Future of Wellness Exit Deals

According to the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness economy will reach $9.8 trillion by 2029. Strategic acquirers need growth, and wellness delivers.

Private equity has significant dry powder allocated to consumer health. Financial buyers will continue acquiring platforms and executing roll-up strategies.

Women’s wellness, longevity, and mental health subsectors attract particular interest. Brands addressing these categories with differentiated products should expect strong acquirer demand.