Let me tell you about a message I got recently.
Someone who served time with Elizabeth Holmes at the federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas reached out with a proposition. For $5,000, she’d spill everything: how often Elizabeth showers, what she eats for breakfast, how many times she calls home, how much time she spends in the library—you get the idea.
And yes, she said, “I know your audience would love this.”
Let’s be honest: some people probably would click. The internet thrives on that kind of voyeurism. But I said no—and I’ll tell you exactly why.
What We Should Be Talking About
Elizabeth Holmes is a public figure with one of the most high-profile white-collar convictions in recent memory. That makes her a magnet for headlines, TikToks, and yes, prison gossip.
But if you’ve followed my work for any amount of time, you know what I care about. It’s not what brand of deodorant someone uses in prison. It’s not how many phone minutes they burn through or whether they read fiction or nonfiction.
I care about one thing when someone’s serving time: are they using it to rebuild credibility and earn back trust—especially from the people they hurt and the people still standing by them?
That’s the only story worth telling. Everything else is a distraction.
Prison Is Not a Public Performance
Too many people—especially public figures—treat prison like a temporary PR problem. They think if they stay out of trouble and keep their heads down, the world will eventually forget. Or worse, they try to spin their prison sentence into a comeback story before they’ve done the work.
That’s not how this works.
I’ve seen people go into federal prison with every opportunity to change their lives, only to waste the time. They sleep in, walk the track, gossip, and wait for the halfway house. They leave no better prepared to face the world than they were on Day 1.
And yes, some of them try to sell stories on the way out.
What Elizabeth Holmes Could Be Doing Instead
If Elizabeth Holmes called me today and asked for advice, I’d tell her the same thing I tell everyone we work with at White Collar Advice:
“Build a record that proves—without question—you understand the damage you caused and that you’re working every day to make things right.”
That means documenting her daily efforts—not her hygiene routine.
It means writing letters to her children, even if they can’t read them yet.
It means creating a release plan that doesn’t just focus on getting out, but on what she’ll do the moment she walks out.
It means owning what she did—without spinning it, sugarcoating it, or blaming others.
The Cost of Bad Messaging
I’ve been critical of Elizabeth Holmes before, not because I take pleasure in it, but because her case is a masterclass in what not to do after a conviction. From courtroom posture to public statements, she’s missed chance after chance to take real responsibility. That failure has real consequences—not just for her, but for every person she’s going to face after prison, including her children.
Whether she realizes it or not, she’s still writing her story. And the court of public opinion will keep reading, long after the cameras are gone.
If You’re in Her Shoes, Here’s the Playbook
If you’re reading this and you’ve got a federal sentencing coming up—or you’re already in prison—learn from this.
- Stop worrying about what other people think of your prison routine.
- Start documenting how you’re changing. Not with words, with action.
- Focus on the people you hurt—not on image control.
- Use the time to prepare for your release—starting now, not six months before.
This isn’t just theory. This is what works.
I Don’t Care About Her Showers—And Neither Should You
Let the tabloids chase clickbait. Let others pay for gossip. That’s not what we do here.
We work with people who are serious about turning things around—not spinning their way through a sentence, but actually doing the work.
And to anyone who thinks this is harsh: trust me, the people who matter—judges, probation officers, prosecutors, future employers, family members—they don’t care what you ate for breakfast either. They care what you’re doing with your time, your energy, and your future.
That’s the only story worth telling.
Justin Paperny
P. S. If this resonates, join our team this Monday at 1 p.m. Pacific, 4 p.m. Eastern. We host a free webinar to answer questions, share lessons from real cases, and help you avoid the most costly mistakes people make during a government investigation. Bring questions. Come ready to learn.
