Before Luigi Mangione allegedly pulled the trigger of a 3D-printed gun in Midtown Manhattan, killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Johnson, he spent four months traveling through Asia in search of adventure, personal growth and solace.  

According to a report published in The New York Times, Mangione allegedly backpacked through Thailand and Japan, with plans to visit Vietnam before eventually returning to the U.S.

In Thailand, Manginoe partied (as one does). He spent weeks bouncing around Bangkok’s neon-lit bars, meeting fellow travelers and getting himself into the kinds of situations people tend to find in Southeast Asia. He allegedly told his travel buddies that he had been beaten by seven “ladyboys,” sharing a photo of his scratched arm over WhatsApp.

Luigi Mangione got beaten up by 7 ‘ladyboys’ in Thailand months before UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting: report https://t.co/AemiCd0kRPpic.twitter.com/FCtqM90xqK

— New York Post (@nypost) October 22, 2025

In Japan, Mangione sought tranquility. On May 6, 2024, Mangione entered Tenkawa, a small town at the base of Mount Omine known as a popular destination for spiritual pilgrims. Mangione said he planned to stay on Mount Omine for a month, spending his time in hot springs and writing, telling his friends he needed time to relax after his wild escape in Tokyo and Bangkok.

He also joked that he tried to pay a supposed Yakuza boss (a pimp) with adult Pokémon cards instead of Japanese Yen.