Top tech CEOs are known for their extraordinary habits, whether it’s maintaining a healthy lifestyle or finding unique ways to relax amidst their hectic schedules. Here’s a look at the fascinating routines that keep some of the world’s most prominent tech leaders sharp and successful.
Tim Cook: Early Riser and Fitness Enthusiast
Apple CEO Tim Cook is famous for starting his day earlier than most. Cook wakes up at 3:45 a.m. to read emails, going through 700 to 800 messages daily. He has admitted in an ABC interview that he’s a “workaholic” and tries to respond to most of the emails sent his way.
By 5 a.m, Cook heads to the gym for his regular workout. Though he is known to keep his personal interests private, he has consistently emphasized the importance of exercise. In a 2017 interview with The New York Times, Cook mentioned his daily breakfast drink: a mix of egg whites, unsweetened cereal, and almond milk.
Elon Musk: Doughnut Devotee
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has a surprising morning habit—eating doughnuts for breakfast. Despite an expert calling sugar “poison,” Musk joked on X (formerly Twitter) last year, saying, “I eat them every morning, and I’m still alive.”
He later posted a humorous photo with the caption: “Me after a day without sugar.” The picture, showing Musk lying on the floor with his legs propped on a desk, quickly went viral, garnering 35 million views in just one day.
Musk isn’t the only billionaire with a sweet tooth. Fellow business magnate Warren Buffett is also known for his love of sugary foods and admitted in 2015 that he drinks a quarter of a can of Coke every day.
Mark Zuckerberg: 4,000 Calories a Day for MMA Training
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg consumes an astonishing 4,000 calories a day—nearly 1.6 times the recommended daily intake. In an August 2023 post on Threads, Zuckerberg explained that his high calorie intake is necessary to fuel his intense workout regimen, which includes Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) training and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Zuckerberg trains three to four times a week and focuses on calorie-dense foods to support muscle recovery and electrolyte replenishment. On Threads, he jokingly shared his daily meal: “20 chicken nuggets, beef burgers, fries, Oreo McFlurry, apple pie, and maybe some cheeseburgers for later.”
Jeff Bezos: Creative Meetings with No Time Limit
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has a unique approach to fostering creativity. He sometimes holds meetings that last indefinitely, allowing his mind to “wander” and explore new ideas.
During a December interview on the Lex Fridman podcast, Bezos explained: “Real creativity requires wandering. When I sit down for a meeting, I don’t know how long it’s going to last.”
Though this may seem like a waste of time, studies suggest that mind-wandering can actually boost creativity and improve memory, as reported by Business Insider.
Sam Altman: Fasting and Biohacking
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman follows a highly disciplined lifestyle. In a 2018 blog post, Altman revealed that he starts his day with a large espresso but usually skips breakfast, practicing intermittent fasting for 15 hours a day.
Altman also uses low-dose sleeping pills to optimize his sleep and regularly gets blood tests to monitor his health. He even takes the diabetes medication metformin, which some believe may slow the aging process, according to Business Insider.
Jack Dorsey: Meditation and Minimalist Living
Former Twitter (now X) and Block founder Jack Dorsey is known for his strict health regimen. Dorsey wakes up at 5 a.m, walks five miles, and meditates for two hours every day. He also adheres to a minimalist diet, eating just one meal per day.
Dorsey is a devoted advocate of Vipassana meditation. For his birthday in 2018, he attended a 10-day silent meditation retreat, meditating for nearly 17 hours each day. Dorsey later described the experience as “incredibly painful,” both physically and mentally.
