Tech CEOs often have unique habits that help them maintain both their mental and physical health amidst their demanding careers. From Tim Cook’s early morning routine to Elon Musk’s surprising diet choices, these leaders demonstrate how personal habits can contribute to their success.
Tim Cook: The Early Riser
Known for his early morning routine, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, is one of the earliest risers among tech leaders. According to USA Today, Cook wakes up at 3:45 a.m. and begins his day by reading emails. He goes through 700 to 800 emails daily and tries to respond to most of them.
By 5 a.m., he shifts gears and heads to the gym for a workout, highlighting the importance of fitness in his life. In a 2017 interview with The New York Times, Cook shared that he starts his day with a healthy breakfast, usually consisting of egg whites, unsweetened cereal, and almond milk.
Elon Musk: The Donut Breakfast
Despite being one of the most innovative minds in tech, Elon Musk‘s breakfast choice is unexpectedly simple—donuts. After a health expert described sugar as “toxic” last year, Musk humorously responded on X (formerly Twitter) that he eats donuts every morning and is still alive.
Musk isn’t the only billionaire with a sweet tooth; Warren Buffett also loves sugary foods, famously drinking a quarter of a can of Coke every day.
Mark Zuckerberg: Consuming 4,000 Calories a Day
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared in an August 2023 Threads post that he consumes around 4,000 calories daily—about 1.6 times the recommended amount. Zuckerberg’s intense MMA and jiu-jitsu training sessions require a high-calorie intake to maintain his energy and muscle recovery.
His typical meal includes 20 chicken nuggets, burgers, large fries, and desserts like Oreo McFlurry and apple pie. Zuckerberg also hinted that he might snack on extra cheeseburgers later.
Jeff Bezos: Meetings to Spark Creativity
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos occasionally holds what he calls “indefinite-length meetings,” allowing his mind to wander and generate creative ideas. Bezos believes that true innovation requires unstructured time, explaining on a Lex Fridman podcast that wandering helps unlock his most creative thinking.
Sam Altman: Skipping Breakfast
In contrast to other tech CEOs, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman often skips breakfast and practices intermittent fasting, usually fasting for 15 hours a day. According to a 2018 blog post, Altman starts his day with a large espresso but rarely eats until much later. Additionally, Altman monitors his health meticulously, taking low-dose sleeping pills for better rest, and regularly testing his blood to ensure optimal health.
These unique habits give a glimpse into how some of the most successful tech CEOs balance their professional demands with personal care, each in their own distinctive way.
Want to build habits that boost productivity and success? Start by adopting some of these proven strategies from top tech CEOs today!
