When you think of a billionaire’s diet, you might imagine private chefs preparing fancy health foods or strict eating regimens designed by top nutritionists. But Elon Musk, the guy who runs Tesla and SpaceX and is literally the richest person on Earth, eats more like a college student with a credit card than a health-obsessed tycoon. His food choices might make your dietitian cringe, but they show that even the world’s richest people sometimes just want a donut and some fast food.
Breakfast is often skipped, unless there are donuts
You might think the man behind multiple billion-dollar companies starts his day with a super-healthy power breakfast, but that’s not Musk’s style. Most days, he simply skips breakfast altogether, hitting the ground running after waking up around 7 AM. His morning routine typically involves checking his phone, taking a quick shower, and heading straight to work without stopping to eat anything. When he does decide to have breakfast, his choices aren’t what you’d expect from someone who could afford personal chefs and premium ingredients.
Surprisingly, Musk has a real weakness for donuts in the morning, despite knowing they’re loaded with sugar. On other mornings when he feels like eating something more substantial, he might have a protein-packed breakfast of steak and eggs. If he’s in a rush but needs something quick, he occasionally opts for a simple omelet. But much of the time, breakfast just isn’t a priority in his packed schedule – he’s too busy running multiple companies to worry about the “most important meal of the day.”
Lunch is whatever’s convenient during meetings
Like many busy professionals, lunch for Musk isn’t about enjoyment or nutrition – it’s about getting fuel while losing minimal time. He often skips lunch completely, working straight through the day without stopping to eat. When he does eat lunch, it’s usually during meetings where he can multitask. There’s no special lunch break in his day, which is broken down into super-efficient five-minute slots. Food is simply not a priority when you’re running multiple revolutionary companies and trying to squeeze productivity out of every minute.
When Musk does grab lunch, he tends to go for quick, easy options like pizza or hamburgers – nothing fancy or time-consuming. He doesn’t follow any special diet plan during lunch hours, and certainly doesn’t worry about eating “clean” or organic. For someone worth hundreds of billions, his midday meal choices are surprisingly ordinary and practical. His approach to lunch seems to be: whatever’s fastest and most convenient so he can get back to work as quickly as possible.
Dinner is when he actually enjoys food
Dinner is when Musk finally gives food some attention, though even then it’s often combined with work. He typically gets most of his daily calories from business dinners, where he can kill two birds with one stone – networking while eating. These dinner meetings are when Musk allows himself to enjoy food a bit more. He’s known to appreciate good French cuisine and barbecue, particularly Korean BBQ. Unlike many health-conscious executives, Musk doesn’t restrict himself to salads or lean proteins when dining out.
Musk has some specific food preferences that might surprise you. He’s a fan of kebabs, especially the German döner variety. He also enjoys steak with an unusual topping – a spicy, fermented soybean paste that adds unique flavor. And despite the controversial nature of the topping, Musk has admitted he enjoys pineapple on pizza, saying it’s an odd combination he’s grown to like after initially disliking it. These preferences show that even with unlimited resources, sometimes you just want comfort food with a twist.
His fast food habits are just like yours
Despite being worth hundreds of billions of dollars, Musk has fast food habits that might mirror your own guilty pleasures. He doesn’t turn his nose up at drive-thru windows or quick-service restaurants. In fact, he’s been spotted at various fast food places over the years and has some particular favorites. He doesn’t hide his appreciation for the simple pleasures of fast food, even though he could afford to eat at the world’s finest restaurants every day if he wanted to.
One of Musk’s fast food favorites is McDonald’s French fries, which he eats in a particular way – pouring ketchup directly into the fry container instead of dipping them individually. This everyday habit seems at odds with his status as a tech visionary and space pioneer. But it just goes to show that even the world’s richest people can appreciate the simple pleasure of perfectly cooked fast food fries with ketchup. Maybe there’s something comforting about familiar fast food that appeals to someone whose life is otherwise filled with cutting-edge technology and innovation.
His sweet tooth rivals a kid’s
For someone who runs companies developing electric cars and space rockets, Musk has a surprisingly childlike sweet tooth. He doesn’t restrict his sugar intake like many health-conscious executives. Instead, he freely indulges in various sweet treats without much concern for their nutritional value. His sweet tooth extends beyond just the occasional treat – it’s a regular part of his diet that he makes no apologies for, despite knowing that sugar isn’t the healthiest choice.
Musk particularly enjoys chocolate in various forms, including chocolate milk. He’s also fond of chocolate croissants and other pastries. His sweet indulgences extend to candy as well, though interestingly, when he considered starting a candy company, he concluded he couldn’t significantly improve upon existing products. This admission is notable from someone who’s built his career on revolutionizing industries. But when it comes to sweets, Musk seems content to enjoy what’s already available rather than trying to reinvent the chocolate bar.
His drink choices might raise eyebrows
What does the world’s richest man drink? Not premium bottled water or fancy green juices. Musk’s beverage choices are surprisingly ordinary and, in some cases, not what health experts would recommend. His daily drinking habits reveal a man who values familiarity and function over prestige or health benefits. He doesn’t seem interested in the latest trendy beverages or expensive drinks that might appeal to other wealthy individuals. Instead, his drink preferences are remarkably common.
Coffee is a staple in Musk’s daily routine, though he notably dislikes lattes. He’s also a devoted fan of Diet Coke, once declaring he would “never quit” the beverage despite health concerns about artificial sweeteners. When it comes to alcohol, Musk has a taste for red wine and whiskey, though he’s mentioned he doesn’t particularly enjoy the taste or effects of most alcoholic drinks. His beverage choices reflect practicality – caffeine for energy and focus, Diet Coke for a sweet fix without calories, and the occasional alcoholic drink for social situations.
Food is fuel, not a priority
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Musk’s approach to food is how little importance he places on it. Unlike many wealthy individuals who treat dining as an experience to be savored, Musk views eating primarily as a necessity that shouldn’t take time away from his work. He’s gone so far as to say he would “not eat at all” if he could, just to have more time to focus on his projects. This pragmatic view of food as mere fuel reveals much about his priorities and intense work ethic.
Musk’s work-first mentality means he often skips meals entirely when he’s deeply involved in projects. Working 80-100 hours per week leaves little time for thoughtful eating. He’s been known to sleep on factory floors during production crunch times, presumably grabbing whatever food is available when absolutely necessary. While he acknowledges it’s harder to stay lean as he gets older, his focus remains on his companies and innovations, not on crafting the perfect diet. For Musk, meals are often just another task to check off rather than an experience to enjoy.
For all his wealth and success, Elon Musk’s diet is surprisingly ordinary and sometimes even unhealthy. He skips meals, enjoys fast food, has a sweet tooth, drinks Diet Coke, and doesn’t exercise much. His approach to food shows that even billionaires don’t always eat like we might expect. Next time you’re enjoying a donut or skipping a workout, remember – that’s something you have in common with the world’s richest person.
