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One look at the big guns from the tech industry at the pinnacle of success, and you may think – what’s the force that drives them? Food. You read that right. That’s the fuel that fires up regular humans and tech billionaires alike. From conscious food choices to bizarre food habits, here are some questionable, and some fascinating nutrition routines of tech heroes.
Sam Altman
CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman lives a calculated life when it comes to food and fitness. He had once shared in his blog about how one must experiment to arrive at what works best for one’s body. “What is optimal for me won’t be optimal for you,” he wrote.
A vegetarian since childhood, Altman stocks up on the lack of protein and essential vitamins via supplements such as methyl B12, Omega-3, Iron and Vitamin D3.
He also consumes a lot of protein shakes which he despises and claims he wouldn’t have if he “weren’t a vegetarian”. He also swears by caffeine and starts his day with one big espresso shot, followed by one after lunch, and whenever he deems necessary during the day, like when he’s “super tired” or “really needs to get something done”. By skipping breakfast most days (except for coffee) he gets 15 hours of fasting. Altman also avoids sweet things as they make him “feel the worst”. He also steers clear of junk food and foods that aggravate digestion or spike up inflammation, like spicy foods.
Elon Musk
On the opposite spectrum of Altman’s food habits, we have Tesla’s Elon Musk with his love for donuts and barbeque. Known for openly endorsing sugary drinks, Musk does not follow a fixed diet. Musk once said that he’d rather eat tasty food and live a shorter life. Musk also likes French food and his preferred alcohol is whiskey.
I eat a donut every morning. Still alive.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 28, 2023
A lover of junk food, Musk has not been shy of declaring his love for Diet Doke. He once tweeted a picture of his bedside with four cans of the caffeine-free drink.
Diet Coke is amazing, especially the soda fountain version at movie theaters with salt & butter popcorn
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2022
Jeff Bezos
Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos was not always known for his healthy food habits which he follows now. He has admitted to eating an entire can of Pillsbury biscuits for breakfast. From being the lean person with the weird laugh, Bezos transformed into a bulky physique in 2017 through careful consideration of his diet habits.
Jeff Bezos does not have any processed food and prefers to have healthy, whole foods. To maintain his muscles he relies on a protein diet. However, Bezos is known for his bizarre food choices as well. During a meeting, Bezos is known to have ordered a breakfast of Mediterranean octopus with potatoes, bacon, green garlic yogurt and a poached egg. He was also photographed eating an Iguana at an event in New York. He’s even sampled a cooked cockroach at the event!
Bill Gates
Microsoft founder Bill Gates is known for his unhealthy obsession for sugary drinks. He is said to consume close to four cans of Diet Coke every day. He is also a fan of orange-flavoured sugary drink Tang. Gates’ sugar obsession does not stop at drinks. He is also known for eating Cocoa Puffs for breakfast. When asked in a Reddit AMA, Gates said that cheeseburgers were his favourite.
Mark Zuckerberg
In 2011, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg announced a personal challenge for a year where he would only eat meat that he had killed, which includes goats, pigs, chickens and lobsters. A move to support localised food production, Zuckerberg is said to have served cold meat from a goat which he had killed with a laser gun to Jack Dorsey. Zuckerberg however, has gone back to eating meat that is not killed by him. The gentleman is also known for skipping meals.
Mark Cuban
Sixty-four-year old investor and business magnate Mark Cuban has been adopting a healthy lifestyle over the years. In 2019, Cuban revealed that he had become a vegetarian and his vested interest in plant-based products is seen in his investments in Shark Tank. It is not certain, though, if he has become a vegan.
Cuban is said to start his day with a cup of coffee and two Alyssa’s cookies, a brand in which he had invested. The cookies are believed to be low in carbs and high in protein and fibre, and there have been days when Cuban has eaten them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A lover of salads, Cuban customises his salads by buying two McDonald’s salads and mixing them with corn, cottage cheese, relish and crunchy cereals.