When you think of what the world’s richest person eats, you might imagine fancy meals prepared by personal chefs, exotic ingredients, and perfectly balanced nutrition plans. But Elon Musk’s actual diet might shock you. The man behind Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter starts his day with donuts, loves fast food, and has even said, “I’d rather eat tasty food and live a shorter life.” Who would have thought that the guy worth billions has eating habits that might look a lot like yours and mine?
His morning starts with sugar, not superfoods
Forget green smoothies and avocado toast—Elon Musk kicks off his morning with donuts. Yes, you read that right. Despite running multiple billion-dollar companies, Musk loves to start his day with sugary pastries. While most health experts would cringe at this breakfast choice, Musk doesn’t seem too worried about it. Sometimes he opts for a more protein-heavy breakfast of steak and eggs, which might explain how he keeps his energy up through those 80-100 hour work weeks.
Even with his intense schedule, Musk often skips breakfast altogether and jumps straight into work. When he’s rushing between meetings at Tesla or SpaceX, he might grab a quick omelet or a breakfast bar. His morning drink of choice? Coffee. Though interestingly, Musk claims he doesn’t really feel the stimulant effects unless he drinks several cups. And despite his sweet tooth, he’s recently swapped some caffeine for plain water as part of his health improvements.
His lunch might not happen at all
For someone worth hundreds of billions, Musk’s lunch routine is surprisingly non-existent. He often gets so caught up in work that he simply forgets to eat lunch. When he does remember to eat midday, it’s usually something quick and convenient, like a catered meal during meetings. Nothing fancy or specially prepared—just whatever fuel gets him through the next few hours of running his companies. Sometimes it’s a simple combination of chicken, grains, and salad.
This habit of skipping meals might seem strange for someone who could afford any food in the world, but it makes sense when you look at Musk’s approach to time. He reportedly schedules his day in 5-minute blocks to maximize productivity. When you’re that focused on work, stopping for a proper lunch probably doesn’t seem important. His eating patterns reflect his priorities—efficiency over enjoyment, productivity over pleasure. Food, for Musk, seems to be more about function than fancy.
Dinner is his main meal
Dinner is where Musk finally takes time to enjoy food. After a day of minimal eating, he’ll sit down for a proper meal that often includes vegetables, protein, and pasta. This is also when he might indulge in some of his favorite foods. Musk is known to be a big fan of barbecue, particularly Korean BBQ. He also enjoys French cuisine when dining with friends or business associates. Unlike his rushed approach to breakfast and lunch, dinner seems to be the one meal where Musk slows down a bit.
One of his favorite dinner dishes is a dry-aged beef with Ssamjang, a spicy, fermented soybean paste. He’s also got a thing for kebabs. Despite his wealth, Musk doesn’t turn his nose up at more common foods either. He’s been known to enjoy a pizza topped with pineapple—yes, he’s on that side of the great pineapple debate. Even with his busy evening schedule of working until 1 AM, he makes time for dinner, suggesting it’s an important part of his day.
Fast food isn’t beneath the billionaire
You might expect the world’s richest person to avoid fast food at all costs, but Elon Musk proves that assumption wrong. He’s been spotted eating McDonald’s fries with ketchup poured directly into the carton—a habit many of us share. This down-to-earth approach to food shows that despite his immense wealth, Musk still enjoys simple pleasures. He doesn’t seem concerned with eating “like a billionaire” or maintaining a certain image when it comes to his food choices.
Musk’s willingness to eat fast food aligns with his overall food philosophy. He openly admits to preferring tasty food over healthy options. “I’d rather eat tasty food and live a shorter life,” he once said. While he does watch his weight for health reasons, particularly its effects on the immune system, Musk doesn’t restrict himself from enjoying foods that many health-conscious people might avoid. His approach to fast food is refreshingly normal for someone who could afford personal chefs preparing gourmet meals three times a day.
Diet Coke keeps him going
Musk has a serious soft spot for Diet Coke. In fact, he’s so attached to this fizzy drink that he’s publicly vowed to “never quit” it. While many of us might feel a bit guilty about our soda habits, Musk embraces his Diet Coke addiction without shame. He even considers it essential to his happiness. Between meetings and late-night work sessions, Diet Coke and Coke Zero are his go-to drinks for staying alert and satisfied.
Though he’s made efforts to drink more water recently, Musk hasn’t given up his beloved Diet Coke. This stubbornness about his soda preference shows another side of his personality—when he likes something, he sticks with it. It’s a small glimpse into the determined nature that’s helped him build multiple successful companies. While nutritionists might not approve, Musk’s Diet Coke habit is yet another example of how he chooses personal enjoyment over rigid health rules.
His recent weight loss method
Despite his love for donuts and Diet Coke, Musk has recently made some changes to his eating habits. He’s adopted intermittent fasting, which helped him lose over 20 pounds. Intermittent fasting involves restricting eating to certain time windows, which might actually work well with Musk’s already irregular eating schedule. Given his tendency to skip meals when busy, perhaps this weight loss method fits naturally into his lifestyle.
In addition to fasting, Musk has also used the diabetes drug Wegovy for weight loss. This medication helps reduce appetite and has become popular for weight management. Musk’s approach to weight loss reflects his approach to many things—using technology and science to achieve results. While his day-to-day diet remains full of indulgences, these targeted efforts to manage his weight show that he does pay attention to his body, even if maintaining a perfect diet isn’t his priority.
Sleep and alcohol rules
When it comes to sleep and alcohol, Musk does have some strict rules. He avoids eating and drinking alcohol at least 2-3 hours before bedtime. He believes this practice improves his sleep quality, which is important considering he only gets about 6 hours per night. For someone who struggles with sleep and has reportedly used Ambien to help, these pre-bedtime habits are a practical approach to maximize the limited rest he gets.
While Musk doesn’t enjoy most alcoholic drinks, he does appreciate a good red wine. He’s drawn to the taste and sophistication of wine rather than its effects. His selective approach to alcohol mirrors his approach to food—he chooses what he genuinely enjoys rather than what might be expected of someone in his position. Whiskey occasionally makes the cut too, but generally, Musk seems to prefer staying clear-headed, which makes sense given the complexity of the businesses he runs.
Next time you feel guilty about grabbing a donut for breakfast or pouring ketchup directly onto your fries, remember that even the world’s richest man makes similar choices. Musk’s diet proves that success doesn’t necessarily mean giving up life’s simple pleasures. While his work schedule and business achievements may be out of reach for most of us, his eating habits are surprisingly down-to-earth. Maybe there’s something freeing about knowing that even billionaires sometimes just want a Diet Coke and some fast food.
