When you think about what the world’s richest person eats, you might imagine luxury meals prepared by personal chefs, rare ingredients, and perfectly balanced nutrition plans. But Elon Musk’s actual diet might shock you. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO starts his day with a donut, chugs Diet Coke like it’s water, and sometimes skips meals entirely. His eating habits reveal a surprising truth: even with all his billions, Musk approaches food more like a college student than a health-conscious billionaire.
Morning donuts and Mars bars instead of green smoothies
Most mornings, Elon Musk reaches for something sweet rather than the protein-packed breakfast you might expect from someone who runs multiple companies. “I’m still alive,” Musk once joked when revealing his morning routine. He regularly starts his day with a donut or sometimes even a Mars bar, skipping the healthy breakfast most nutritionists recommend.
This morning sugar fix stands in stark contrast to what many would expect from a billionaire CEO. While other tech executives might opt for carefully crafted morning routines with protein shakes or superfoods, Musk keeps it simple. When he does eat a proper breakfast, his preference is straightforward: steak and eggs with coffee, though he admits he’s not a fan of lattes.
Diet Coke addiction that powers his workdays
You might think the world’s richest man runs on premium coffee or specially formulated energy drinks, but Elon Musk’s true fuel is much more ordinary: Diet Coke. Musk is famously devoted to the zero-calorie soda, once claiming it’s “essential to my happiness.” His consumption has been so notable that it’s become something of a trademark.
While Musk has reportedly cut back on his Diet Coke intake in recent years, his love for the beverage remains strong. This caffeine dependency mirrors what many regular people experience—relying on soda or coffee to power through demanding workdays. The difference is that Musk’s workdays often stretch to 120 hours per week, meaning his Diet Coke consumption likely reached levels that would make a college student during finals week look moderate.
Lunch often happens at his desk or not at all
For many of us, lunch is a welcome break in the workday—a chance to step away from our desks and recharge. Not for Elon Musk. His midday meal routine mirrors what many overworked office employees experience, except by choice. Musk often eats lunch at his desk when he eats it at all. This “desk dining” approach maximizes his working hours but comes at the expense of proper nutrition and mental breaks.
When Musk does take time for lunch, it’s rarely anything fancy. He opts for quick, practical meals that can be eaten on the go. This workaholic approach to mealtimes reflects his famous intensity and single-minded focus on his companies. Food, in this context, becomes merely a necessity rather than something to be enjoyed.
French fries with unusual ketchup technique
Despite having enough money to dine exclusively at the world’s finest restaurants, Elon Musk has a soft spot for one of America’s most common fast foods: McDonald’s french fries. But what makes his french fry habit stand out isn’t the choice of food—it’s his unique approach to condiments. Musk doesn’t dip his fries in ketchup like most people. Instead, he pours ketchup directly into his fry container.
This unconventional ketchup technique might seem like a minor detail, but it speaks volumes about Musk’s personality. It’s efficient, slightly messy, and breaks with convention—much like Musk’s approach to business. The billionaire’s enjoyment of fast food highlights the surprisingly normal side of his tastes.
From dollar store diet to billions
Long before Elon Musk became the world’s richest person, he conducted a remarkable experiment as a 17-year-old college student in Canada. Determined to see if he could survive on minimal expenses, Musk challenged himself to live on just $1 Canadian per day for food. This wasn’t a temporary challenge but a month-long commitment that shaped his relationship with food.
During this period, Musk subsisted primarily on hot dogs, oranges, pasta, and green peppers. While he admits he grew tired of this limited menu, he proved to himself that survival was possible on extremely minimal resources. This experience became what Musk calls an important “psychological-philosophical anchor” that helped him pursue his ambitious goals.
Steak dinner with unusual Korean twist
When Elon Musk does indulge in a proper meal, his taste in steak comes with an unexpected twist. Unlike the typical wealthy executive who might prefer their steak with classic sides and sauces, Musk enjoys his with a topping that might raise eyebrows at high-end steakhouses: spicy, fermented soybean paste. This Korean-inspired preparation reflects Musk’s willingness to experiment with flavors outside the typical American palate.
Musk’s appreciation for Korean barbecue extends beyond this unique steak preparation. He’s known to enjoy Korean-style grilled meats when dining out, showing a preference for bold flavors rather than bland, safe options. Dinner also serves as Musk’s most social meal. Unlike his solitary or desk-bound breakfasts and lunches, dinner often happens during business meetings or social gatherings.
Sweet tooth that rivals any kid’s
For someone with the resources to hire personal nutritionists and private chefs, Elon Musk’s sweet tooth is surprisingly unchecked. He openly enjoys treats that nutritionists would surely warn against, treating sugary snacks not as occasional indulgences but as regular parts of his diet. From donuts and Mars bars to chocolate croissants and pastries, Musk embraces his sweet cravings without apparent concern for their nutritional impact.
Musk’s fondness for chocolate extends beyond the occasional treat. He regularly enjoys chocolate milk and various chocolate-based desserts, showing that even billionaire innovators aren’t immune to the simple pleasures that most people enjoy. This aspect of his diet humanizes the tech titan, reminding us that behind the revolutionary companies and headline-grabbing tweets is someone with ordinary cravings.
Pizza preferences that sparked online debates
Few food topics generate as much passionate debate as pineapple on pizza, and even Elon Musk has weighed in on this controversial culinary choice. What’s interesting about Musk’s position is that it evolved over time—he initially disliked the tropical topping but later embraced it. This change of heart sparked discussions online about whether the billionaire had the right idea all along.
Musk’s openness about his pizza preferences reveals a willingness to publicly change his mind that extends beyond his business decisions. The billionaire’s pizza tastes also remind us that, despite his extraordinary wealth and achievements, he participates in the same everyday food debates as regular people.
Recent weight loss journey with surprising methods
Despite years of seemingly carefree eating habits, Elon Musk surprised fans in recent years with a noticeable physical transformation. The billionaire, who once appeared overweight in widely circulated shirtless photos, managed to shed around 40-50 pounds through a combination of methods that reflect both his practical approach to problems and his willingness to try new solutions.
Musk’s weight loss journey incorporated several elements, including intermittent fasting tracked through an app called Zero, a lower-carb diet, and—controversially—weight loss medications. Musk has been unusually forthcoming about using medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro (GLP-1 receptor agonists) to assist with his weight loss, sparking wider conversations about these increasingly popular drugs.
So what can we learn from Elon Musk’s surprisingly ordinary diet? That even the world’s richest person sometimes reaches for a donut in the morning or enjoys french fries from McDonald’s. His eating habits remind us that extraordinary success doesn’t require extraordinary restriction, and that behind the headlines and massive achievements are people with simple cravings and practical approaches to everyday needs.
