• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI

2

Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living

3

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

1

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI

2

Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living

3

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
Healthdiet

‘I’m still alive’: Elon Musk reveals his unusual breakfast choice, joining other big-name CEOs with strange eating habits

By
Eleanor Pringle
Eleanor Pringle
and
Alexa Mikhail
Alexa Mikhail
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Eleanor Pringle
Eleanor Pringle
and
Alexa Mikhail
Alexa Mikhail
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 30, 2023, 11:25 AM ET
Elon Musk at the Met Gala
Musk has joined a legion of commerce giants who start their day with an unusual snack.Jeff Kravitz—FilmMagic/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Octopus, a bowl of ice cream, eight oatmeal biscuits, and a donut.

Recommended Video

It’s an unusual order, but one you may hear if you went for breakfast with some of the biggest names in the corporate world.

Elon Musk is not only using Twitter to update users on company news, insult Bill Gates, and reveal Tesla projects, he’s also giving an insight into his personal life.

More specifically, his breakfast.

Peter Diamandis, one of the founding partners of health care business Fountain Life, tweeted earlier this week that “sugar is poison.”

Musk responded: “I eat a donut every morning. Still alive” to which Diamandis responded: “Okay Elon, allow me to be more specific. Sugar is a slooow poison.”

The exchange gave an insight into the lifestyle of the SpaceX founder, who was the victim of internet body-shaming when a shirtless image of him on a yacht with talent agency boss Ari Emmanuel went viral.

Musk’s daily doughnut ritual runs parallel to his previous statement on health and nutrition.

In 2020, he told Joe Rogan in a podcast interview, “I’d rather eat tasty food and live a shorter life.”

But Musk is in good company when it comes to big-name CEOs giving in to their sugar cravings.

Warren Buffett

Now into his nineties, Buffett has always had a weakness for sweet foods. In 2015 he told Fortune he was “one-quarter Coca-Cola,” saying he drinks at least five 12-ounce servings every day. Buffett has 400 million shares in the fizzy drink brand through his company, Berkshire Hathaway, and even lent his likeness to the cans on sale in China in a bid to boost sales.

His first Coke of the five cans he drinks a day is consumed with a tub of “potato stix” shoestring snacks, though the man worth $106 billion sometimes likes to switch up his routine by substituting a bowl of ice cream for the crisps.

Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, Buffett’s friend and fellow billionaire, revealed that the rest of the veteran investor’s diet largely comprises McDonald’s hamburgers—a brand Buffett also has a stake in—and snacks like Oreos.

In a GatesNotes post, Gates recalled: “I remember one of the first times he [Buffett] stayed at our house and he opened up a package of Oreos to eat for breakfast. Our kids immediately demanded they have some too. He may set a poor example for young people, but it’s a diet that somehow works for him.”

Buffett justifies his dietary decisions with tongue-in-cheek data, explaining: “I checked the actuarial tables, and the lowest death rate is among 6-year-olds. So I decided to eat like a 6-year-old.” The nonagenarian adds: “It’s the safest course I can take.”

Jeff Bezos

The Amazon founder’s breakfast is so baffling that he actually began using it as an investment analogy.

In 2014 Matt Rutledge told Dallas’ D Magazine he met the e-commerce mogul for a morning meeting to discuss the sale of his company Woot. The deal subsequently went through for $110 million.

Rutledge revealed that for his first meal of the day Bezos ordered a dish called Tom’s Big Breakfast, a preparation of Mediterranean octopus that included potatoes, bacon, green garlic yogurt, and a poached egg. 

The founder remembers Bezos declaring: “You’re the octopus that I’m having for breakfast. When I look at the menu, you’re the thing I don’t understand, the thing I’ve never had. I must have the breakfast octopus.”

Mark Cuban

Like Buffett, the Shark Tank investor begins his day consuming products whose success directly impacts him.

According to CNBC, the Dallas Mavericks owner starts his morning with a pack of eight oatmeal cookies from a company called Alyssa’s Cookies.

Cuban reportedly invested in the brand in 2012 after he was gifted a box of the healthy bites by co-founder Doug Saraci, who added a note to the box asking for $50,000 for 25% of the business.

Cuban has also spoken out about enjoying a vegetarian lifestyle.

Having had both his hips replaced, Cuban made the decision to not eat meat to help reduce inflammation in his body, telling Habits & Hustle podcast host Jennifer Cohen in August “it’s like night and day.”

Subscribe to Well Adjusted, our newsletter full of simple strategies to work smarter and live better, from the Fortune Well team. Sign up today.
About the Authors
Eleanor Pringle
By Eleanor PringleSenior Reporter, Economics and Markets
LinkedIn icon

Eleanor Pringle is an award-winning senior reporter at Fortune covering news, the economy, and personal finance. Eleanor previously worked as a business correspondent and news editor in regional news in the U.K. She completed her journalism training with the Press Association after earning a degree from the University of East Anglia.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Alexa MikhailSenior Reporter, Fortune Well
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Alexa Mikhail is a former senior health and wellness reporter for Fortune Well, covering longevity, aging, caregiving, workplace wellness, and mental health.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Health

Like Netflix’s cofounder, U.S. Polo Assn. CEO has strict work-life boundaries—he clocks off at 5:30 p.m. and won’t text his team on weekends
SuccessDay in the Life of a CEO
Like Netflix’s cofounder, U.S. Polo Assn. CEO has strict work-life boundaries—he clocks off at 5:30 p.m. and won’t text his team on weekends
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 5, 2026
1 day ago
Photo: Paris, france
Environmentclimate change
Brutal heatwave in France is killing 2,000 people per week, undertakers are overwhelmed, and health agency says there’s worse to come
By John Leicester and The Associated PressJuly 3, 2026
3 days ago
Opti-Greens 50 Review (2026): Insights from Hands-On Testing
HealthDietary Supplements
Opti-Greens 50 Review (2026): Insights from Hands-On Testing
By Christina SnyderJuly 2, 2026
4 days ago
A man shaves wood pieces from a block.
EconomyRetirement
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 2, 2026
4 days ago
The Best Compact Ellipticals of 2026: Tested by Fitness Fanatics
HealthDietary Supplements
The Best Compact Ellipticals of 2026: Tested by Fitness Fanatics
By Emily PharesJuly 2, 2026
4 days ago
The 6 Best Exercise Bikes of 2026: Fitness Expert Reviewed
HealthDietary Supplements
The 6 Best Exercise Bikes of 2026: Fitness Expert Reviewed
By Christina SnyderJuly 1, 2026
5 days ago

Most Popular

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
AI
Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 5, 2026
23 hours ago
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
Success
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
By Preston ForeJuly 4, 2026
2 days ago
Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
Law
Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
By Wyatte Grantham-Philips and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
4 days ago
The stock market is about to suffer a 'snapback' and will lose much of this year's gains as 'speculation is hitting extreme levels,' BofA warns
Investing
The stock market is about to suffer a 'snapback' and will lose much of this year's gains as 'speculation is hitting extreme levels,' BofA warns
By Jason MaJuly 5, 2026
17 hours ago
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
AI
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 3, 2026
3 days ago
Mark Zuckerberg takes business calls on a jet ski wearing his $800 Meta glasses—and insists 'the other person could not tell'
Big Tech
Mark Zuckerberg takes business calls on a jet ski wearing his $800 Meta glasses—and insists 'the other person could not tell'
By Sydney LakeJuly 5, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our and Privacy Policy |  | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.