Does Elon Musk ever take vacation? Inside his work schedule, daily routine, and diet

Elon Musk is a man of extremes. The billionaire entrepreneur, known for running Tesla, SpaceX, and X, follows a lifestyle that many would find exhausting—yet it’s precisely this approach that has made him one of the most successful business leaders in the world. His life is a whirlwind of long work hours, minimal sleep, and an unapologetically eccentric diet.

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From the billionaire’s sleeping patterns to his eating habits and work-life balance (or lack thereof), his daily routine offers an insight into what it takes to operate at his level.

Elon Musk’s daily routine: Sleep, work, and more than just doughnuts

Despite juggling multiple billion-dollar companies, Musk—who has at least 13 children—maintains an intense work schedule, often putting in 80 to 100 hours a week. He has admitted to working through weekends and even sleeping in his office when necessary. He usually goes to bed around 3 a.m. and wakes up around 9 a.m., though some reports suggest he may rise as early as 7 a.m. Musk’s goal is to get about six hours of sleep per night. He has said in the past:

I find if I don’t get enough sleep, I’m quite grumpy. My mental acuity would be affected.

Mornings for Musk begin with checking his phone for business emergencies, a habit he has admitted he would like to change. In 2022, he spoke on Full Send Podcast and stated it was ‘a terrible habit’ he wishes to escape.

He has also credited showering as an essential part of his daily routine, saying in a Reddit AMA that it has ‘the biggest positive effect’ on his day. It’s a ritual that helps him reset and prepare for his long work hours. After that, he decides which Tesla to commute in, a daily dilemma between his Cybertruck and Model S with self-driving technology.

But what’s surprising about Musk’s mornings? His self-proclaimed love for doughnuts. He once joked on X that he eats ‘a donut every morning,’ though later clarified and said:

I only have 0.4 donuts at a time, because my brain neural network quantizes it down to 0 donuts.

As per Business Insider, Musk has had a fluctuating relationship with working out. In June 2023, Musk said:

I almost never work out, except for picking up my kids & throwing them in the air

However, just two months later he claimed to be ‘lifting hard almost every day.’ The revelation came after he admitted in the past that he would rather avoid exercise altogether.

Elon Musk’s eating habits

Musk’s eating habits are as unpredictable as his tweets, and they’ve been recorded in detail by food publication Mashed.

While he’s often seen indulging in fine dining, he’s also known for his love of fast food. He enjoys kebabs and has expressed his fondness for döner kebabs from Berlin, calling them ‘the most amazing kebab ever’.

He’s also not afraid to admit his controversial food opinions. During a podcast appearance with Joe Rogan, he revealed that he once disliked pineapple on pizza but has since developed a taste for it.

His breakfast choices vary from indulgent to protein-packed. He has mentioned eating steak and eggs for breakfast, a meal he calls a ‘power up’—Musk has also shown a preference for an all-American breakfast, complete with coffee.

However, he has noted that he doesn’t really feel the effects of caffeine unless he drinks multiple cups. It is not sure how he likes his coffee, but in the past, he has dismissed lattes, once quipping that they are ‘just an excuse for adults to order warm milk without sounding like a baby.’

Despite his wealth, Musk doesn’t shy away from everyday food experiences. He was once spotted eating McDonald’s fries with Donald Trump—who has a great love for fast food, though his unique method of pouring ketchup directly into the fry container instead of dipping them caused a social media frenzy.

Perhaps his most surprising dietary staple? Diet Coke. He has frequently spoken about his attachment to the drink, once joking that he could never give it up.

Does Elon Musk ever take vacation?

Given his unpredictable food choices and love for indulgence, one might assume he enjoys unwinding with a lavish getaway—but that may not be the case. So, does Musk ever take vacations?

In short, not really. Musk has often warned against vacations, claiming they have been disastrous for him. As per CNBC, he once said, ‘vacations will kill you,’ after a series of unfortunate events during his rare time off.

Musk’s history with vacations reads more like a cautionary tale than a success story. His attempt at a honeymoon in 2000 ended in disaster when he was ousted as CEO of X.com, an online bank he cof-founded, while still in midair on the way to Sydney.

A later attempt to take a break resulted in multiple rocket explosions, including one from Orbital Sciences and another from Virgin Galactic. But perhaps his worst vacation experience was in 2001 when, during a trip to South Africa, he contracted the deadliest form of malaria. After two misdiagnoses, he barely survived thanks to last-minute treatment. He later reflected:

That’s my lesson for taking a vacation. Vacations will kill you.

Given these experiences, it’s no wonder Musk has chosen to forgo leisure time almost entirely. He works as much as 80 to 100 hours per week, often pushing through weekends, and has even been known to sleep at Tesla and SpaceX facilities. He stated in 2024: