What the world’s most successful people eat for breakfast

We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But what do you choose for breakfast when you’re also one of the most important people in the world? One might be forgiven for thinking it’s the round-the-clock drive, natural intellect, or keen eye for a business deal that gives these people their edge. But, even for millionaires, it’s often the choices made, and the habits sustained, outside of office hours that make all the difference.

For most of us at least, the first of these daily defining choices is our breakfast. How people fuel themselves in the morning not only tells us about their health, but their overall mindset and approach to each day. From green smoothies to boiled eggs – and some more surprising choices – here’s what the world’s most successful people choose for breakfast each morning.

In a world of protein shakes and pricey supplements, business magnate and founder of Virgin Group, Richard Branson, keeps things old fashioned after his 5am wakeup, with a bowl of muesli and fruit salad, occasionally substituted by kippers. And, like any good Brit, everything is washed down with a cup of tea. A hearty, yet light, breakfast we conclude.

True to his occupation as CEO and co-founder of Whole Foods Market, John Mackey, takes his morning fuel in the form of a green smoothie, packed with fresh fruit and either kale or spinach. He also revealed to CNBC that he travels with a rice cooker so he can always get his morning fix of steel cut oat porridge. Who said you need to eat a big plate of food first thing in the morning?

The 44th President of the United States is known for managing to fit a healthy lifestyle into his hectic schedule, starting his day with eggs (up to six in one sitting reportedly), toast, fruit and porridge.

Interestingly for such a busy man, Obama eschews coffee almost entirely, preferring to start his day with orange juice, green tea or water. Quite a standard, yet powerful, breakfast – fit for a former President.

Twitter founder and CEO Jack Dorsey is known for his idiosyncratic health habits – which include meditating for two hours a day, regular ice baths and a whole host of strict diets. He is said to have had to give up a vegan lifestyle after an overconsumption of carrots turned his skin orange.

His breakfast is no different. Until recently Dorsey swore by a breakfast of two boiled eggs and soy sauce but in 2019 revealed he had taken to fasting, eating just one evening meal per day and nothing at the weekends, to help him focus during the day and sleep better at night.

Much like his dedication to wearing the same outfit each day, Zuckerberg has a no-nonsense approach to breakfast. No time is wasted in preparation or decision making, and he simply tucks into ‘whatever’ takes his fancy before getting on with his day. Simple, sure, but possibly not always healthy.

Perhaps it’s a generational thing but the oldest – and arguably most successful – man on this list also subscribes to the least healthy breakfast routine. According to his wife Melinda, Bill Gates rarely eats breakfast while Gates himself once told a group of high school students he started his day with a bowl of Cocoa Puffs. Add to this his well-documented lunch of cheese burgers and Diet Coke and you’ve got a dietician’s nightmare. But if it works for him who are we to argue?

Tesla and Space X founder Elon Musk is another who typically skips his morning meal but, when he does eat one, it’s surprisingly normal for the famously eclectic entrepreneur. Coffee and an omelette.

This is what successful people do on their morning commute…

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