Let’s be real for a second. The title “richest man in the world” sounds like a mythical creature, like a dragon hoarding gold under a mountain of spreadsheets. But behind the flashing net-worth tickers—currently bouncing between Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault, and Jeff Bezos—lies a very human, if wildly peculiar, lifestyle. So, how does the richest man on Earth actually live?
The Morning Routine (Or the Lack of One)
Forget the 5 a.m. green juice and journaling. The world’s richest man often operates on a schedule that feels designed by chaos. Elon Musk, for instance, has famously admitted to sleeping on factory floors and under his desk.
He claims to work 80 to 100-hour weeks, starting with a “hardcore” email session immediately upon waking. The takeaway? Extreme wealth doesn’t always buy a peaceful sunrise—it often buys the luxury of choosing your own form of controlled insanity.
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On the flip side, Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH, is known for a more European, disciplined approach. He wakes up early, reads art market reports, and values face-to-face meetings over frantic texts. It’s a reminder that even at the top, your personality dictates your routine, not just your bank balance.
Practical Tip: The “CEO Hour” Hack
You don’t need billions to steal their best trick. Try carving out one “unstructured hour” each morning for your most important thinking. No phones, no emails—just pure, focused planning. It’s the cheapest luxury you can afford.
Homes? More Like Private Countries
When your net worth is in the triple-digit billions, a “house” becomes a compound, an archipelago, or a decommissioned missile silo. Jeff Bezos owns a $500 million superyacht, the Koru, which is so tall it needed a special escort ship holding a mini-helicopter pad. It’s basically a floating city for three friends.
Elon Musk, famously, sold all his physical homes to live in a $50,000 prefab house in Boca Chica, Texas. He claimed it was to “own less stuff.”
Then he built a massive, secret compound for his kids and their mothers. The moral? Even when they say they’re minimalist, they’re still buying the whole block. It’s less about square footage and more about control over your environment.
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Fun Fact: The “Philanthropy Tax”
Did you know that the Giving Pledge, started by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, asks billionaires to give away at least half their wealth? Over 230 signatories have joined. It’s a cultural shift where spending is now secondary to legacy.
What They Eat (Hint: It’s Not Caviar All Day)
Pop culture loves the image of the billionaire eating gold-leaf steaks. Reality is often weirder and more specific. Jeff Bezos is known for his love of a simple, perfect omelet. He once said, “If the food isn’t great, it’s a waste of time.”
Elon Musk fuels up on Diet Coke, espresso, and the occasional McDonald’s drive-through. He’s famously indifferent to fine dining, calling it “too slow.” Meanwhile, Arnault is a connoisseur of rare wines and Michelin-starred cuisine—he literally owns the restaurants. The lesson? Wealth amplifies your natural preferences. A health nut becomes a raw vegan with a personal nutritionist. A chaotic genius becomes a junk-food king with a side of rocket fuel.
Practical Tip: The “Ritual, Not the Spread” Rule
You can elevate your own meals by borrowing their philosophy: intention. Don’t just eat; create a tiny ritual. Light a candle, use a nice plate, sit down without a screen. It costs nothing and makes a grilled cheese feel like a five-star course.
Relationships and the Weight of the World
Being the richest man is surprisingly lonely. Musk has discussed his lifelong quest for a “soulmate” and his struggles with loneliness, despite having a large family and fanbase. When you can buy almost anything, trust becomes the rarest commodity.
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Bezos found “The Washington Post” and his partner Lauren Sánchez as his emotional anchors. For Arnault, family is the business. His five children all hold executive roles at LVMH.
The emotional reality is that immense wealth often shrinks your circle of genuine connection. Everyone wants a piece, but very few want you for you. It’s the ultimate irony of the Forbes list.
The Final Reflection: The 10% Rule
So, what can we learn from the richest man in the world? It’s not about the yachts or the factories. It’s about ownership of time. They don’t have more hours than you—they just have more control over how they fill them.
They obsess over micro-decisions: what to eat, who to see, what to read. And they ruthlessly cut out anything that drains their energy. You can do that today.
Try the 10% Rule for the next week: Look at your daily tasks and cancel, delegate, or ignore the 10% that gives you the least joy and the most stress. You won’t own a rocket company, but you will own your morning. And honestly, that kind of wealth is available to everyone.