The world’s richest man and arguably busiest CEO has undergone a remarkable physical transformation in recent years. Elon Musk, the tech mogul behind Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and several other ventures, managed to shed approximately 35 pounds while simultaneously running multiple billion-dollar companies. His weight loss journey offers fascinating insights into how even the busiest people can prioritize health when properly motivated.
The Wake-Up Call That Started It All
For someone who regularly pulls 80-120 hour work weeks, health hasn’t always been Elon Musk’s top priority. The demands of revolutionizing multiple industries simultaneously – electric vehicles, space travel, social media, and more – often meant that personal well-being took a backseat to business ambitions.
The turning point came in mid-2022 when Musk noticed something alarming when looking at photos of himself from a beach vacation.
“I looked at those pictures and thought, ‘Wow, I need to lose some weight,'” Musk recalls with his characteristic bluntness. “I had gained about 30 pounds above my normal weight over time, and honestly, I felt terrible – low energy, brain fog, just not feeling like myself.”
For a man who prides himself on optimization and efficiency in every aspect of life, this physical decline represented a significant problem. How could he expect to work at peak performance – essential for someone juggling the leadership of multiple revolutionary companies – if his own body wasn’t operating optimally?
The timing coincided with a particularly demanding period in Musk’s career. He was in the midst of the controversial Twitter acquisition (now X), dealing with production challenges at Tesla, and pushing forward ambitious goals at SpaceX. Add in raising young children, and the stress was clearly taking a toll.
“When you’re stressed, it’s so easy to reach for comfort food and tell yourself you’re too busy for exercise,” Musk admits. “That’s exactly what I was doing, and it became a negative cycle. Poor eating led to worse sleep, which led to less energy and more stress eating.”
Breaking this cycle would require the same analytical approach Musk applies to his business challenges – identify the variables, experiment methodically, and optimize for results.
The Wegovy Factor: Musk’s Pharmaceutical Assist
Unlike many celebrities who dance around their use of weight loss medications, Musk has been refreshingly transparent about incorporating the diabetes drug Wegovy (semaglutide) into his weight loss strategy.
“Yeah, I was using Wegovy,” Musk stated plainly on X (formerly Twitter) in response to a user asking about his weight loss. In another post, he mentioned, “Down 35 lbs.”
This candid admission came in October 2022, just as public awareness of GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy and Ozempic for weight loss was beginning to surge. Rather than attributing his transformation solely to diet and exercise – the standard celebrity narrative – Musk acknowledged the pharmaceutical assistance.
For those unfamiliar with the medication, Wegovy (semaglutide) is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition. It works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake.
“These medications aren’t magic pills,” Musk clarified. “They help control appetite, but you still need to eat right and stay active. They just make it easier to maintain a caloric deficit.”
This explanation aligns with medical understanding of how these medications work. They can reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness, helping users consume fewer calories without the intense cravings that often derail weight loss efforts.
But medication was just one piece of Musk’s comprehensive approach to weight management. To achieve sustainable results, he incorporated several other strategies that complemented the appetite-suppressing effects of Wegovy.
Fasting and Diet: The Musk Approach to Nutrition
Long before his recent weight loss journey, Musk had experimented with intermittent fasting. This practice, which involves restricting eating to specific time windows, has gained popularity for its potential benefits beyond just weight management.
“I’ve found I feel much healthier with intermittent fasting. I usually eat only once or twice daily,” Musk shared. “Dinner’s the main meal. Breakfast is just coffee.”
This approach – essentially a form of time-restricted eating – aligns with emerging research suggesting that giving the digestive system extended breaks may offer metabolic advantages. For someone with Musk’s demanding schedule, it also provides practical benefits in terms of time management.
Eliminating Processed Foods
Beyond timing his meals, Musk made significant changes to the content of his diet.
“The biggest difference was cutting out processed sugar and most processed foods,” he explains. “Those things are literally engineered to be addictive. Breaking that cycle makes everything else easier.”
Instead, his diet now emphasizes:
- High-quality proteins (grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish)
- Abundant vegetables
- Complex carbohydrates in moderation
- Healthy fats like avocados and olive oil
“I’m not saying I never enjoy cookies or ice cream – I absolutely do. But they’re occasional treats now, not daily habits.”
Mindful Eating Despite a Hectic Schedule
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of Musk’s nutritional approach is practicing mindfulness around eating despite his notoriously packed schedule.
“When you’re in back-to-back meetings all day, it’s so easy to just shove whatever food is available into your mouth without thinking. I had to consciously break that pattern.”
His solution involves simple but effective strategies:
- Keeping healthy options readily available at his offices
- Taking a moment to appreciate food before eating
- Chewing thoroughly rather than rushing through meals
- Staying hydrated throughout the day
“It sounds basic, but drinking enough water makes a huge difference in how I feel and helps prevent mistaking thirst for hunger.”
The Exercise Equation: Making Movement Efficient
For someone who reportedly works 16+ hours daily across multiple companies, traditional gym routines might seem impossible to maintain. Yet Musk has found ways to incorporate regular physical activity into his demanding lifestyle.
“I’ve learned that even small amounts of movement, when done consistently, make a big difference,” Musk notes. “Ten minutes of high-intensity exercise beats an hour of low-intensity movement if that hour never actually happens because you’re too busy.”
Strategic Morning Workouts
Musk typically tackles exercise early in the day, before the demands of running multiple companies take over.
“Getting in some movement first thing sets the tone for the day. Even if it’s just 20 minutes, it improves my energy, cognition, and mood for hours afterward.”
His typical routine includes:
- Strength training with an emphasis on compound movements
- Brief high-intensity interval sessions
- Walking meetings whenever possible
“I’m big on efficiency, so I love exercises that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Why isolate one muscle when you can work five at once?”
The Walking Advantage
Even on his busiest days, Musk tries to incorporate walking – often while taking calls or thinking through complex problems.
“Walking is severely underrated. It clears my head, helps with digestion, and burns calories without feeling like exercise. Some of my best ideas come during walks.”
This integration of physical movement with mental work exemplifies Musk’s approach to efficiency – accomplishing multiple goals simultaneously rather than treating exercise as separate from productivity.
The Power of Sleep: Musk’s Evolving Relationship with Rest
Perhaps the most significant shift in Musk’s health approach involves sleep – an area where he previously prided himself on pushing limits.
“I used to brag about sleeping 4-5 hours a night,” Musk admits. “I thought sleep was this inefficiency to be minimized. I was completely wrong about that.”
This realization came after experiencing the cognitive impacts of chronic sleep deprivation firsthand.
“When you’re consistently sleep-deprived, your decision-making suffers dramatically. And when you’re running companies where decisions impact thousands of employees and billions in market value, that’s unacceptable.”
Prioritizing Quality Sleep
Today, Musk aims for 6-7 hours of quality sleep most nights – still less than the recommended 7-9 hours for most adults, but a significant improvement from his previous habits.
“I’m religious about avoiding screens for at least 30 minutes before bed. The blue light really does mess with your circadian rhythm.”
Other sleep practices he’s adopted include:
- Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule when possible
- Keeping the bedroom cool (around 68°F/20°C)
- Using blackout curtains to eliminate ambient light
- Avoiding caffeine after mid-afternoon
“I’m still not perfect with sleep – there are definitely nights when work demands keep me up late. But I no longer see exhaustion as a badge of honor.”
The Results: Beyond Just Weight Loss
By late 2022, Musk had lost approximately 35 pounds, bringing him to what he describes as a “much healthier weight.” But the benefits extended far beyond his appearance.
“The mental clarity difference is night and day,” he emphasizes. “When I was carrying extra weight and eating poorly, I’d hit these afternoon energy crashes that made complex thinking much harder. Now my energy is much more consistent throughout the day.”
Improved Cognitive Function
For someone whose companies are built on innovation and complex problem-solving, cognitive performance is paramount.
“Running Tesla, SpaceX, X and my other companies requires mental stamina. When you’re making decisions that affect thousands of employees and billions in market value, you can’t afford brain fog.”
This cognitive enhancement has proven particularly valuable during recent turbulent periods, including the dramatic transformation of Twitter into X following Musk’s acquisition of the platform.
“When I was meeting with Trump to discuss various initiatives and the future of digital communication, I needed to be at my mental best,” Musk notes, referencing his well-publicized interactions with the former and current president. “These conversations shape the future of entire industries.”
Enhanced Physical Endurance
The physical benefits have translated to improved stamina for Musk’s demanding schedule.
“I’m on planes constantly, dealing with time zone changes, pulling occasional all-nighters when necessary. Managing that kind of schedule while carrying extra weight was exhausting.”
Now, he reports better resilience to the physical stresses of his lifestyle.
“Don’t get me wrong – running this many companies is still incredibly demanding. But my body recovers better now, and I bounce back more quickly from intense work periods.”
Setting an Example
As a public figure with millions of followers, Musk acknowledges that his health journey has effects beyond his personal wellbeing.
“If seeing my transformation inspires someone else to take their health seriously, that’s fantastic. Too many successful people neglect their physical health in pursuit of their goals, not realizing they’re undermining their own effectiveness.”
This perspective reflects Musk’s engineering mindset – the human body, like a rocket or electric vehicle, performs best when properly maintained and optimized.
Maintaining Results While Running Multiple Companies
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Musk’s transformation is that he’s maintained most of his weight loss while simultaneously running multiple demanding companies. This sustainability speaks to the effectiveness of his approach.
“The key is building systems rather than relying on willpower,” Musk explains. “I’ve created environments where the healthy choice is also the easy choice.”
Consistent Habits Despite an Inconsistent Schedule
Given Musk’s unpredictable schedule – which might include emergency meetings at SpaceX, production challenges at Tesla, sudden developments at X, or any number of other demands – rigid routines aren’t realistic.
“I can’t stick to eating at specific times or working out at the same hour daily. Instead, I focus on principles that can adapt to whatever my schedule throws at me.”
These flexible principles include:
- Fasting until he’s genuinely hungry (not just because it’s “mealtime”)
- Keeping healthy foods available at all his offices
- Taking movement breaks between meetings when possible
- Prioritizing protein and vegetables when eating out
“The beauty of intermittent fasting is that it actually works better with an unpredictable schedule. If a meeting runs long or a crisis emerges, I’m not thrown off by missing a meal.”
Leveraging Technology and Data
True to his tech background, Musk uses various tools to track his health metrics and optimize his approach.
“I’m interested in the data. Tracking variables like sleep quality, energy levels, and cognitive performance helps me identify patterns and refine my approach.”
While he doesn’t share specific apps or devices, this quantified-self approach aligns with his engineering mindset – measuring outputs and adjusting inputs for optimal performance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elon Musk’s Weight Loss
How much weight did Elon Musk lose?
Elon Musk lost approximately 35 pounds (about 16 kilograms) during his weight loss journey that began in mid-2022. He confirmed this specific number in a post on X (formerly Twitter) in October 2022, stating “Down 35 lbs” in response to questions about his noticeable physical transformation. The weight loss was particularly evident in his facial appearance and overall physique in public appearances and photos from late 2022 compared to earlier that year.
What medication did Elon Musk use for weight loss?
Elon Musk openly acknowledged using Wegovy (semaglutide), a prescription GLP-1 receptor agonist, as part of his weight loss approach. Unlike many public figures who might avoid discussing medication use, Musk was transparent about incorporating this pharmaceutical assistance alongside diet and lifestyle changes. Wegovy is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, and works by helping to regulate appetite and reduce food intake.
What diet does Elon Musk follow for weight management?
Musk primarily follows an intermittent fasting approach, typically eating only once or twice daily, with dinner being his main meal. He’s significantly reduced his consumption of processed foods and sugar while emphasizing high-quality proteins, vegetables, complex carbohydrates in moderation, and healthy fats. He doesn’t follow a named diet program but instead focuses on principles of time-restricted eating combined with nutrient-dense food choices. Musk still enjoys occasional treats but has transformed them from daily habits to infrequent indulgences.
How does Elon Musk fit exercise into his busy schedule?
Despite his extraordinarily demanding schedule running multiple companies, Musk incorporates exercise primarily through morning workouts focusing on efficient movements. He prefers compound exercises that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously, brief high-intensity interval training sessions, and walking meetings whenever possible. Rather than lengthy gym sessions, Musk emphasizes consistency with shorter, more intense workouts that can fit into his packed calendar. He’s noted that even 10-20 minutes of focused exercise daily provides significant benefits when maintained consistently.
Has Elon Musk maintained his weight loss while running Tesla, SpaceX, and X?
Yes, Musk has maintained most of his 35-pound weight loss while simultaneously running his multiple companies. His approach focuses on sustainable habits rather than short-term fixes, including intermittent fasting, reduced processed food consumption, consistent physical activity, improved sleep quality, and the continued use of medication when needed. Rather than rigid routines that would be impossible with his unpredictable schedule, Musk emphasizes flexible principles that can adapt to his varying demands while keeping healthy choices accessible across all his work environments.
Has Elon Musk’s weight loss journey inspired you to make changes in your own health routine? Have you found ways to prioritize wellness despite a demanding schedule? Share your experiences and questions in the comments below!