Elon Musk was famously a voracious reader, consuming books for over 10 hours a day during his youth, even finishing the entire Encyclopedia Britannica by age nine, but now reads significantly less due to his demanding schedule, though he still incorporates reading as a core part of his learning, focusing on fundamental principles and science, perhaps around 1-3 hours daily, according to some estimates.
Elon Musk, one of the most inspirational entrepreneurs of our time, the man behind Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity, said that he read about 10 hours a day when he was in grade school. Elon was once asked how he learned to build rockets and how he managed to get all the ideas from, he answered, “I read books”.
The 5-Hour Rule is a productivity method practiced by Musk, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and Warren Buffett. The rule states: Dedicate at least one hour per weekday (five hours per week) to deliberate learning, self-improvement, and thinking.
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) reads 2 books a DAY, while most people read only 14 a YEAR. Aim to read 1+ book a month in your target language. In this video, I talk more about the power of reading & share my best tips to get more (and BETTER!)
Jeff Bezos spends hours every day reading books, especially on subjects like space, economics, and history. As one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, Bezos has a habit of reading for hours each day. He has stated that books provide him with ideas that help him make better business decisions.
Mark Zuckerberg Devotes Time to Daily Reading
At a young age, Zuckerberg developed a passion for reading and would often spend hours reading books and computer manuals. He credits this habit with helping him succeed in the tech world, as it allowed him to learn quickly and stay ahead of the curve.
Jeff Bezos's "one-hour rule" is a morning routine practice where the first hour of the day is spent on screen-free, intentional activities like reading, exercising, meditating, or having breakfast with family, a period he calls "puttering" time.
Musk told The Wall Street Journal in 2023 that he usually goes to bed around 3 a.m. and sleeps for six hours. So, he's typically waking up around 9 a.m. each day.
Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Jack Ma, Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey – they are all successful in their respective careers, and they have one thing in common – all of them follow the 5-hour rule. This means allotting one hour per weekday for reading and learning (e.g. online courses).
In fact, the average number of books read by a CEO is 60 books per year, or five books each month. “What I know for sure is that reading opens you up,” says Oprah, “It exposes you and gives you access to anything your mind can hold. What I love most about reading—It gives you the ability to reach higher ground.”
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and chairman of X (formerly known as Twitter), revealed during a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live in 2021 that he has Asperger's syndrome.
Every night in the White House Obama would read at minimum for half an hour, typically late into the night.
🚨 Elon Musk's Golden Rule for Founders: Seek Criticism, Not Praise. Elon Musk believes that one of the most powerful habits any entrepreneur can build is actively seeking criticism not avoiding it.
Whenever anyone asks how he learned to build rockets, Musk replies that he read books. He doesn't just read them; he devours them.
So, when Deep Thought was asked what the true meaning of life was, it answered as you might think a computer would: “42”. In other words, “anything you want it to be”. Elon Musk, a tech nerd himself, had the number 42 painted on the SpaceX's Starship prototype.
The books are listed according to the highest sales estimate as reported in reliable, independent sources. According to Guinness World Records, the Bible is the best-selling "book" of all time with an estimated 6 billion copies sold and distributed as of 1995.
Everyone sleeps differently. For example, some billionaire entrepreneur philanthropists like Richard Branson and Bill Gates begin and end the day with a heavy and light workout, respectively. They require over 7 hours of uninterrupted shut-eye before beginning the day anew.
Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates attribute their success to a profound love for reading. This habit shaped their innovative ideas and business ventures, from Bezos revolutionizing book access with Amazon, to Musk's self-education in rocket science, and Gates' emphasis on lifelong learning.
Note that the best-selling book of all time is The Bible, around five billion copies of which are thought to have been sold.
"You can solve almost any complex problem if you give it your full, undivided attention for just one focused hour." This principle is drawn from Musk's deep work ethic, where he uses intense focus in short blocks to make progress on highly technical or managerial tasks — from rocket engineering to business strategy.
Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the greatest military leaders of all time. He is also one of the most famous nappers. Napoleon had a notoriously harsh schedule, only sleeping about four hours a night. He compensated by frequent naps which would inspire his genius strategic movements.
Einstein reportedly slept for at least 10 hours per day — nearly one and a half times as much as the average American today (6.8 hours). But I bet that, back in Einstein's days, quotes like “no rest for the best” and “success and rest don't sleep together” weren't the norm.
— -- Mark Zuckerberg may be a billionaire CEO, but the amount of time he spends in the office is surprisingly close to normal. In an unannounced question-and-answer session Tuesday night on his Facebook page, Zuckerberg, 30, said he spends about 50 to 60 hours per week in the office and at meetings.
That is: spend the first hour of your day doing 20 minutes of exercise, 20 minutes of reflection, and 20 minutes of learning. The routine is loved by thousands, and it's said to transform your productivity, creativity, health, and happiness.
Bezos is said to have a rule about decision making, and he calls it the 70% Rule. It works like this: Whatever you're trying to figure out, you should make your decision when you have 70% of the information you need in order to come to a conclusion.