When you hear that a guy is techy, a computer geek, or the like, you probably picture some frumpy Mountain Dew-chugging, finger-stained Cheetos eater. It’s an unfortunate stereotype, and like those tend to be, it can be true. It can also be terribly untrue. And that’s the case for some of the biggest names in tech.
The start-up and tech community is bustling; it’s a multi-billion dollar industry that is generating the biggest ideas, products, and innovations of our time. The best part? Its leaders aren’t weighed down. Not only is it ultra cool for these start-up companies to have offices that resemble something closer to playtime at a kid’s after-school program than a Fortune 500 boardroom (which is a mark of pride, mind you), but they try to out-kitchen each other. From Google’s globally infamous healthified free-to-employees cafeteria to the fresh apples and KIND bars that are staples in Greatist’s kitchenette, health is a mark of pride.
And what these brilliant CEOs are eating is as interesting as what hip hop moguls have parked in their garages – we want to know! From what we can tell, taking care of yourself isn’t just for the ladies. In an industry dominated by dudes, it’s nice to know they’re choosing fit over frump.
So how do these titans of tech, these moguls of mobile “diet,” per se? Better than most of their consumers, that’s for sure.
MARK ZUCKERBERG — Facebook
He’s an on-again off-again meat eater. He spent 2024 “basically” as a vegetarian, after committing to only eat meat he killed himself. He says the experience was good, and that it lead him to healthier foods, even learning more about sustainable farming and raising of animals. Fast forward to last summer and he was posting pictures of steaks, thanks to his iGrill app, he certainly didn’t kill himself.
JACK DORSEY — Twitter, Square
Formerly a vegan, because he says the excess beta-carotene turned his skin orange, Dorsey is now following the Paleo diet, which forbids refined sugar, grains and alcohol. If he’s following a true paleo diet, what he eats is very low in carbs and high in protein.
DENNIS CROWLEY — Foursquare
He jokingly refers to himself as #FatDenny anytime this check-in CEO eats anything on the indulgent spectrum, but to follow Crowley is to know he’s anything but. Cycling and running are his norms; he even ran the Boston Marathon this year. His healthy lifestyle is very public, as he tends to check-in to or tweet every bite he takes, mile he runs, and even pounds he sheds, letting the Withings Wi-Fi scale manage his accountability by tweeting weekly weigh-ins.
KEVIN ROSE — Digg, Google Venture
He admits to having “experimented with pretty much every fad diet imaginable,” wears a Fitbit to track all of his movements, and was evening pining for a treadmilll desk earlier this year. The former Digg CEO has tweeted about his dieting adventures, which have included Tim Ferriss’ slow-carb approach and even gluten free. Living with and dating Darya from Summer Tomato no doubt keeps this tech giant in a healthy frame of mind.
DEREK FLANZRAICH — Greatist
He’s at the helm of one of the fastest growing health sites on the web, and he’s doing it all while minding an actual gut check. During Greatist’s early start, he took on one of the six pack abs challenges; and while ripped per the guarantee, he wasn’t keen on keeping up the appearance rather adopting a life more of balance and moderation. He also leads his team to stay active, providing the Greatist staff with gym memberships that are “outrageously encouraged” to be used during the day.
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