Melinda French Gates recently voiced her strong opinion against top executives who boast about working on minimal sleep, calling them “so dumb.” In an interview with Vanity Fair, she expressed her frustration with CEOs who claim to sleep only three or four hours each night. “Some of us didn’t want to be around them! Let’s be honest!” she remarked, adding that she personally aims for seven to eight hours of sleep every night.
Melinda’s ex-husband, Bill Gates, once shared a similar mindset in his younger years. He admitted that he was influenced by other entrepreneurs who glorified working with little sleep, which led him to believe that “sleep is laziness and unnecessary.” Reflecting on this time, Bill explained, “[I] would be like, ‘I only sleep six hours.’ And the other guy says, ‘I only sleep five!’… I’d be like, ‘Wow, those guys are so good. I need to try harder.’”
However, Bill Gates eventually altered his sleep habits, especially after his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He acknowledged that sufficient rest is crucial for overall health, sharing, “One of the strongest things to emerge in [the Alzheimer’s] area is the importance of good sleep. It’s one of the most predictive factors of any dementia, including Alzheimer’s, whether you’re getting good sleep.” Gates now prioritizes getting at least seven hours of sleep each night.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has also been known for his extreme work ethic, often pulling all-nighters and even sleeping under his desk during Tesla’s crucial production periods. However, Musk revealed that in the past year, he has made significant changes to his routine and now aims for at least six hours of sleep each night.
Both Gates and Musk’s evolving perspectives highlight a growing recognition of the importance of rest, even in high-pressure leadership roles.
