The Bad Habits Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Mark Cuban Had to Ditch to Succeed
Success isn’t just about adopting good habits—it’s also about dropping the bad ones. Even billionaires like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Mark Cuban had to kick some serious vices to reach the top. From procrastination to caffeine addiction and bad communication, these three icons had to make some big changes in their daily lives.
If you’re struggling with similar bad habits, don’t worry—you’re in good company! Let’s dive into the habits these billionaires had to leave behind and what we can learn from them.
Bill Gates: The Procrastinator Who Turned It Around
- Age: 68 (born October 28, 1955)
- Business: Co-founder of Microsoft, Philanthropist (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- Height: 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
- Spouse: Formerly married to Melinda French Gates (divorced in 2021)
- Net Worth: $123 billion (as of 2025)
Bad Habit: Procrastination
In his early days at Harvard, Bill Gates had a terrible habit of putting things off until the very last minute. He used to brag about how he could coast through classes, only studying when absolutely necessary. But reality hit hard when he stepped into the business world, where deadlines actually mattered.
Gates quickly realized that procrastination doesn’t earn praise in a professional setting.
Seeing his more organized peers consistently get things done on time made Gates rethink his work ethic. He knew he had to ditch procrastination if he wanted Microsoft to thrive.
Related: What is the 5 hour rule that Bill Gates sticks to?
Related: The Winning Habits of Bill Gates
How He Overcame It
Gates began planning ahead and becoming more structured in his approach to work. While he still describes himself as a "work in progress," he actively fights procrastination by staying organized, prioritizing deadlines, and managing time effectively.
Lesson for Us: If you’re a chronic procrastinator, try breaking tasks into smaller pieces, setting strict deadlines, and prioritizing important work—before it’s too late!
Elon Musk: The Caffeine Addict Who Cut Back
- Age: 53 (born June 28, 1971)
- Business: CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and X (formerly Twitter)
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm)
- Spouse: Divorced (twice from Talulah Riley), previously married to Justine Musk
- Net Worth: $204 billion (as of 2025)
Bad Habit: Extreme Caffeine Consumption
Elon Musk is known for his insane work schedule. At one point, he was grinding out 120-hour workweeks—which meant little to no sleep. His solution? Drinking an absurd amount of caffeine.
Musk admitted he used to chug up to 8 cans of Diet Coke per day, along with multiple cups of coffee. That much caffeine made him feel constantly wired, jittery, and exhausted—not exactly the best recipe for success.
Why He Quit
Health experts warn that too much caffeine can lead to:
Increased anxiety
Higher stress levels
Poor sleep quality
A vicious cycle of fatigue
Musk realized he was stuck in a toxic loop—drinking caffeine to stay awake, which made it harder to sleep, leading to more exhaustion, which made him drink even more caffeine.
Related: Inside Elon Musk’s Intense Daily Routine
Related: Inside Elon Musk’s Family Life: His Wives, Children, and Unconventional Lifestyle
How He Overcame It
Musk cut back on his caffeine intake, reducing it to one or two sodas per day instead of eight. He also started drinking more water and focusing on improving his sleep habits (though he still doesn’t get much rest!).
Lesson for Us: If you rely too much on caffeine, cut back gradually and replace some drinks with water or herbal tea. Your energy levels will stabilize, and you’ll avoid crashing later in the day.
Mark Cuban: The Bad Communicator Who Learned to Listen
- Age: 66 (born July 31, 1958)
- Business: Owner of Dallas Mavericks, Investor on Shark Tank, Entrepreneur
- Height: 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm)
- Spouse: Married to Tiffany Stewart (since 2002)
- Net Worth: $6.2 billion (as of 2025)
Bad Habit: Yelling Instead of Communicating
In his 20s, Mark Cuban had a hot temper and wasn’t afraid to let loose on his business partners.
While building MicroSolutions, his early computer company, Cuban often shouted at his co-founder, Martin Woodall. The two would butt heads constantly over business decisions.
But he eventually realized that yelling solves nothing. Instead of making the company stronger, it created stress, slowed productivity, and hurt relationships.
Why He Quit
Cuban saw firsthand that poor communication hurts teamwork and leadership. If people are afraid to talk to you, they won’t share ideas, collaborate, or stay motivated.
How He Overcame It
Cuban learned to:
Stay calm in disagreements
Listen more than he speaks
Give constructive criticism instead of yelling
By changing his approach, he became a better leader—one that employees and business partners respected, rather than feared.
