Mark Cuban's Real Diet Plan & Exercise Routine

Whether you know him for his role on Shark Tank, as the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, or just as one of the world’s top billionaires, Mark Cuban is a household name. Similar to other billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffett, Mark Cuban is self-made and worked hard to earn his net worth of $4.7 billion.

Between answering hundreds of emails, investing in innovative businesses, staring on a TV show, and growing his philanthropic interests, Mark Cuban still finds time to make his health a priority.

The billionaire follows a daily routine that helps him stay successful in his work and personal life.

Mark Cuban’s Daily Routine

While some of us may stay in bed for an hour or drag our feet before that first cup of coffee, Mark Cuban’s morning routine starts with waking up early and answering emails in bed. He wakes up at 6:30am and dives into his email inbox, which may contain up to 1,000 emails everyday.

So many emails may seem overwhelming to the average person, but Cuban admits in an interview with Inc. that he thinks meetings are a waste of time unless it involves closing a deal, so he prefers to do most business through email.

Getting right to his emails can help him start the day more productively, and although night owls may be cringing at the thought of waking up at 6am, individuals who wake up earlier are reportedly 10% happier than those who sleep in longer.

In an interview with CNBC, Cuban says, “The key to reaching high levels of performance and productivity is to develop the lifelong habit of tackling your major task first thing each morning. You must develop the routine of ‘eating your frog’ before you do anything else.”

Morning Workout Routine

Working out in the morning sounds like a good idea until that alarm goes off before the sun even rises. You may be tempted to hit the snooze or promise yourself to hit the gym after work instead, but exercising in the morning has its benefits.

Working out in the morning may  help greater reduce body fat and blood pressure compared to working out in the evening.

Whether Mark Cuban knows this or not, he still makes time for morning exercise and is sure to get at least an hour of cardio in six to seven days a week.

According to the Business Insider,  he keeps his cardio intense and varied, using the elliptical and stairmaster, as well as taking kickboxing and Latin fusion aerobic classes at LifeTime Fitness gym.

It’s also no surprise that the Dallas Mavericks’ owner likes to play basketball too and even watches NBA games when he’s exercising.

Although a lot of Cuban’s exercise consists of cardio, he said he’s bench pressed 300 pounds before.

If you have trouble staying motivated through exercise, making sure to adopt a routine with variety can help keep it interesting, so you’re not just running on the treadmill everyday. Making time for cardio and strength training can also be important for your overall physical and mental health.

Mark Cuban’s Breakfast

After he surfs through his inbox and gets a workout in, Cuban is ready to take on the day. For breakfast, he prefers a cup of coffee and a couple high-protein, low-carb, cookies that he invested in.

The cookies are from Alyssa’s Bakery, are gluten-free, and are made from unrefined grains and dried fruits and nuts. 

These cookies are healthy, and  Cuban admits to practically living off of them. They also happen to be his go-to holiday gift since he believes there’s too much junk food around during the holidays.

Eating cookies for breakfast may seem frowned upon, but Alyssa’s healthy cookies are different.

According to Men’s Journal,  since eating these cookies every morning, Cuban has lost 15 pounds.

His favorite type of cookie is the Healthy Oatmeal Bite, but there’s also a dark chocolate almond, pure almond, cranberry coconut almond, and healthy vegan.

Although Cuban advocates for plant-based brands, such as Everything Legendary and Unreal Deli, he’s not fully a vegan himself. He does understand the importance of a plant-based diet for health and wellness and the environment.

To aid in weight loss and overall health, make sure to eliminate processed foods from your diet and incorporate supplements for extra nutrients. Check out Veg-PRO plant-based protein powder to promote muscle growth and repair.

Mark Cuban’s Lunch and Dinner

Between answering more emails, reading for three to four hours a day, and taking the occasional nap, the billionaire often skips lunch as he gets too wrapped up in his work and doesn’t feel the need to eat.

Whether it’s deciding what’s for lunch or whether to take a nap, it’s important to listen to your body. 

Naps may be associated with laziness, but Cuban is anything but.

He tells Business Insider, “If I'm dragging, then I'll take a nap," he told Business Insider. "Look, I get to define my own schedule. Other than having to travel sometimes, I'm usually working on my own schedule. If I'm tired, I'll sleep."

When the work day is over around 6pm, it’s time to eat dinner. Typically, Cuban chooses nothing extravagant and would rather grab something quick and convenient. 

He may order two McDonald’s salads and add corn, cottage cheese, relish, and cereal for croutons.

While eating his dinner, he likes to sit and watch a basketball game. However, if it’s his basketball team playing, chances are he’s at the arena watching in person.

Mark Cuban's Bedtime

While many of us may have a nighttime routine that involves shutting down our electronics, the Shark Tank star does quite the opposite. He ends his day similar to how he starts it, by checking his email inbox one more time before shutting off his phone.

While laying in bed, he’ll watch Law & Order episodes with headphones as to not disturb his wife, Tiffany, while she sleeps.

A typical bedtime for Cuban is around 11:30pm, and he aims for about 7 hours of sleep a night. 

The recommended amount of sleep is 7 hours per night to maintain an optimal level of energy, and physical and mental health.

Take a Billionaire’s Advice

A life like Mark Cuban’s is something that many of us can’t even fathom, but he didn’t become successful overnight. He worked hard, stayed dedicated, and did what he loved.

He may live an extremely busy lifestyle as a TV show star, investor, entrepreneur, but he takes time out of his day to exercise. There will always be an excuse not to workout, but time shouldn't be one of them.

Cuban also understands the importance of leading a healthy diet, and even invests into promoting and growing plant-based food brands.

Whether you’re a vegan or not, a morning or evening exerciser, or a billionaire, maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle is what’s most important.