As the first list of its kind, the research team at Health Fitness Revolution created a list of the billionaires in America and how they stay fit. Given their strong influence on society, these great minds do a great deal to also take care of their bodies. Leading by example, these top entrepreneurs, media moguls and celebrities are showing the world that a healthy and fit body is essential to being successful in their career.
“The billionaire’s contribution to American economy is imperative for the further growth of the United States,” said HFR founder Samir Becic. “There is another great avenue the billionaires can take in order to improve American economy, creativity, discipline, positivity and a winning spirit, and that is by being fit and spreading the message of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.”
Here are the second 20 in no particular order:
George Soros, 84- Founder of Soros Fund Management LLC
- Has a personal trainer and goes to exclusive gym, Sitaras Fitness in NYC twice weekly after he was impressed with his son’s results.
- “It makes me feel better, more alert”
T. Boone Pickens, 86- Oil & Gas, Investments
- In June of 2014, challenged President Barack Obama to a 1 hour workout, saying his cardio was better
- Also posted a video of himself running up a San Francisco hill
Alex G. Spanos, 91- Real Estate
- Has donated $12 million to San Diego schools in support of health and fitness programs
- Owner of the San Diego Chargers
Dan Snyder, 50- Washington Redskins Owner
- “National Football League players are some of the most finely tuned athletes in the world. But it’s important to remember that fitness isn’t only for professional athletes, and both to help make the next generation of youth the most active and healthy.Our players, coaches, executives and I routinely participate in events aimed at encouraging the youth to exercise for at least 60 minutes a day, and we encourage you to join all of the Washington Redskins in our commitment and effort to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.”
- Has a website dedicated to health and fitness at www.redskinshealthandfitness.com
Steve Ballmer, 58- Microsoft Executive and Los Angeles Clippers owner
- Inveterate basketball gym rat
- Works out at a bustling gym in Bellevue
- Has said he has refocused on fitness to lose about a dozen pounds
- Plays frequent golf in “burst modes” of up to 36 holes a day
Phil Knight, 76- Founder of Nike
- Ran track in University of Oregon under Bill Bowerman, Co-founder of Nike
- Donated more than 300 million dollars to the University of Oregon athletic department
David Murdock, 91- CEO of Dole Food Company
- Personal advocate for healthy eating and natural foods
- Crams as many as 20 fruits and vegetables, including pulverized banana peels and the ground-up rinds of oranges into the smoothies he drinks two to three times a day
- Avoids dairy, red meat, poultry, which are consigned to his list of forbidden foods that also includes alcohol, sugar and salt.
- He tries to fit in weight lifting several times a week, and that combined with brisk walks on a treadmill and his diet, helps keep his weight at about 140 lbs
- Built a $500 million to build the North Carolina Research campus near Charlotte, “dedicated to his conviction that plants, eaten in copious quantities and the right variety, hold the promise of optimal health and maximal life span.” The Research Campus is a cooperative effort of eight universities all working together for the benefit of health and longevity. These include Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State University, UNC Charlotte, North Carolina Central University, NC A&T State University, UNC Greensboro and Appalachian State University.
Stephen Ross, 74- Chairman of The Related Companies
- 95% owner of the Miami Dolphins
- Chairman of Equinox Fitness
- “Fitness is essential to overall public health”
- Donated 100 million dollars to Michigan athletics
Stanley Kroenke, 67- Owner of Kroenke Sports Enterprises
- Owner of Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League, and St. Louis Rams of the NFL
- Rises by 6 a.m. to workout before breakfast
- Fiercely dedicated to keeping healthy, forgoing breads and pasta for lean buffalo meat, fish and egg-white omelettes.
- Kroenke is so fit that his body-fat percentage is lower than most collegiate players who were taken in this year’s National Basketball Association draft.
Marc Benioff, 50- Co-founder of salesforce.com
- Works out with his fellow Billionaire workout buddy Michael Dell (who was in part Part 1 of our list) who carefully monitors Benioff’s workout and make sure he doesn’t miss a day
- Wears a wrist fitness tracker to stay on track with his weight loss goals
Steven Spielberg, 68- Director
- Works out under personal trainer Jake Steinfeld
- Does not smoke, drink or use drugs
Haim Saban, 70- Founder of Saban Capital Group
- works for an hour, then does 75 minutes of exercise before he feels that he’s really started the day
Andrew Cherng, 66- Founder of Panda Restaurant Group Inc.
- Every few weeks on Saturday he hosts forums at the Panda Express headquarters outside Pasadena, CA, where his employees dance through Zumba routines, and then participate in a motivational self-help session
- Encourages yoga and exercise at work
- Meditates to relieve stress and promotes it in his business culture and encourages employees to participate
- Developed a mandatory four-point action plan for his employees which includes exercise for a healthy lifestyle, continuous learning, developing others and acknowledging others.
- “When you have the right habits, okay, certain good things will come to you that’s what life is about”
Kevin Plank, 42- Founder of Under Armour
- Owns a private gym in his home
- Works out and talk business every Saturday at 6 a.m.
- Hired two trainers, Nate and Damien Costa, to supervise their workout and to train all Under Armour employees
- Everyday his lunch consists of a mix of skinless chicken, salmon, brown rice and broccoli
William Ackman, 48- Founder of Pershing Square Capital Management
- “I have to be healthy”
- Believes being healthy will let him live a long time
- Eats an egg white omelet with spinach and onions and insisting for no cheese, and a bowl of granola with yogurt and strawberries
- Plays tennis
- Has been known to cross-train to reclaim record times on the treadmill or the rowing machine and holds the most records in the office gym
Oprah Winfrey, 59- CEO of the Oprah Winfrey Network
- Works out under long time personal trainer Bob Greene since 1992
- Exercises everyday, doing 45 minutes of cardio exercise six days a week, combined with 40 minute strength training workouts four or five days a week
- Has an organic diet that features plenty of fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken and meat
Jim Davis, 71- Chairman of New Balance
- Co-founder of Major League Lacrosse
- Played college football in Middlebury College
Edward Roski, Jr., 76- President and Chairman of Majestic Realty, Co.
- Spent 4 years serving the Marines and he is also a Vietnam veteran
- Roski has cycled across Russia and Burma
- He made Deep-water dives in New Guinea
- Climbed to Base Camp at Mt. Everest and Mt. Kilimanjaro
Jerry Jones, 72- Owner of the Dallas Cowboys
- Jones was a star running back at North Little Rock High School
- He was co-captain and an all-Southwest Conference offensive lineman for the University of Arkansas
- 17 years ago he started a strenuous daily exercise regime, initially losing 60 pounds
Robert Rich, 73- Chairman of Rich Products Corporation
- Served in the United States National Guard
- He is an avid sports enthusiast, and tried out for the US Olympic hockey team goalie in 1964
- Member of the south Florida Fishing Hall of Fame
- Owns three minor league baseball teams
