A tech billionaire’s daily lunch costs more than the smartphone they use to run their empire. Inside the world’s most powerful tech companies, billionaire CEOs make phone choices that shatter every luxury stereotype. Their devices hold secrets worth billions and yet often it’s just a simple iPhone. We’re digging into the surprising truth about the devices controlling some of the largest empires in business today.
9. Jeff Bezos: The Amazon Founder
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s smartphone choices have mirrored the shifting landscape of mobile technology over the past decade. His device history reflects both strategic business alignments and personal preferences, starting with BlackBerry’s business-focused functionality in 2012, transitioning through Samsung’s Android ecosystem, and including Amazon’s own Fire Phone venture. In recent years, Bezos has joined other tech industry leaders in adopting the iPhone, highlighting Apple’s success in establishing its ecosystem as a preferred platform for high-profile users who prioritize seamless integration and security features.
8. Bill Gates: The Microsoft Visionary
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates’s choice of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 represents an intriguing departure from expected corporate allegiances. The selection of Samsung’s cutting-edge foldable device over Microsoft’s previous mobile offerings demonstrates Gates’s embrace of innovative technology regardless of brand origin. His preference for the device’s expansive screen and multitasking capabilities aligns with the productivity-focused approach that has defined his technological vision throughout his career. This choice illustrates how even tech pioneers can transcend company loyalties in pursuit of optimal functionality.
7. Tim Cook: The Apple CEO
As Apple’s chief executive, Tim Cook’s choice of the iPhone as his personal device is entirely unsurprising. His consistent use of Apple’s latest flagship devices serves two purposes though: validating the company’s innovation trajectory while providing firsthand experience with the products that define Apple’s market position. Cook’s visible engagement with Apple’s ecosystem reflects a broader corporate culture where leadership’s direct product experience informs strategic decision-making and quality standards.
6. Mark Zuckerberg: The Social Media Mogul
Meta’s leadership has demonstrated a fluid approach to personal device selection, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s smartphone preferences shifting from Apple’s ecosystem to Samsung’s Galaxy lineup. Zuckerberg’s migration between mobile ecosystems mirrors Meta’s own strategic positioning as a platform-agnostic technology company, suggesting that functionality and feature sets drive executive technology adoption more than brand allegiance.
5. Larry Page & Sergey Brin: The Google Founders
The evolution of personal device choices among Google’s leadership illustrates their sustained commitment to the Android ecosystem. From Sergey Brin’s early adoption of Nexus devices to his current use of the Pixel series, Google’s founding team has maintained strong alignment with their own mobile platform development. This dedication extends to current CEO Sundar Pichai, whose mobile journey began with the Motorola StarTAC in 1995 and, predictably, ended in his embrace of the Pixel lineup.
4. Evan Spiegel: The Snapchat Creator
Evan Spiegel’s is a rather loyal user of Apple iPhones.The Snapchat founder’s preference for an unencased iPhone, on the other hand, is a bit more puzzling. Is it a statement? Maybe not. He’s got the money to deal with breakages, after all – he could probably keep a drawer full of new iPhones around if he wanted to replace his phone if it ever gets damaged.
3. Pavel Durov: The Telegram Founder
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has a dual approach to smartphones. He primarily uses a Samsung S20 but also tests applications on an iPhone. This flexibility allows him to stay connected with both ecosystems, ensuring that he can cater to a diverse user base with his messaging platform.
2. Elon Musk: The Tesla Innovator
While Elon Musk’s public presence dominates tech discourse, his personal device preferences remain notably private. Though his frequent iPhone references in interviews suggest familiarity with Apple’s ecosystem, Musk has been known to both of the two “big ones” – Samsung Galaxy phones and Apple iPhones.
1. Jack Ma: The Alibaba Co-Founder
Jack Ma’s device preferences mirror broader patterns of technology adoption among Asian business leaders. The Alibaba co-founder’s use of an iPhone 11 Pro Max, notably observed during a 2019 conference, shows Apple’s significant penetration into China’s executive sphere despite competing domestic options.
