Melinda French Gates criticizes CEOs who prioritize productivity over sleep, calling them "so dumb."

Melinda French Gates considers it "stupid" to prioritize productivity by obtaining minimal sleep.

The billionaire philanthropist, who recently announced a $12.5 billion grant for women's rights, told Vanity Fair last week that she aims to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night. She also expressed a negative view of executives who brag about sleeping only a few hours each night.

French Gates criticized CEOs and tech entrepreneurs who promote performative sleep deprivation, stating that some of us didn't want to be around them.

Notable business leaders who have spoken about their minimal sleep habits include Indra Nooyi, former PepsiCo CEO, who said in 2018 that she typically worked until midnight and woke up at 4 a.m. Donald Trump, former US president, and Marissa Meyer, ex-Yahoo CEO, have also discussed sleeping only four hours or less at night.

Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, was previously known for boasting about working long hours and sleeping under his desk at Tesla in order to meet production targets. However, he has since altered his approach and now strives for at least six hours of sleep each night, as he revealed to CNBC last year.

"Even though I'm awake more hours, I get less done," Musk said. "And the brain pain level is bad if I get less than six hours [of sleep]."

Both Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, who were once married, prioritize getting eight hours of sleep, as Bezos stated in a 2016 interview with Thrive Global: "I need eight hours of sleep to feel energized and excited."

Gates, in his youth, was swayed by the boasts of other entrepreneurs about not requiring much sleep, which led him to believe that "sleep is laziness and unnecessary," as he stated on his "Unconfuse Me with Bill Gates" podcast last year. Currently, he strives for a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night, he said.

The real connection between sleep and productivity

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical experts concur with French Gates and her ex-husband that adults aged 18 to 60 should aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night. The National Institutes of Health adds that sleep deprivation can increase the risk of health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression.

A 2020 CDC study found that roughly one-third of employed U.S. adults sleep less than six hours per night, which can be frustrating for some people but convenient to ignore in the pursuit of career advancement.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine's research reveals that work is the most common reason people don't get enough sleep. In certain fields, such as finance, healthcare, and tech, the long hours can lead to a cultural glorification of sleep deprivation, particularly among younger employees.

The consequences of not getting enough sleep are significant, as research demonstrates. Adequate sleep is crucial for optimal physical and mental well-being, as per the CDC. Furthermore, sleep deprivation can produce similar effects as being under the influence of alcohol.

"Arianna Huffington, a media mogul who wrote a book on the topic, stated in 2018 that when she is exhausted, she becomes the worst version of herself. She becomes more reactive, less empathetic, and less creative. This is a common experience that many people can relate to."

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