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11 Habits Millionaires Like Mark Cuban and Dolly Parton Swear By

These 11 millionaires practice these small habits every day, which contribute to their success.

Mark Cuban
Updated Nov. 28, 2024
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Ever wonder how millionaires cover all the bills and still have fat bank accounts afterward?

Perhaps you’re finally ready to get ahead financially and become the wealthy entrepreneur you know you have the potential to be. If so, you might take a page out of the daily playbooks of the rich and famous, who all have habits that help them live their best lives.

Whether cultivating a wellness routine or developing financial acumen, these millionaires do small things every day that contribute to their success—and you can, too.

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Get up early (Oprah Winfrey)

Dash/Adobe Woman waking up early in bed

The old adage that the early bird gets the worm may indeed be true. That’s certainly what Oprah Winfrey believes.

She told The Hollywood Reporter that she gets up early every morning. Amazingly enough, Winfrey doesn’t use an alarm clock, as she finds them jarring. Instead, she sets her mind to a certain time and rises naturally.

If that early wake-up time helps Winfrey build her impressive net worth, what can it do for you?

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Pray/meditate (Dolly Parton)

insta_photos/Adobe Healthy serene young woman meditating at home with eyes closed

Dolly Parton is arguably one of the internet’s favorite celebs. Known for her generous nature and her brilliant songwriting, Parton starts every day with gratitude for all that she has.

She told Marie Claire magazine that the first thing she does upon waking is pray and meditate, ensuring that she is always in an appreciative mindset.

No matter what you believe in, taking a moment to reflect every day can help you get in the right mindset to achieve your goals.

Make a to-do list (Barbara Corcoran)

deagreez/Adobe woman making a to-do list

Barbara Corcoran is a smart businesswoman and one of the stars of Shark Tank, the hit show that invests in promising entrepreneurs.

When it comes to the secrets of her own success, one is that Corcoran makes a to-do list every day, which she explained in an interview with The Cut. She also ranks each item, ensuring that she accomplishes the important tasks that benefit her the most.

Try making your own daily to-do list and see if it helps you become more organized.

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Keep up with financial news (Warren Buffett)

Stephen Coburn/Adobe Woman with newspaper

Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is famous for his innate frugality. He is also known for his generosity, as he has pledged to give the vast majority of his wealth to charity.

According to CNBC, Buffett reads six newspapers every day, making him exceedingly aware of everything that’s going on in the world, financial and otherwise. Chances are you’d be, too, if you read as much as Buffett does.

Take a moment to tune out (Serena Williams)

contrastwerkstatt/Adobe  woman sitting daydreaming

One of the greatest athletes in the world, Serena Williams is a tennis powerhouse who’s also an entrepreneur, a mother and wife, and a philanthropist.

With all of the tasks that demand Williams’ attention, you may be tempted to think that she never stops. But as she told CNBC, every day, she takes a moment to tune everything out. That helps her re-center and feel more rested, refueling her energy tank.

Try dropping out yourself every day, even just for a second, and see how it benefits you.

Have a daily routine (Alexis Ohanian)

irissca/Adobe woman tracking habits in  bullet journal

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian is a venture capitalist and husband to tennis virtuoso Serena Williams.

With his busy schedule, Ohanian finds that he’s the most productive and efficient when he adheres to a daily routine, per CNBC. He also regularly audits it to make sure he’s spending his time in the best way possible.

Try adopting a daily routine and see how much time you can save, which can lead to new money-making opportunities.

Listen to podcasts (Karlie Kloss)

fizkes/Adobe man listening to podcast

Karlie Kloss is a model and the founder of Kode with Klossy, an organization that teaches girls how to code.

Kloss opened up about her busy schedule in an interview with Savoir Flair, and it includes all of the hustle and bustle you’d expect from a woman of her accomplishments.

One way that Kloss stays in the loop is by listening to podcasts on her daily commute, an activity that could teach anyone all kinds of financial savvy.

Regularly check emails (Mark Cuban)

NicoElNino/Adobe Female business person reading email on computer screen at work

Another Shark Tank star, Mark Cuban, is seriously wealthy and seriously generous with his riches.

To get it all done every day, Cuban told Vanity Fair that he always stays on top of his emails, no matter how insane his inbox is.

That habit can benefit you as well, even if you don’t have an inbox as robust as Cuban's.

Exercise every day (Shaquille O'Neal)

Vadym/Adobe woman running on dirt road

Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal exercises every day, both in the morning and the evening, which has given him amazing mental and physical benefits.

Chances are that working out every day may have some real perks for you, too.

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Read books (Bill Gates)

Drobot Dean/Adobe woman smiling and reading book in green park

Bill Gates is one of the richest people in the world. The Microsoft co-founder has also donated over $35 billion to charity, which is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

Gates told Time that he reads books every day to stay sharp, which he says is one of the secrets of his success. If you want to broaden your mind like Gates, head to your local library.

Have a daily business meeting (Kylie Jenner)

pressmaster/Adobe woman sitting at the table among her colleagues during business meeting

Kylie Jenner may be controversial when it comes to her personal fortune, but there’s little doubt that the makeup mogul and reality star is a woman with big money.

One way she stays so successful is by having a daily business meeting, which she explained to Violet Grey.

Even if you don’t have a team like Jenner does, you can still talk to savvy folks on a daily basis. It just might boost your business acumen — and, in turn, boost your bank account.

Bottom line

denis_vermenko/Adobe woman standing under rain with money

It’s never too late to start building wealth. To that end, try adopting some of the daily habits of famous millionaires.

Whether you sharpen your mind, work on your body, or make a list, bettering yourself may benefit your bank account.

So start where you are and do the best with what you have — you might be surprised at how much the smallest actions can change your life.

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Author Details

Cat Lafuente

Cat Lafuente is a Florida-based writer and editor with extensive experience in digital and print content spaces. Her own personal finance journey — particularly consolidating debt and paying it off, in turn boosting her credit score and becoming a homeowner — inspired her to join the FinanceBuzz team; she hopes she can help others do the same.