15 billionaires with surprisingly frugal habits
Mark Zuckerberg.
The Facebook billionaire is known for his basic wardrobe of gray tees, hoodies, and jeans in lieu of expensive suits, but it's a bit lesser known that Zuckerberg, worth $44.6 billion, hasn't put his fortune toward transportation. In 2014, The Wall Street Journal reported that he drove a Volkswagen Golf GTI. The 2016 model starts at $25,595.
Charlie Ergen.
The Dish Network chairman and CEO is worth about $13.7 billion. But that hasn't stopped Ergen, whose mother was a child of the Depression, from engaging in frugal habits such as packing his own lunch of a sandwich and Gatorade. He is also famous for personally signing every company check over $100,000 so he can keep tabs on where the money's going.
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Warren Buffett.
Few can compete with Buffett's wealth of about $66 billion, but that doesn't mean he's spending it on extravagances few can afford. Buffett is known for living in the same house since 1958 and driving low-key cars. He hung on to a 2006 Cadillac for about eight years before buying a new XTS, which goes for about $46,000. Afraid he wouldn't get a good deal, given his fame and fortune, he sent his daughter to the dealership on his behalf.
Ingvar Kamprad.
The founder of Ikea is rumored to practice what he preaches to customers and "co-workers" about living cheaply. Worth more than $3 billion, Kamprad reportedly flies coach on budget airlines, lives in a modest house filled with self-assembled Ikea furniture, takes public transportation, and enjoys shopping at flea markets.
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Carlos Slim Helú.
The world's richest man from 2010 to 2013 is hardly wasting his $50 billion wealth. The Mexican business magnate has lived in the same simple home for more than 40 years and hasn't bothered buying up real estate outside his home country. He also prefers to drive himself (followed by bodyguards).
T. Boone Pickens.
The businessman and energy investor is worth more than $1 billion but has no interest in shopping. When he does buy anything, he chooses a high-quality product that will last. He once confessed to Politico that he was still wearing a pair of loafers from 1957.
Chuck Feeney.
The co-founder of the DFS network of duty-free stores is a big spender only when it comes to charity, having given away most of his $7.5 billion. He calls himself a "shabby dresser" and reluctantly agreed to start flying first-class instead of coach when he turned 75.
David Cheriton.
Cheriton was an early investor in Google and other successful companies, leaving him with a net worth of about $3.5 billion. Still, the Stanford academic has lived in the same house for many years and reportedly prefers to spend time teaching and riding his bike rather than accumulate the trappings of wealth. He drives a Honda and a VW camper and even cuts his own hair.
Azim Premji.
The chairman of Wipro Ltd., Premji has about $15.9 billion in net worth, but employees of his Indian tech firm are asked to turn out lights when leaving their offices, and Premji himself has been known to monitor the number of toilet-paper rolls used by workers.
Amancio Ortega.
Founder of the trendy clothing chain Zara, Ortega is the world's second-richest person, worth some $71 billion. Despite his status, he's known for eating in the company cafeteria along with his employees. Outside work, he's more likely to be found raising chickens than attending galas or jet-setting to exotic locations.
David Green.
The founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby allegedly flies coach despite his $6.3 billion fortune and gives away much of his wealth, making him one of the biggest contributors to evangelical causes in America. In the event the company is sold, he's designated only 10 percent for the education and health of his family. The rest goes toward ministry work.
François-Henri Pinault.
The CEO of luxury goods maker Kering, which owns brands including Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, and Alexander McQueen, isn't extravagant when it comes to his car. Even with a $12 billion net worth, the French businessman (and husband of actress Salma Hayek) reportedly drives a Lexus hybrid SUV that currently starts at about $52,000 -- small change for a billionaire.
John Caudwell.
The founder of U.K. mobile phone retailer Phones4U was known to bike 14 miles to work each day and buy clothes off the rack instead of bespoke suits, despite being worth about $2.4 billion.
Steve Ballmer.
The former Microsoft CEO and current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers is estimated to be worth about $24.5 billion. He could buy any car he wants but reportedly drove a Ford Fusion hybrid, which sells for about $26,000 today (although most aren't personally delivered by the company CEO).
Bill Gates.
The Microsoft founder, worth $77.4 billion, once revealed at an event that he was wearing a $10 watch. Gates also was known for flying coach for many years, in accordance with company policy. He may have his own plane now, but he apparently still likes to wash dishes.
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