Telegram CEO's Ascetic Lifestyle: Two Decades Without Sugar, Alcohol

Durov has sustained a strict lifestyle for more than two decades, eliminating alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and refined sugars from his diet entirely. The approach forms part of a broader commitment to health optimization that the technology entrepreneur credits with supporting both his professional performance and personal well-being.

His daily physical regimen is notably demanding. The Telegram CEO performs 300 push-ups and 300 squats as part of his standard workout routine, underscoring his dedication to cardiovascular and muscular fitness. Beyond structured exercise, Durov practices intermittent fasting, a dietary approach that involves eating within designated time windows.

Mental wellness occupies equal prominence in his regimen. Durov deliberately limits his engagement with digital devices and technology to create space for mindfulness practices and reflection away from constant connectivity. This conscious separation from screens and notifications contrasts sharply with the always-on culture typical among technology sector leaders.

The convergence of these practices—physical discipline, dietary restraint, and digital detachment—reflects Durov's philosophy that comprehensive well-being requires attention across multiple dimensions of health. His sustained commitment to this lifestyle has become notable in Silicon Valley and technology industry circles, where such ascetic approaches remain uncommon among chief executives.