Anyone who manages a global corporation has a busy schedule. Keeping track of time means you need a watch that reliably does its job day in and day out. It’s therefore hardly surprising that the managing directors of well-known companies focus primarily on tradition and precision rather than complications when it comes to their watches. From a high-priced Patek Philippe to the budget G-Shock, everything can be spotted at the executive office.
What watches do successful CEOs wear?
Whether business casual or prestigious luxury: who wears which watch depends heavily on the generation and the business environment. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most influential CEOs and their watches.
Popular classics: Rolex, Breitling, and Omega
Rolex, Breitling, and Omega Are Always A Winner. These three classics of the watch industry are so well established on the market that you can never go wrong with them. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, for example, swears by the Breitling Aerospace, which is equipped with both digital and analog displays. Breitling is also donned by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who is often seen wearing a Colt Automatic.
On the other hand, Jerome Powell, President of the US Federal Reserve, prefers the classic diver’s watch: the Rolex Submariner. James P. Gorman is another CEO with a Rolex on his wrist. The former managing director and current honorary chairman of Morgan Stanley’s supervisory board usually wears a Rolex Daytona. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is often seen wearing a Ulysse Nardin Dual Time. For his trip into space in his Blue Origin spaceship, however, he wore an Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, staying true to the orbital occasion.
Wall Street and Global Corporations: Luxury Is A Must
The financial sector loves its prestigious luxury goods. Michael Corbat, former CEO of Citigroup, for example, owns a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Perpetual Calendar, a Girard-Perregaux World Time, and a Rolex Yacht-Master. Financial mogul Warren Buffett, on the other hand, has been loyal to his Rolex Day-Date since the 1980s.
The CEOs of global corporations enjoy their high-quality timepieces: Toyota’s chairman of the supervisory board Akio Toyoda usually wears a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5119G, which makes a certain statement with a market value of around $18,000. However, he also likes to reach for Japanese-made timepieces, such as the Grand Seiko SBGW283. But not every CEO has to express his or her status with an expensive watch. David M. Solomon from Goldman Sachs, for example, is often seen wearing a Shinola Runwell Chrono, which can be purchased on Chrono24 in unworn condition for just under $400. James Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, the largest bank in the United States, even forgoes watches and other jewelry altogether. Elon Musk also likes to be close to the people and usually appears without a watch. Nevertheless, his collection is quite considerable, and includes watches from Richard Mille, Rolex, TAG Heuer, and Omega.
Silicon Valley: New Money, Old Values
The new generation of CEOs in Silicon Valley usually tries to go with a more casual look. However, the art of Swiss watchmaking is also firmly established here. Jeff Weiner, who holds the position of Executive Chairman at LinkedIn, has often been seen wearing a classic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg also only puts Swiss brand quality on his wrist. From Patek Philippe to F.P. Journe, H. Moser & Cie., and De Bethune, to Jaeger-LeCoultre, the tech billionaire wears everything that is good and, above all, expensive. At the beginning of 2025, Zuckerberg appeared with a Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1, which is priced at a minimum of $900,000. In the IT sector, on the other hand, people are more modest. Apple CEO Tim Cook opts for a modern smartwatch and wears – take a wild guess – the Apple Watch. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, on the other hand, usually relies on simple quartz watches such as the Casio Duro, which is available from as little as 40 bucks.
