American billionaire and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban has made a surprising revelation about his communication habits: he completely avoids phone calls. In a recent TikTok video for Masterclass, the investor and Dallas Mavericks owner stated he prefers to engage exclusively via email, a method he believes yields better results.
The "No Calls" Philosophy: Why Email Wins for Cuban
Mark Cuban's stance is clear and unwavering. He does not take phone calls. As reported by Fortune, Cuban explained his reasoning in the video, emphasising that email allows him to craft more thoughtful and comprehensive responses. "I’ll engage with you via email, and trust me, I do this all the time. I’m really good at it," he said.
For someone with a notoriously busy schedule, email serves a critical practical purpose. It prevents him from forgetting important details and provides a searchable record of all conversations. "I’ll give you more comprehensive responses than if it was via phone," Cuban noted, highlighting efficiency as a key driver behind his choice.
A Boring Billionaire Routine: Emails, Workouts, Repeat
In a separate email interview with Business Insider, Cuban peeled back the curtain on his daily life, describing it as "not at all exciting" and "quite boring." His day is meticulously structured around his inbox.
"I read and respond to emails," he wrote. "I work out. I read and respond to emails. I do a couple Zooms. Then I read and respond to emails. Then I eat dinner. Then I read and respond to emails." His morning starts with decaf coffee and a cookie, followed by taking his daughter to school and a workout at Life Time Fitness.
Despite receiving around 700 emails a day, Cuban refuses to hire an assistant to manage the deluge, claiming it would "slow things down." He manages this flow using three phones—two Android and one iPhone—and employs Gmail's auto-replies for 10–20% of messages. A key to his focus is keeping his unread email count under 20.
"I'd rather get 700 to 1,000 emails than sit in long, boring meetings," the billionaire told Business Insider. This connection is nearly constant; he rarely disconnects from email, even on vacation, stating, "It’s faster to just get it out of the way." Only family events or emergencies pull him away for more than a few hours.
Echoing a Generational Shift: Beyond Cuban to Gen Z
Cuban's preference is not an isolated quirk but reflects a broader trend, particularly among younger generations. A 2024 study found that nearly a quarter of Gen Zers avoid answering phone calls entirely. Their reasons, however, often differ from Cuban's efficiency-driven approach.
For many in Gen Z, phone avoidance is linked to telephobia—a form of phone anxiety that can trigger physical symptoms like nausea, shaking, and difficulty concentrating. While Cuban leverages email for control and productivity, a significant segment of the population shuns calls due to social anxiety, making digital asynchronous communication like text and email the default.
While some may find his email-centric routine monotonous, Mark Cuban views it as a strategic advantage. It allows him to process vast amounts of information, maintain clear records, and control his time in a way spontaneous phone conversations do not. His approach underscores a modern reality where written, searchable communication is often prized over traditional voice calls, both for billionaires and the general public alike.
