Diet Coke’s reputation for promoting productivity predates the US president, of course. Financier Bob Diamond, the former CEO of Barclays, was said to have dedicated fridges of Diet Coke in his office. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates once said: “I think if I stopped drinking it I’d have a little bit of withdrawal.”
The soft drink, originally marketed toward women, has become synonymous with hard-charging men from Elon Musk to the president himself.
An expert weighs in on Diet Coke and the health risks associated with regularly consuming the soda artificially sweetened with aspartame
was $540 now $319 for your first year Make up your own mind. Build robust opinions on the FT's trusted journalism. Offer available until 27 February 2025.