Being in the C-suite is a high-pressure job with long hours, responsibilities to the board, and intense scrutiny. But what is it like to be a top executive when you’re off the clock?
Fortune’s series, The Good Life, shows how up-and-coming leaders spend their time and money outside of work.
Today we meet the two-time Grand Slam tennis champion, Coco Gauff.
Whether you’ve watched her recently shred the courts in the U.S. Open, or you’ve been following her string of career achievements for years, Gauff is one of the biggest names in tennis. The world tuned into her talent when she was only 15 years old—one year into her professional career—as Gauff made history as the youngest to qualify for Wimbledon’s main draw.
Now at the age of 21, the professional athlete hasn’t quit breaking records and taking names. In 2023, she became the youngest American to win the U.S. Open singles title since Serena Williams in 1999; she’d go on to claim the 2025 French Open singles title, her second Grand Slam singles victory. Gauff has also been crowned the world number one ranking in doubles, and world number two ranking in singles, according to the Women’s Tennis Association. Not to mention the honor of being the U.S. flag bearer for the Paris 2024 Olympics—making Gauff the youngest American flag bearer in U.S. Olympic history.
But beyond the court, the Florida native has expanded her empire into business. The Gen Z tennis star and entrepreneur has her own company, Coco Gauff Enterprise, to manage her business partnerships.
This April, Gauff announced her venture on Instagram, saying how it would mirror “[her] passion for making an impact—not just in tennis but in business, philanthropy and beyond.” The business is powered by WME, a talent representation entity that controls IMG and represents sports icons like Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek, and Gauff’s childhood role model Serena Williams. Some of her main brand sponsors include New Balance, Rolex, and sports equipment business Head.
I’ve actually never been on a real holiday since I was probably 16…My dream holiday would be somewhere tropical, just sitting around doing nothing but drinking piña coladas and doing water sports.
Just in time for the U.S. Open this year, Gauff also launched her own signature protein smoothie with $3.3 billion Naked Juices, Coco’s Protein Pineapple Orange smoothie, inspired by her fruit salad that went viral at the competition two years ago.
To wind down from her electric tennis career and business forays, Gauff journals and treats herself with $3,000 shopping sprees. The multimillionaire also likes to balance luxury with the simple pleasures; she can’t live without her $2 monthly subscription to Trivia Crack and loves to shop on second-hand clothes website Depop. Gauff hasn’t taken a real vacation since she was 16—but dreams of sipping piña coladas and playing water sports.
This interview has been condensed for clarity.
The finances
Fortune: What’s been the best investment you’ve ever bought?
My house was probably the best investment because I feel like that’s something that will only appreciate in value and it’s in my hometown. I can see myself living there for the rest of my life—but who knows. If I don’t end up there forever, I can pass it down to my future kids, my brothers, or someone in my family.
What are your living arrangements like: Swanky apartment in the city or suburban sprawling?
When I’m not traveling for tournaments, I’m back home in Delray Beach, Florida. It’s where I grew up, and I’ve always loved the laid-back vibe—sunshine, palm trees, and space to just breathe. My house is close to my family, which means everything to me. I don’t have a traditional office unless you count the tennis court, but being home gives me time to recharge, stay grounded, and catch up with friends and family.
How do you commute to work?
When I’m home, I usually practice at the court at my parents house which isn’t too far away, so after I wake up I usually grab my kit and a Naked smoothie and drive to their house, listen to music in the car, and eat something small there before I get going.
Do you invest in shares?
In the investing world, I’m still very new. I really just go off the recommendation of my dad. He has a financial advisor he talks to, and then he’ll ask for my input, but I’m very much in the learning phase. If it’s something I absolutely don’t believe in—like a specific company—then I’m like, “Yeah… no thanks.” But most of the time, I trust him. He had a lot of experience at his job when he was working and learned a lot about the market, so I trust his opinion.
What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Well, 20 was only a year ago for me, so I’m still figuring it out! But if I had to give myself advice, I’d say don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure you’re intentional about collaborating with people and brands that truly align with who you are—it makes everything feel more meaningful, authentic and way more fun.
I’ve actually never been on a real holiday since I was probably 16…My dream holiday would be somewhere tropical, just sitting around doing nothing but drinking piña coladas and doing water sports.
The necessities
What’s the one subscription you can’t live without?
I would say Netflix, but I actually don’t pay for my Netflix subscription—I still use my parents’ account. One that I do pay for is a game called Trivia Crack. I can’t stand when there are ads popping up while I’m trying to play, so it probably costs me like $2 a month which doesn’t quite set me back.
Where’s your go-to wristwatch from?
It’s a Rolex—the Oyster Perpetual. I’ve had it since I was 15 years old, and I love it. It’s my everyday watch. It has some wear and tear, but I like to think of it as being loved.
What about eating on the go?
I don’t really ever eat out for lunch. When I do, I just Uber Eats and order lunch. I practice at my parents’ house because that’s where the court is, and my parents will often cook lunch. I don’t really eat much during practice unless it’s a Naked smoothie, fruit, or a protein bar. I usually try to get a lot of protein—I like my lunches to be protein, starch, and vegetables. Typically, it’s chicken, rice, and vegetables; chicken, pasta, and vegetables; or fish, potatoes, and vegetables. It’s always some variation of that.
How often in a week do you dine out versus cook at home?
When I’m home, I order delivery for lunch. For dinner, either my grandparents—who live 15 minutes away—are cooking, or my parents are. When nobody’s cooking, I’ll try a TikTok recipe and cook for myself. I’m not a cook—my dad and grandparents are expert cooks—but I’m learning as I go.
Where do you shop for your work wardrobe?
My work wardrobe consists of basically only tennis clothes—so New Balance. My favorite brands right now are definitely New Balance, MiuMiu, and honestly, Depop. It’s not a brand, but it’s an app where people can resell things, kind of like an online thrift store. You can find some really unique pieces on there.
What would be a typical work outfit for you?
Depends on the day! If I’m practicing or playing, I love my New Balance gear—it’s comfortable, performance-driven, and really aligns with the essence of my street style. For meetings or when I’m filming brand content like with Naked, I like to mix sporty and chic like New Balance sneakers paired with cargo pants or something elevated, like a Miu Miu blazer or cropped jacket. I love blending sporty vibes with high-fashion touches that show off my personality, whether it’s bold colors or fun accessories.
The treats
Are you the proud owner of any futuristic gadgets?
I own the Meta glasses, and I was able to try them before they were ever out because I did a brand shoot for Ray-Ban and they gave me some glasses. I don’t use them that much because I don’t content-create often, but when I do, it’s really cool to get that perspective. I can also play music in them, which is the reason I liked them the most.
I also own an Oculus—the virtual reality headset. I don’t use it a lot because I don’t travel with it, but when I’m home, sometimes I’ll pop in and play a game just to do something different.
How do you unwind from the top job?
I prioritize journaling and have been trying to add more mindfulness habits to my repertoire so that I continue to be at my best. I’ve been journaling since I was little, so I find it helps me get my thoughts out especially when things get overwhelming.
What’s the best bonus treat you’ve bought yourself?
Ooh, that’s a good question. Honestly, just clothes. I’ll give myself like a $3,000 limit and online shop until my fingers fall off. So I would say clothes or a bag. I think bags are a good thing to invest in—although when they’re worn, they depreciate a little, it’s never to the point where you can’t get some of your money back if you decide to resell them.
Take us on holiday with you, what’s next on your vacation list?
I’ve actually never been on a real holiday since I was probably 16. I went to the Bahamas with my best friend and my parents, and that was the last time. Usually when the off-season rolls around, I’m so tired of traveling that I just want to lay in bed. My dream holiday would be somewhere tropical, just sitting around doing nothing but drinking piña coladas and doing water sports. I’d probably want to go to Jamaica.
How many days of annual leave do you take a year?
That’s a tough question—I don’t have a number. If I do well in a tournament, I’ll take maybe 5–7 days off. If I do a big tournament like a Grand Slam and win, I’ll take a week off. Sometimes I go three or four weeks without taking a day off, and sometimes I get one or two days off per week for three or four weeks. It’s very results-dependent in tennis.
If you don’t like the price of Bitcoin, wait five minutes, and it will change. The major cryptocurrency’s volatility has been on full display to start the year, this time dipping about 7% since last week to its current price of just under $90,000 as of mid-day Tuesday.
Other cryptocurrencies have also slid. Ethereum is down 11% in the last six days to its current price of about $3,000, and Solana is down about 14% during that time to its price of about $127.
The dip comes as President Donald Trump threatened European nations with tariffs as they pushed back against his plans to take over Greenland, causing markets to scramble. Meanwhile, crypto markets faced an additional headwind as key legislation for the industry, known as the Clarity Act, became stalled after industry giant Coinbase unexpectedly withdrew its support late last week.
“President Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Europe has put Bitcoin under pressure,” said Russell Thompson, chief investment officer at Hilbert Group. “The postponement of the Clarity Act in the Senate committee mainly due to concerns from Coinbase eliminated a large amount of positive sentiment in the market.”
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong objected to the Clarity Act primarily on grounds that crypto owners would not be able to earn yield from stablecoins. The new uncertainty over the bill, which many assumed was on a smooth path towards a Presidential signature, has shaken the price not just of crypto assets but also the share price of companies exposed to digital assets.
It’s uncertain whether the current headwinds will fade anytime soon. Trump has made his intentions of taking control of Greenland clear. When a group of European nations expressed solidarity with the Danish, he threatened those countries with tariffs, saying he would not back down until Greenland was purchased. Bitcoin and other risk assets subsequently fell, along with major stock indices, while the price of gold rose.
It’s not all gloom and doom for crypto, at least according to some analysts, who view Bitcoin’s correlation with macroeconomic forces as confirmation that digital assets have finally gone mainstream.
“Bitcoin’s reactivity is another sign of its increasing integration with broader macroeconomic forces, signaling maturation rather than fragility, even as short-term volatility continues,” said Beto Aparicio, senior manager of strategic finance at Offchain Labs.
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President Trump lives on deals: “That’s what I do—I do deals,” he once told Bob Woodward. On the one-year anniversary of his second presidency, he’s pushing hard to make his biggest, most disruptive deal ever, one that would bring Greenland under the control of the U.S.—and the global business community is still scrambling to adapt to his approach. Here are nine of Trump’s most unorthodox deals from the past year.
Nine deals that shook the business world
April 2, 2025: Reciprocal tariffs
Trump imposes “reciprocal tariffs” on 57 countries, with each tariff understood as an opening bid in a negotiation. Several countries have since made deals. The one-on-one negotiations, unlike the multilateral system of the past 80 years, can be chaotic for companies and economies
June 13: U.S. Steel “Golden Share”
In return for allowing Nippon Steel to buy U.S. Steel, Trump requires that the U.S. receive several powers over the company, including total power over all the board’s independent directors and vetoes over locations of offices and factories.
July 10: MP Materials
The U.S. pays $400 million for a large equity share in MP and signs a contract to buy all of MP’s rare earth magnets for 10 years. The reason for the equity stake was not disclosed.
Trump reverses the U.S. ban on selling Nvidia H20 chips to China in exchange for Nvidia paying the U.S. 15% of the revenue.
July 23: Columbia University
LYA CATTEL/Getty Images
The Trump administration restores $400 million of canceled federal research funding for the university under an unprecedented multipoint deal. For example, Columbia must supply data to the federal government for all applicants, broken down by race, “color,” GPA, and standardized test performance. A few other schools later make similar deals.
August 6: Apple
Bonnie Cash—UPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images
At a public appearance with Trump, CEO Tim Cook announces Apple will invest an additional $100 billion in the U.S. over four years; Trump announces Apple will be exempt from a planned tariff on imported chips that would have doubled the price of iPhones in the U.S.
August 22: Intel
Justin Sullivan—Getty Images
Intel trades the U.S. government a 9.9% equity stake in exchange for $8.9 billion that might already be owed to Intel under the CHIPS and Science Act. The deal is unusual because the company was not in immediate danger or significantly affecting the economy.
December 8: Nvidia, Part 2:
Trump reverses the U.S. ban on selling powerful Nvidia H200 chips in exchange for Nvidia paying the U.S. 25% of the revenue. Both Nvidia deals are unusual because the payments to the U.S., based on exports, appear to be forbidden by the Constitution.
December 19: Pharma
Alex Wong—Getty Images
Nine pharmaceutical companies make deals with Trump that are intended to lower drug prices. This is unusual because Trump negotiated separate deals with each company, and the terms have not been released.
All eyes this week will be watching President Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the president has hinted he’ll announce some high-stakes agreements. Expect the unexpected.
A version of this piece appears in the February/March 2026 issue of Fortune.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been leading the charge on artificial intelligence (AI) for years, owing to his long alliance with OpenAI’s Sam Altman and the groundbreaking work from his own AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, particularly with the Copilot tool. But Nadella has not spoken often about the fears that rattled Wall Street for much of the back half of 2025: whether AI is a bubble.
At the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Nadella sat for a conversation with the Forum’s interim co-chair, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, explaining that if AI growth spawns solely from investment, then that could be signs of a bubble. “A telltale sign of if it’s a bubble would be if all we are talking about are the tech firms,” Nadella said. “If all we talk about is what’s happening to the technology side then it’s just purely supply side.”
However, Nadella offers a fix to that productivity dilemma, calling on business leaders to adopt a new approach to knowledge work by shifting workflows to match the structural design of AI. “The mindset we as leaders should have is, we need to think about changing the work—the workflow—with the technology.”
Growing pains
This change is not wholly unprecedented, as Nadella pointed out, comparing the current moment to that of the 1980s, when computing revolutionized the workplace and opened up new opportunities for growth and productivity and created a new class of workers. “We invented this entire class of thing called knowledge work, where people started really using computers to amplify what we were trying to achieve using software,” he said. “I think in the context of AI, that same thing is going to happen.”
Nadella argues that AI creates a “complete inversion” of how information moves through a business, replacing slow, hierarchical processes with a view that forces leaders to rethink their organizational structures. “We have an organization, we have departments, we have these specializations, and the information trickles up,” Nadella said. “No, no, it’s actually it flattens the entire information flow. So once you start having that, you have to redesign structurally.”
That shift may be harder for some Fortune 500 companies as structural changes could be accompanied by uncomfortable growing pains. Nadella says that leaner companies will be able to more easily adopt AI because their organizational structures are fresher and more malleable. On the other hand, large companies could take time to adopt new workflows.
Despite widespread adoption of AI, the 29th edition of PwC’s global CEO survey found that only 10% to 12% of companies reported seeing benefits of the technology on the revenue or cost side, while 56% reported getting nothing out of it. It follows up on an even more pessimistic finding about AI returns from August 2025: that 95% of generative AI pilots were failing.
PwC Global Chairman Mohamed Kande spoke to Fortune’s Diane Brady in Davos about the finding that many CEOs are cautious and lack confidence at this stage of the AI adoption cycle. “Somehow AI moves so fast … that people forgot that the adoption of technology, you have to go to the basics,” he explained, with the survey finding that the companies seeing benefits from AI are “putting the foundations in place.” It’s about execution more than it is about technology, he argued, and good management and leadership are really going to matter going forward.
“For large organizations,” Nadella told Fink, “there’s a fundamental challenge: Unless and until your rate of change keeps up with what is possible, you’re going to get schooled by someone small being able to achieve scale because of these tools.”
New entrants have the advantage of “starting fresh” and constructing workflows around AI capabilities, while larger firms will have to contend with the flattening effect AI has on entire departments and specializations.
To be sure, Nadella says that large organizations have kept an upper hand, especially when it comes to relationships, data, and know-how. However, he maintains that firms must understand how to use those resources to their advantage to change management style, then that could pose a major roadblock.
“The bottom line is, if you don’t translate that with a new production function, then you really will be stuck,” he said.
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