Chobani CEO’s Five Years Sleeping on Yogurt Factory Floor, Not a Bar in Sight
Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani’s Turkish billionaire boss, decided to DIY launch Greek yogurt in 2005 from New Berlin, NY—a town so lively it’s basically a cow convention with zero bars or restaurants. For FIVE years he basically lived on factory floors, probably perfecting that authentic ‘I smell like dairy’ CEO vibe. When building his Idaho factory, he didn't leave for six to seven months, probably because who needs sunlight when you’ve got cultures of live bacteria? Ulukaya insists these grueling sacrifices are necessary unless you want your billion-dollar creamy empire to sour. Joining this exclusive floor-sleeping club: Elon Musk, who calls parking lots inside Tesla factories his 'primary residences' and reportedly smells 'like dust.' Xiaomi’s Lei Jun even posted a mattress snap from the factory floor to prove he’s not snoozing on a tropical island Mai Tai. Sorry, Chobani reps—no comment means you’re either on the floor too or stuck in the yogurt aisle.
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If sleeping on factory floors was an Olympic sport, Hamdi Ulukaya would have more gold than Elon Musk’s 'dusty' Tesla naps. Next level CEO grind or certified smell test from the yogurt barn? Hard to tell.
Chobani’s CEO sleeps on the factory floor like Elon Musk, but at least yogurt smells good, dust doesn’t.
Five years on a yogurt factory floor means Ulukaya is the real MVP of ‘I’m too broke for an Airbnb’ CEO stories.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 10/29/2025 | Author: Aditi Bharade
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