It has often been said that you can tell a lot about a person from the way they keep their home. The same can be said in regards to how one keeps their desk.

In this blog, we analyze the workspaces of some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs like Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, and Walt Disney. From the neat and tidy to the incredibly messy, learn how and why these spaces are used, gain inspiration for your own office layout, and discover ways to increase productivity!

Oprah Winfrey

Chairwoman and CEO, Harpo Production; Chairwoman, CEO and CCO of the Oprah Winfrey Network

Oprah is known for her classy appearance and a modest sense of style, and the same can be said regarding her desk. The space exudes a very well-kept and modern appearance while keeping a very classic look with a clean color scheme and vintage-feel wallpaper. Keeping your desk organized aids in maintaining a productive workplace as everything is easily accessible. The large window allows plenty of natural light to flood the office. Sunlight is a natural antidepressant, it is shown to greatly improve your mood and keep you energetic and motivated- traits that we all need, especially those in business.

Elon Musk

Founder, CEO and Lead Designer, SpaceX; CEO, and Product Architect, Tesla, Inc.; Co-Founder, Neuralink; Founder, The Boring Company; Co-Founder, Zip2; Founder of X.com (now PayPal); Co-Founder, OpenAI

As a technology entrepreneur, engineer, founder of SpaceX, and co-founder of Tesla, it’s a bit surprising to see how “normal” or traditional Elon Musk’s workspace is. Although Musk does spot a tad bit of clutter near his computer, for the most part, his desk remains tidy and clean. Akin to Oprah, Musk also has a large window to allow some natural light inside. The most notable quality, however, is Musk’s unique desk shape. Although L-shaped desks are far from special, Musk takes this a step further, almost creating an oval-shaped desk, practically encasing himself within (which is painfully appropriate, seeing as Musk routinely sleeps under a desk in a Tesla conference room. Read about that here). This, as you can see in the photo above, is for conference purposes. The minimalist color scheme, white and beige with a splash of red, keeps the workspace looking clean and modern.

Steve Jobs

Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, Apple Inc.; Primary Investor and Chairman, Pixar; Founder, Chairman and CEO, NeXT; Board Member of: The Walt Disney Company, Apple Inc.

It has been said that a messy desk is a sign of a genius, and this couldn’t be truer in regard to Steve Jobs. Pictured here in his home office, we can see papers upon papers, sliding across the desk and spilling onto the keys, a cramped bookshelf highlighting the wall. Jobs appeared to be unbothered, however. As long as he could navigate that mess, that’s all that really mattered.

J.K. Rowling

Author, Film Producer, Television Producer, Screenwriter, and Philanthropist

**Notable works: Harry Potter series**

This desk is the epitome of a minimalist. It contains the absolute bare minimum- a lamp, a binder, and a telephone are amongst the extremely few articles to fill up the space. J. K. Rowling proves a desk doesn’t have to be cluttered to be useful; sometimes all you need is a piece of paper and a pen.

Mark Zuckerberg

Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Facebook; Co-Founder and Board Member, Breakthrough Starshot

Although a controversial figure at the moment, we cannot gloss over Mark Zuckerberg’s incredible accomplishments, as well as his eccentric desk. From the tangle of wires hanging below his desk to the stack of books and graffiti-adorned desktop, Zuckerberg certainly has an interesting setup, to say the least. One notable thing about the space is its open floor plan, where Zuckerberg sits among his employees and co-workers, instead of occupying his own space like the others mentioned on this list. The reasoning: for better communication and collaboration.

Arianna Huffington

Founder, The Huffington Post; Founder and CEO, Thrive Global

Arianna Huffington’s office is quite dark and old-fashioned. The wood desk and patterned chair initially give off the appearance of a dated office space, which then contrasts the mounted flat screen and laptop. We can see clutter on the desk, with a mess of books stacked on top of each other and miscellaneous objects lining the wall. In terms of lighting, there is slim to none. A key feature of this space is the glass-lined wall. A reoccurring theme throughout this list, it’s reasoning typically being for communication purposes: no one is “hidden away” from each other.

Walt Disney

American entrepreneur, animator, voice actor, and film producer

Before laptops and computers, all cartoon movies had to be hand drawn. Enter Walt Disney: a pioneer of the American animation industry, now a household name, Disney’s animation desk reflects the dedication that went into his work. The slanted workspace allows for more comfort when writing or drawing. Multiple sketches and small figurines are seen occupying Disney’s space, allowing for ease of access when looking back at references. At his office suite, Disney’s desk is clutter-free, every item has its place. The photos on the wall and the small figurines lining shelves in the back give Disney’s office a homey touch. The white walls not only give the illusion of a larger space but also keep the office looking clean. The contrast between his office space and his workspace is quite amusing but essentially shows it is possible to be neat yet messy.

Evan Spiegel

Co-Founder and CEO, Snap Inc.

The youngest entrepreneur mentioned on this list, Evan Spiegel become a billionaire at only 24 years old. A go-getter with a workspace to match, Spiegel’s office is perhaps the most creative we’ve seen. Instead of four traditional white walls, Spiegel goes for an accent of bright turquoise, paired with wood paneling. Cool colors are attributed to a calming effect that aids in focus and balance, making them ideal for creative spaces. However, too much color can create an uncomfortable, vibrating, or blinding effect, which is why this space is an ideal example of how to do color right: not too vibrant, and with plenty of open, white space to counteract said color.

In conclusion, there is a multitude of ways to decorate your workspace, from colors to furniture, kitschy knick-knacks, and art pieces. We hope this list left you feeling inspired to potentially change up your office

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