23 successful people who wake up incredibly early

Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla

They say the early bird catches the worm, and research suggests there might be some truth to the old adage.

Waking up with (or before) the sun allows executives like Apple CEO Tim Cook and "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary to get a head start on the day, knocking out tasks before the rest of the world has rolled out of bed.

Those "extra" hours with less distractions and fresh energy also give them a chance to do some creative thinking, fit in a workout, and spend time with family. And it should be noted that waking up early doesn't necessarily mean losing sleep - some of the smartest leaders understand that being effective means getting a full night's sleep.

Here are 23 early risers who may convince you never to hit snooze again.

Max Nisen, Aaron Taube, and Rachel Sugar contributed to earlier versions of this article.