I did some recreational all-nighters with friends as a kid, including one time staying up over 40 hours. I have no idea how, as there's no way I could do that now -- or even be willing to try. I did another only because I couldn't sleep on the plane to France, so effectively lost a night.

I never was forced to pull an all-nighter for school/work until law school, where I did it twice for different projects/assignments. It is unlikely to ever happen again.