Top 10 books most recommended by billionaires

What do the world’s billionaires read?

Are their heads buried in business books that help them focus on nothing more than how to increase their net worth? They may focus on books related to entrepreneurship while shunning classic novels.

We wanted to find out. That’s why we’ve created this list of the best books recommended by billionaires and millionaires.

What the richest entrepreneurs recommend you read

A billionaire’s favorite books may not be what you expect them to be. While some recommend business-focused books that could prove useful to any startup company, others highlight some of the great fictional novels of our time as the best books to read.

The Fountainhead, recommended by Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban is one of the world’s most liberal-minded billionaires. That’s why it may be a shock that his favorite book is Ayn Rand’s famous The Fountainhead.

First published in 1943, The Fountainhead serves as Rand’s platform for talking about her theory of objectivism. The story focuses on an architect fighting against traditional standards to achieve what he wants.

Cuban loves the story because it motivates him to keep pushing in his work. However, he says it has a habit of making him too motivated, leading to him often putting the book down before he can finish it.

Sapiens, recommended by Richard Branson

Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson is far from the only billionaire who loves Sapiens. Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Reid Hoffman, and many others recommend this book as well.

Yuval Noah Harari’s book explores what makes human beings both so brilliant and so deadly. It explores what humanity is, taking the reader on a journey from the Stone Age to the modern Silicon Valley era.

The Intelligent Investor, recommended by Warren Buffett

Do you want to know how to win as an investor? Berkshire Hathaway owner Warren Buffet may be the best source of knowledge in that area. According to him, The Intelligent Investor is a must-read.

Published in 1949 and written by Benjamin Graham, the book explores the concept of value investing in the stock market. Buffet accidentally bought a copy when he was 19 and says he still uses the investment philosophy it taught him to this day.

Zero to One, recommended by Elon Musk

Elon Musk fascinates many people with his business adventures and the drama of his personal life. Though we now know him as the founder of SpaceX and Tesla, as well as the owner of Twitter, many don’t realize that he played an important role in the formation of PayPal.

He recommends Zero to One as a crucial book for young entrepreneurs. Written by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, the book serves as a set of guidelines for how to get startup businesses moving in the right direction.

The Remains of the Day, recommended by Jeff Bezos

Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos has a surprising favorite book. His novel of choice is Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day.

Narrated by an English butler named Stevens, the book focuses on the butler’s efforts to come to terms with important moments from his past. Bezos claims the book taught him about life and regret, marking it as a superb examination of human behavior.

The Ride of a Lifetime, recommended by Bill Gates

For those who want to enjoy the story of a man whose success was made in America, The Ride of a Lifetime is a fantastic choice.

Robert Iger’s book tells the story of his 15 years in charge at Disney, during which time he made Disney one of the world’s leading media companies. He talks about how he quintupled the company’s value and covers his purchases of Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Marvel.

Principles, recommended by Drew Houston

According to Forbes, both Drew Houston and Jack Dorsey recommend Ray Dalio’s famous book. They’re far from the only ones because Principles has sold over four million copies since its 2017 release.

Dalio uses the book to create a blueprint of how to succeed on Wall Street. He charts his work as a hedge fund manager and shares the principles he followed when leading Bridgewater Associates.

The Seat of the Soul, recommended by Oprah Winfrey

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a billionaire who regularly recommends books has an interesting personal favorite.

For Oprah, The Seat of the Soul stands out because of how it examines humanity through scientific and spiritual lenses. It teaches the reader how to reflect on themselves and become the most authentic versions they can be.

Winfrey says the book helped to transform her from a crowd-pleaser into somebody who could harness the power of intention.

The Black Swan, recommended by Vinod Khosla

Both Jeff Bezos and Vinod Khosla love Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s classic novel The Black Swan. The book charts what happened during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.

It’ll leave you stumped and asking, “Surely, you’re joking?” as Taleb demolishes many of the financial sector’s most beloved ideas.

The Aeneid, recommended by Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook’s founder takes a surprising journey into the classics with his pick. The book was written at some point between 28 and 19 BC and tells the tale of Aeneas. Virgil takes the reader on a wonderful journey that takes in the Trojan War and even plunges into the depths of the underworld.

According to Zuckerberg, he first read the book while studying Latin in high school. He says it holds no bounds in greatness or time.

Grab the titles recommended by billionaires from Speechify

Do you fantasize about becoming the next Steve Jobs or Sam Walton? Perhaps you want to know what inspired Google’s co-creators Sergey Brin and Larry Page to do such great work. In all cases, reading seems to play a crucial role in the success of billionaires.

At Speechify Audiobooks, we offer many classic audiobooks to inspire you to greatness. With the help of great authors, you may be able to overcome the innovator’s dilemma and become a business maverick.

We have over 60,000 audiobooks in our library. Discover how you can get your first book for just $1 at Speechify Audiobooks.

FAQ

What kind of books do billionaires read?

The reading habits of billionaires run the gamut from business books to classic novels. The books Sam Knight reads may be different from those Sheryl Sandberg enjoys.

Which book is best if you want to become a billionaire?

Any book in this article may help you become a billionaire. The most important thing is that the book inspires you to try new things.

Which billionaires have written books?

Many billionaires have written books. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight and Made in America by Sam Walton are two of many examples.

Do billionaires read every day?

While we can’t say for sure that all billionaires read every day, we know that billionaire investor Warren Buffet makes it a point to do so.

Do billionaires read more than the average person?

Business Insider claims that billionaires tend to work, exercise, and read more than the average person.