1. Meg Whitman
Net worth: $2.8 billion
While some outside of the United States may not have heard of Margaret Cushing Whitman, she is in fact a prominent former business executive and the current US ambassador to Kenya. Whitman served as president and CEO of eBay from 1998 to 2008 — what some might consider the golden days of the online auction site. During her time at eBay, she oversaw the company’s growth from a small start-up to a multi–billion–dollar corporation. She was also involved in several high–profile acquisitions, which included PayPal, Skype, and StubHub. After eBay, Whitman moved to Hewlett Packard Enterprise from 2011 to 2018. As its CEO, Whitman oversaw the company’s split from Hewlett–Packard and its subsequent restructuring.
The New York Times rated Whitman as the candidate most likely to become the first female president of the United States of America. While this has yet to happen, it worth noting that Whitman was part of two Mitt Romney presidential campaigns and supported Hillary Clinton during her presidential race in 2016. A philanthropist at heart, Whitman serves as a board member for various organizations such as Teach for America, the Harvard Business School, and the World Wildlife Fund.
Book that she recommends: Playing to win – how strategy really works
Authors: Lafley and Roger L. Martin Co–authored by A.G. Lafley, the former CEO of Procter & Gamble, and management consultant Roger L. Martin
What it’s about: Playing to Win aims to provide insight into on how companies can develop winning strategies by focusing on five key elements: a winning aspiration, where to play, how to win, core capabilities, and management systems.
Why she recommends it: Whitman previously stated that she embraced Playing to Win because it is “easily understandable and actually forces the tough trade–offs. This notion of where to play, what countries, what market segments, what products, and where not to play because we can’t do it profitably, has been a very good discipline.”
IN A NUTSHELL: Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works outlines a framework
for developing effective business strategies based on their experiences working
with successful companies.
2. Bill Gates
Net worth: $106.8 billion
William Henry Gates III is one of world’s most famous of billionaires, having held the position of the world’s richest man from 1995 to 2017. Born in 1955, his claim to fame stems as being the co–founder of Microsoft. In the 1980s and 1990s, Microsoft’s Windows
operating system became the dominant platform for personal computers, and the company’s software products such as Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer became ubiquitous in offices and homes around the world. Having stepped down as CEO in 2000, Gates remains a part of Microsoft’s board and continues to act as one of its tech advisors.
Today, Gates is perhaps best known for his philanthropic work that he does through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which he founded with his wife in 2000. The foundation focuses on global health and development, education, and improving opportunities for women and girls. Gates is also an advocate for climate change, and has, on numerous occasions spoken on the need for increased investment in renewable energy and other clean technologies.
Book that he recommends: Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World — and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Authors: Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, and Anna Rosling Rönnlund
What it’s about: Factfulness aims to challenge our preconceptions about the world and how it is changing. In the book, Rosling argues that our understanding of the world is often shaped by outdated or incomplete information, which leads to a distorted view of reality. In an effort to combat this, Rosling explores ten common biases that influence our thinking. These include the negativity bias, the straight–line bias, and the size bias.
Why he recommends it: “The framework Hans enunciates is one that took me decades of working in global development to create for myself, and I could have never expressed it in such a clear way. I’m going to try to use this model moving forward,” Gates said of the book.
IN A NUTSHELL: Factfulness is an inspiring book that challenges our assumptions about the world and encourages us to take a more nuanced and evidence– based view of the challenges and opportunities facing us today
3. Jeff Bezos
Net worth: $121.8 billion
Born in 1964, Jeffrey Preston Bezos is the man responsible for revolutionizing the way that we and millions of others shop — due in part to being the founder of Amazon.com. Known for his innovative thinking, focus on customer satisfaction, and willingness to take risks — Bezos started his Amazon journey with book deliveries before moving into areas such as e–commerce, video streaming, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. Since stepping down as Amazon’s CEO in 2021, the 59–year–old has focused his attention on his space exploration company, Blue Origin. Bezos is also the owner of American daily newspaper, The Washington Post.
The book that he recommends: Made in America
Authors: Sam Walton and John Huey
What it’s about: Published in 1992, shortly before Walton’s death (for those unaware, Walton was the founder of American multinational retail corporation, Walmart), the book provides a first–hand account of his experiences in building the largest retailer in the world. In the book, Walton shares his philosophy on business, management, and the importance of customer service. He also discusses the challenges that he faced in his personal life, including financial struggles and health issues. Several key themes explored throughout the book also include the importance of hard work, innovation, and taking calculated business risks.
Why he recommends it: The most notable of themes, many believe, is the importance of focusing on the customer — Walton believed that by listening to the needs and wants of his customers, he could build a successful business that would continue to grow over time — a dream that today, has very much become a reality.
IN A NUTSHELL: Made in America is an informative read for anyone interested in business, management, or entrepreneurship. Walton’s passion for his work and his commitment to his customers and employees are explored on each page, making it a must–read for anyone looking to learn from one of the most successful business leaders of all time.
4. Warren Buffet
Net worth: $105.8 billion
Known as the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Edward Buffett is one of the most recognized and respected businessmen of our time. Born in 1930, Buffett’s first investment inspiration came when he read the book One Thousand Ways to Make $1000 at the tender age of seven.
The early days of his career saw him sell chewing gum and Coco–Cola at his grandfather’s convenience store to later becoming one of the wealthiest men in the world, presiding over Berkshire Hathaway as its chairman and CEO. Under his leadership, the conglomerate holding company that owns many subsidiary companies, such as GEICO, Dairy Queen, and Duracell, has become one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a market capitalization of over $600bn.
Business aside, Buffet is famous for his down–to–earth personality, frugal lifestyle, and commitment to giving back. In 2010, he and Bill Gates launched The Giving Pledge, which encourages billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
Book that he recommends: The Intelligent Investor
Author: Benjamin Graham
What it’s about: Published in 1949, The Intelligent Investor focuses on the philosophy of “value investing”, which in essence lies with identifying the real intrinsic value of stocks and purchasing the same at an undervalued stock price.
The book aims to educate its readers on how to evaluate a stock’s investment opportunity, as well as better understand the fundamentals that make a business strong, and therefore worth investing in. The book also discusses the importance of risk management and the need for a margin of safety in all investments.
Why he recommends it: “Graham’s book gave me a bedrock philosophy on investing that made sense. He taught me how to think about the stock market. He taught me that the market was there not to instruct me, but to serve me,” Buffet once declared.
IN A NUTSHELL: The Intelligent Investor is a highly influential book that has had a significant impact on the field of value investing. Many successful investors, such as Warren Buffett, have credited Graham’s ideas and principles as a key factor in their success.
5. Oprah Winfrey
Net worth: $2.5 billion
Quite simply the most famous talk show host of all time, Winfrey was once the world’s only black billionaire. Today, with a net worth $2.5bn, she is the definition of the American dream. Oprah Gail Winfrey, a native of Kosciusko, Mississippi was born in 1954. Her accolades range from the Oprah Winfrey Show, which ran for 25 years, to being a television producer, actress, author, and media mogul — having formed the Oprah Winfrey Network, which since its launch in 2011, is now worth over $65bn.
Throughout her career, Winfrey has been recognized for her philanthropy and activism, particularly in the areas of education and women’s issues. She has donated millions of dollars to various charities and organizations, and in 2013, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
Book that she recommends: The Seat of the Soul
Author: Gary Zukav
What it’s about: Published in 1989, The Seat of the Soul is a spiritual guide that explores the concept of the soul and its role in shaping human experiences and relationships. In the book, Zukav argues that the human soul is the source of authentic power and that by understanding and connecting with it, we can transform our lives and the world around us. Zukav uses a combination of science, psychology, and spirituality to explore the nature of the soul and its relationship to consciousness, intention, and morality.
The book’s additional themes include spiritual practices and beliefs, such as karma, reincarnation, and the power of intention. It also explores the importance of emotional awareness, compassion, and forgiveness in cultivating a deeper connection with the soul and creating a more fulfilling life.
Why she recommends it: Winfrey has on numerous occasions stated that the book impacted not only the way she ran her show, but the way she lived her personal life. “I started to make my decisions on what I intended, not just on what someone else wanted me to do or what I thought would please them,” she explained.
IN A NUTSHELL: The Seat of the Soul is a thought– provoking book that challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about the nature of reality and the role that consciousness plays in shaping our lives.
6. Elon Musk
Net worth: $195.2 billion
Elon Musk is a South African–born, American entrepreneur, inventor, and visionary, who is perhaps best known for his work in space exploration, electric vehicles, and sustainable energy. Musk is the CEO of SpaceX, which seeks to develop reusable rockets and to make space travel more affordable and accessible.
The 51–year–old is also the CEO of Tesla, which produces electric cars and battery technologies that aim to help reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. In terms of reputation, Musk is known for being a bold and innovative thinker and has also founded or co–founded a number of other companies. These include Neuralink, which seeks to develop brain–computer interfaces, and The Boring Company, which aims to create underground transportation tunnels to reduce traffic congestion.
In addition to his work in business, Musk has been involved in philanthropy, particularly in the fields of education and clean energy. An example of this being the Musk Foundation, which aims to provide grants for education programs in science, engineering, and renewable energy.
He has also founded schools, such as Ad Astra School, which provides education for his own children and other select students. Most recently, Musk made international news headlines for his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter.
Book that he recommends: Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies
Author: Nick Bostrom
What it’s about: Published in 2014, Superintelligence explores the potential impact that artificial superintelligence has on humanity. In the book, Bostrom argues that if we create machines that are significantly smarter than us, they could potentially become a threat to our existence, either intentionally or unintentionally. To mitigate this risk, Bostrom suggests several strategies. These include developing “friendly AI” that is aligned with human values and establishing an international treaty to regulate AI research.
Why he recommends it: Musk has on several occasions warned about the risks of unregulated artificial intelligence, stating that it could be even more dangerous than nuclear weapons. In 2014, he tweeted about the need for extreme caution with AI. He suggests reading “Superintelligence” to gain a better understanding of the reasons behind these concerns and the potential dangers.
IN A NUTSHELL: Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies is a highly
provocative book that has spurred significant discussion and debate in the AI community.
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