Richard Branson Believes Money Can't Define Success, Says This One Thing Is More Important

Virgin Group co-founder and CEO Richard Branson believes that ‘billionaire’ status might mean something in the US but it makes him uncomfortable as he doesn’t define success in terms of money. 

The business magnate said, “Maybe in America, ‘billionaire’ is a sign of success, but that rankles me. I think that your reputation is what you create.”

Richard Branson Says Being Called Billionaire Is ‘Quite Insulting'

In conversation with CNBC Make It, Branson expressed that he feels offended when he's introduced solely as "the billionaire Richard Branson" rather than acknowledging his role as the co-founder of Virgin Group. He believes that success should not be measured solely by one's net worth.

Richard Branson Shares Advice On How To Become Successful

Reuters

He stated that money has never been his primary motivation. He believes that true success comes from pursuing engaging and exciting opportunities that lead to greater happiness. According to him, this approach ultimately leads to success.

He also said, “We only have one life. We spend a lot of time at work and it’d be sad if we’re only doing it for our paychecks.”

Fellow Billionaire Mark Cuban Is Onboard With Branson’s Ideology

“Success isn’t necessarily how much money you have,” the Shark Tank judge said in a podcast last year. “Success is just setting a goal and being able to wake up every morning feeling really good about what you’ve accomplished.”

He further explained that his career choices were guided more by a desire to have control over his own time rather than by financial goals.

Getty

“Time is the one asset you can never get back. You can never truly own [it]. I wanted to be ... in a position where I get to call my own shots (and) spend time the way I wanted to spend time. That was always my motivating factor.”