A study tracking the habits of 233 millionaires revealed one stark difference between them and most other people: 88% of wealthy people love reading for self-improvement. Lower-income people (those with an annual income of $35,000 or less and a liquid net worth of $5,000 or less) primarily read for entertainment. The contrast isn’t just academic—it directly impacts wealth creation.

The following books aren’t merely popular among the rich—billionaires like Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos credit them as crucial tools that helped them build their fortunes.

Each offers tested frameworks and strategies that have contributed to creating trillions in wealth. These aren’t just books to read—they’re blueprints for success that most people never open.

1. Why These Books Matter for Building Wealth

A recent study by Thomas Corley revealed that 85% of self-made millionaires read two or more self-improvement books monthly. The billionaires’ combined net worth who regularly recommend these ten books exceeds $500 billion.

Some reading habits of ultra-successful people:

• Bill Gates reads about 50 books per year, which breaks down to one per week.
• Mark Cuban reads more than three hours every day.
• Elon Musk is an avid reader, and when asked how he learned to build rockets, he said, “I read books.”
• Mark Zuckerberg resolved to read a book every 2 weeks throughout 2015
• Oprah Winfrey selects one of her favorite books monthly for her Book Club members to read and discuss.

And these aren’t just isolated examples. Another study of 1200 wealthy people found that they all share reading as a pastime.

These aren’t just books – they’re blueprints for success that combine practical knowledge with transformative mindset shifts. When Warren Buffett was asked about the key to success, he pointed to a stack of books and said, “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest.”

2. Personal Development Cornerstones: Think and Grow Rich & How to Win Friends

Napoleon Hill said he spent 20 years interviewing over 500 successful people, including Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, to distill their secrets into “Think and Grow Rich.” The book introduced concepts like the “mastermind principle” and the power of organized planning.

Dale Carnegie’s principles have influenced leaders from Warren Buffett to Charles Schwab. Buffett proudly displays his Dale Carnegie certificate in his office – not his college degree. These foundational texts emphasize that success depends more on human relationships and mental attitudes than technical skills alone.

3. Investment Wisdom from the Masters: Warren Buffett’s Must-Read

“The Intelligent Investor” has been the investment bible for generations of successful investors. Its “margin of safety” principle has helped create countless fortunes.

Warren Buffett credits this book with laying the foundation for his investment philosophy, which turned Berkshire Hathaway into a $972 billion enterprise. Graham’s teachings about viewing market fluctuations as opportunities rather than threats remain particularly relevant in today’s volatile markets.

4. The Silicon Valley Success Blueprints: Zero to One and The Lean Startup

Peter Thiel’s “Zero to One” and Eric Ries’s “The Lean Startup” represent the modern entrepreneurial mindset. Thiel emphasizes creating unique solutions rather than competing in crowded markets, while Ries focuses on efficient execution through rapid testing and iteration.

Companies like Airbnb and Dropbox have used the principles and methodologies found in these books to achieve success. These books provide complementary perspectives: one on thinking differently and the other on executing efficiently.

5. Big Picture Thinking: Why Billionaires Love Sapiens

Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and other tech leaders praise “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari for its sweeping perspective on human development. The book’s insights into how humans organize, cooperate, and create shared beliefs have practical applications in business and innovation.

Gates noted that understanding the broad arc of human history helps identify future trends and opportunities. This macro-level thinking has influenced decisions at companies like Microsoft and Meta.

6. Leadership Under Pressure: Hard Things and Principles

“The Hard Thing About Hard Things” and “Principles” stand as raw testimonies to the brutal realities of leadership. In “The Hard Thing About Hard Things,” Ben Horowitz details his journey from near-bankruptcy at Loudcloud to selling Opsware for $1.6 billion, offering unfiltered insights into making difficult decisions when no good options exist.

He tackles topics others avoid: how to fire friends, what to do when intelligent people are wrong, and how to manage your psychology while everything falls apart.

Ray Dalio’s “Principles” emerged from building Bridgewater Associates into the world’s largest hedge fund. The book outlines his “radical transparency” approach and systematic decision-making frameworks.

Dalio shares how he built a culture where critiquing the CEO is not just accepted but required and where every assumption must be stress-tested against reality. His systematic approach transformed Bridgewater from a tiny investment firm into a $150 billion powerhouse.

Together, these books reject feel-good leadership platitudes in favor of battle-tested wisdom. They teach that great leadership isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about building systems to find answers and having the courage to face brutal facts head-on.

7. Strategic Innovation: Disruption and Market Evolution

Clayton Christensen’s “The Innovator’s Dilemma” explains why great companies fail and how to avoid their fate. His theory of disruptive innovation has predicted countless market transformations, from steel minimills to smartphones.

Jeff Bezos made this book required reading for Amazon executives, using its principles to guide Amazon’s expansion from books to becoming “the everything store.” The book’s frameworks help readers identify threats and opportunities in their industries.

8. Decision-Making Excellence: Charlie Munger’s Collected Wisdom

“Poor Charlie’s Almanack” introduces Munger’s concept of worldly wisdom: combining insights from multiple disciplines to make better decisions. The framework of his mental model has influenced leaders across industries.

Bill Gates praised the book for its practical approach to decision-making, while numerous hedge fund managers credit it with improving their investment processes. The book demonstrates how connecting ideas from different fields leads to superior insights.

9. Why Most People Skip These Life-Changing Books

Only 11% of Americans read more than 15 books yearly, with significant disparities across income levels. These books often require deeper engagement than typical self-help material. They challenge existing beliefs and demand implementation rather than passive consumption.

The investment of time and mental energy is substantial, but the potential return is life-changing. These books are often passed over because their value isn’t immediately apparent – but their principles have created trillions in wealth.

10. How to Apply These Books’ Lessons in Your Life

Start with “Think and Grow Rich” and “How to Win Friends” to build foundational mindsets. Progress to “The Intelligent Investor” and “Zero to One” for business and investment principles.

Supplement with “Sapiens” for a broader perspective. Set aside dedicated daily reading time, focusing on one book at a time. Take notes, implement key ideas immediately, and review regularly. Join or create discussion groups to deepen understanding through dialogue.

Conclusion

These ten books represent a graduate-level education in success principles, delivered by some of history’s most accomplished individuals. Their value lies in their information and their ability to transform thinking patterns and decision-making processes.

The difference between reading and not reading these books could be worth millions over a lifetime. The question isn’t whether you can afford the time to read them – it’s whether you can afford not to.

Complete List of the 10 Books Rich People Read That Poor People Never Open

1. “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill
2. “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie
3. The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham
4. “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel
5. “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries
6. “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari
7. “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz
8. “Principles” by Ray Dalio
9. “The Innovator’s Dilemma” by Clayton Christensen
10. “Poor Charlie’s Almanack” compiled by Peter D. Kaufman