Warren Buffett is considered one of the most successful investors in the world – and yet he reveals that the real key to a fulfilling life has nothing to do with money.
• Buffett sees kindness as a crucial virtue for personal happiness
• Mentor Tom Murphy showed him that respectful behavior can promote success
• Kindness costs nothing but brings so much
In a January 13, 2026 CNBC special about his life’s work, former Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett named what he believes is the most important quality a person can have.
A life’s work that speaks for itself
Warren Buffett is undoubtedly one of the most famous and successful personalities in the financial world. When he stepped down at the end of 2025 after decades at the top of Berkshire Hathaway, he had built up a personal fortune of around $150 billion. The company he once built from a small textile business is now a global investment company whose value exceeds the $1 trillion mark.
Kindness: A simple but powerful virtue
But despite his immense financial success, Buffett emphasizes that money is not the only measure of happiness and success. During the CNBC special, he explained that there is one quality that costs nothing and is of great importance to him – kindness. He explained that kindness is available to everyone – regardless of background or financial means. “This is an act that doesn’t belong to any religion, it doesn’t belong to anything. Why on earth wouldn’t you be kind?” Buffett told CNBC.
The legacy of a mentor
The investor also sees the importance of friendliness as an advantage in business. A great role model for him in this regard was Tom Murphy, the former CEO of Capital Cities/ABC and one of his closest friends. “I don’t know anyone who had more good relationships with others, whether it was buying companies, running businesses, or dealing with other people’s problems. I mean, that was just baked into his behavior, in every way,” Buffett said of Murphy. For Buffett, this approach to people, characterized by respect and appreciation, was a central element of his own success. Murphy gave him crucial advice that Buffett never forgot: “You can still tell someone to go to hell tomorrow.” But why would you do that? Buffett reminds Murphy. You don’t gain anything by doing this, except that you might feel a little better, Buffett continued.
Long-term success through humanity
However, Buffett’s kindness toward other people does not mean that the investor was naive in his business decisions, CNBC reports. But he is convinced that treating others with warmth and respect leads to better results in the long term, Buffett continued in the CNBC special.
A call of kindness
Buffett also reminds us of former Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli: “When you get old, you have the reputation you deserve.” The former Berkshire Hathaway CEO points out that everyone should work to gain a reputation as a friendly person. He is convinced that the world would be happier if every person started the day with the mindset: “Good and bad things will happen to me today, but I can be kind to everyone.”
Kindness as a recipe for success
Warren Buffett’s advice is clear: a person’s true worth cannot only be measured by their wallet. Kindness is a virtue that everyone can practice. In a world often characterized by competition and the pursuit of profits, Buffett remains a shining example of putting humanity and kindness first.
Svenja Polonyi, editorial team at finanzen.net
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