Warren Buffett is stepping down as CEO after 60 years. For a successful career, 'don't worry' about your salary early on, he says

After 60 years at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett stepped down as the holding company’s CEO at the end of 2025.

Throughout his career, the business and investing icon routinely shared wisdom to help others build successful lives, from singing the praises of compound interest to offering a thought exercise for living without regrets.

At Berkshire Hathaway’s 2025 annual shareholder meeting, Buffett gave advice to those at the opposite end of their career as him: “Don’t worry too much about starting salaries and be very careful who you work for because you will take on the habits of the people around you,” he told the audience in response to a question about lessons he learned early on. “There are certain jobs you shouldn’t take.”

Though it may be tempting for workers just starting out to accept whichever job offers the most competitive salary they can find, Buffett emphasized that other factors may be more important over the course of your career.

While a good starting salary can help set you up for financial success, your coworkers and managers may play an outsized role in your long-term career success, Buffett said.