What do Tyra Banks, Ev Williams, and Richard Branson have in common? If you answered that they’re all extremely wealthy, you’d be right. But you’d also be missing a big part of the story.

James Altucher, the noted entrepreneur, venture capitalist, bestselling author of Choose Yourself, and host of the podcast The James Altucher Show—which has over 40 million downloads—has interviewed 15 of the most successful people in the world to figure out just what makes them tick. And the conclusions might surprise you. 

For each of these people, money wasn't their ultimate goal—it was a natural byproduct of following their passions and developing good habits that enabled them to take advantage of their successes and to learn from their failures.

From the founder of Spanx to the entrepreneur behind Home Depot, from a craft beer aficionado to the investors on Shark Tank, these visionaries honed their ideas and creativity, and used what they loved as a compass to guide their curiosity. That curiosity gave them the insights they needed to skip the line, to try new things, to diversify, and to hit the accelerator on their successes.

This isn’t some lofty self-help book. This is about real people who achieved their dreams and gained wealth and influence as a result. As Altucher notes, ultimately it’s not the number in the bank account that defines anyone—it’s asking if you’re living life to the best of your ability.