--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's almost impossible to overpay the…" description: "\"It's almost impossible to overpay the truly extraordinary CEO... but the species is rare.\" — Warren Buffett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/warren-buffett-183_ceo_it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-tr_2816372.png" --- # It's almost impossible to overpay the truly extraordinary… ![“It's almost impossible to overpay the truly extraordinary CEO... but the species is rare.” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/warren-buffett-183_ceo_it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-tr_2816372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/warren-buffett-183_ceo_it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-tr_2816372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/warren-buffett-183_ceo_it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-tr_2816372.png) > “It's almost impossible to overpay the truly extraordinary CEO... but the species is rare.” [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extraordinary CEOs are rare and costly; exceptional talent is scarce. **In simple terms:** Great CEOs are rare and expensive. Key Takeaway Invest wisely in leadership. Themes leadership rarity valuation Mood pragmatic analytical Type financial strategic When to use this quote - hiring processes - board decisions - succession planning Key Concepts executive talent compensation strategy Questions to Reflect On - How to identify true extraordinary CEOs? - What metrics justify their cost? A Different Perspective High pay may not guarantee performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ceo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceo/) [Leadership by great leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-by-great-leaders/) ## Related quotes > [“If it were not for collectors England would be full, so to speak, of rare birds and wonderful butterflies, strange flowers and a thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells-2/if-it-were-not-for-collectors-england-would-be-full-so-to-speak-of/) [H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells-2/) > [Take the crocodile, for example, my favorite animal. There are 23 species. Seventeen of those species are rare or endangered. They're on the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/take-the-crocodile-for-example-my-favorite-animal-there-are-23/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [What you do has far greater impact than what you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/what-you-do-has-far-greater-impact-than-what-you-say/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [High sentiments always win in the end. The leaders who offer blood, toil, tears and sweat always get more out of their followers than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/high-sentiments-always-win-in-the-end-the-leaders-who-offer-blood/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-building-of-a-personality-beyond-its-normal-limitations/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [In times of change, learners inherit the earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/in-times-of-change-learners-inherit-the-earth/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/learners-inherit-the-earth-while-the-learned-find-themselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/effort-and-courage-are-not-enough-without-purpose-and-direction/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Leadership is not a formula or a program, it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-secretan/leadership-is-not-a-formula-or-a-program-it-is-a-human-activity-that/) [Lance Secretan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-secretan/) > [You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-hesburgh/you-can-t-blow-an-uncertain-trumpet/) [Theodore Hesburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-hesburgh/) > [The greatest leaders mobilize others by coalescing people around a shared vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/the-greatest-leaders-mobilize-others-by-coalescing-people-around-a/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [It is impossible to imagine anything which better becomes a ruler than mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-impossible-to-imagine-anything-which-better-becomes-a-ruler/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star self-reliance, faith, honesty and industry. Don't take too much advice -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-porter/rely-on-your-own-strength-of-body-and-soul-take-for-your-star-self/) [Noah Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-porter/) > [Be strong, but not rude; Be kind, but not weak; Be bold, but not bully; Be humble, but not timid; Be prooud, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/be-strong-but-not-rude-be-kind-but-not-weak-be-bold-but-not-bully-be/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## More by Warren Buffett > [To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information. What's needed is a sound intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/to-invest-successfully-over-a-lifetime-does-not-require-a/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-be-greedy-when-others-are/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Making money isn't the backbone of our guiding purpose; it is the by-product of our guiding purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/making-money-isn-t-the-backbone-of-our-guiding-purpose-it-is-the-by/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [We set no volume goals in our insurance business generally-and certainly not in reinsurance-as virtually any volume can be achieved if profitability standards are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-set-no-volume-goals-in-our-insurance-business-generally-and/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Everybody's got a different circle of competence. The important thing is not how big the circle is. The important thing is staying inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/everybody-s-got-a-different-circle-of-competence-the-important-thing/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [It is better to point out your own mistakes than have somebody else do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-is-better-to-point-out-your-own-mistakes-than-have-somebody-else/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I've read about all the sales today. If you're an auto dealer, you're feeling it. If you're a furniture retailer like we are, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-read-about-all-the-sales-today-if-you-re-an-auto-dealer-you-re/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I was lucky enough to be born in a time and place where society values my talent, and gave me a good education to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-born-in-a-time-and-place-where-society/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The most common cause of low prices is pessimism - some times pervasive, some times specific to a company or industry. We want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-common-cause-of-low-prices-is-pessimism-some-times-pervasive/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The reaction of weak management to weak operations is often weak accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-reaction-of-weak-management-to-weak-operations-is-often-weak/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [What you really want to do in investments is figure out what's important and knowable. If it's unimportant or unknowable you forget about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/what-you-really-want-to-do-in-investments-is-figure-out-what-s/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I don't measure my life by the money I've made. Other people might, but certainly don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-don-t-measure-my-life-by-the-money-i-ve-made-other-people-might-but/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I mean the truth is, I've never had it so good in terms of taxes. I am paying the lowest tax rate that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-mean-the-truth-is-i-ve-never-had-it-so-good-in-terms-of-taxes-i-am/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. You need a temperament that neither derives great pleasure from being with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-important-quality-for-an-investor-is-temperament-not/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) [Explore all 984 Warren Buffett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## More Ceo quotes > [When you're young and you have money, you become the CEO, automatically, of life, of your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-haim/when-you-re-young-and-you-have-money-you-become-the-ceo-automatically/) [Corey Haim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-haim/) > [I took on the role of CEO, which involves directing the Management Team and overall day-to-day operations of 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/i-took-on-the-role-of-ceo-which-involves-directing-the-management/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [I learned a lesson that I don't ever want to be a CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilcox/i-learned-a-lesson-that-i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-a-ceo/) [Larry Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilcox/) > [Strategy is not a solo sport, even if you're the CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/strategy-is-not-a-solo-sport-even-if-you-re-the-ceo/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [For any CEO that is skeptical at all: you have to create a social enterprise today!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-ahrendts/for-any-ceo-that-is-skeptical-at-all-you-have-to-create-a-social/) [Angela Ahrendts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-ahrendts/) > [I draw the line at some things. Some things I won't do for any amount of money. Like for instance, there's a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-draw-the-line-at-some-things-some-things-i-won-t-do-for-any-amount/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I want to share that I had and still do, and a great relationship with Angela Ahrendts. She was the CEO of Burberry. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-e-glaser/i-want-to-share-that-i-had-and-still-do-and-a-great-relationship-with/) [Judith E. Glaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-e-glaser/) > [If the CEO is not going to give you a fair chance, you're probably not going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/if-the-ceo-is-not-going-to-give-you-a-fair-chance-you-re-probably-not/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-have-always-said-if-there-ever-came-a-day-when-i-could-no-longer/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Governor Romney may be running for CEO, I'm running for President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/governor-romney-may-be-running-for-ceo-i-m-running-for-president/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Culture is what happens when the CEO isn't in the room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-collison/culture-is-what-happens-when-the-ceo-isn-t-in-the-room/) [John Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-collison/) > [Political journalists love graduate student intelligence, the ability to make clever allusions in seminars, and in 1999-2000 they hassled George W. Bush for not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/political-journalists-love-graduate-student-intelligence-the-ability/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [The deck is still stacked in favor of those already at the top. And there's something wrong with that. There's something wrong when CEOs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-deck-is-still-stacked-in-favor-of-those-already-at-the-top-and/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [While they're in WWE, we absolutely have a health and wellness policy. I'll probably always say 'we,' even though I've resigned as the CEO.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcmahon/while-they-re-in-wwe-we-absolutely-have-a-health-and-wellness-policy/) [Linda McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcmahon/) > [It doesn't make much sense and it's nil premium. They're going to have co-CEOs...which is a very uncomfortable structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/it-doesn-t-make-much-sense-and-it-s-nil-premium-they-re-going-to-have/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) [Browse all 668 Ceo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceo/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's almost impossible to overpay the truly extraordinary CEO... but the species is rare.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Buffett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-truly-extraordinary-ceo-but-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ceo" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-truly-extraordinary-ceo-but-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/warren-buffett-183_ceo_it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-tr_2816372.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/warren-buffett-183_ceo_it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-tr_2816372.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/warren-buffett-183_ceo_it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-tr_2816372.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's almost impossible to overpay the truly extraordinary CEO... but the species is rare.” — Warren Buffett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Warren Buffett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's almost impossible to overpay the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-truly-extraordinary-ceo-but-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-almost-impossible-to-overpay-the-truly-extraordinary-ceo-but-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```