Though Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group is worth some $5 billion, the virgin founder equates success with personal fulfilment. "Too many people measure how successful they are by how much money money they make or the people that they associate with," he wrote on linkedIn. In my opinion, true success should be measured by how happy you are.

Huffington post co-founder Ariana Huffington says that while we tend to think of success along two metrics money and power- we need to add a third. "To live the lives we truly want and deserve, and not just the lives we settle for, we need a third metric," she told Forbes. "A third measure of success that goes beyond the two metrics of money and power and consists of four pillars: well-being wisdom, wonder and giving.

Cuban offers a surprisingly simple take on success. In an interview he said, "To me the definition of success is waking up in the morning with a smile on your face, knowing it's going to be a great day. I was happy and felt like I was successful when I was poor, living with six guys in a three- bedroom apartment, sleeping on the floor.

The late, great poet laureate, who passed away at 86 in 2014, left behind stacks of books and oodles of aphorisms. Her take on success is among the best: "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

With a net worth of $77.4 billion, Buffett is just about the wealthiest person in the world, second only to Bill Gates. And yet his definition of success has nothing to do with money or fame. The Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway once told shareholders at an annual meeting: "I measure success by how many people love me."

Gates is the wealthiest person in the world, but to him, success is about relationship and leaving behind a legacy. Gates took a tip from Buffett when about his definition of success: "Warren Buffett has always said the measure of success is weather the people close to you are happy and love you." He added: "It is also nice to feel like you made a difference inventing something or raising kids or helping people in need."

The Physician and author says it's a matter of continual growth. "Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals," Chopra writes in The Seven Spiritual laws of success."

Obama once held the highest office in the US but he doesn't equate power with success. At the 2012 Democratic National Convention, then first lady Michelle Obama told the audience: "For Barack success isn't about how much money you make. It's about difference you make in people's lives."