They’re three of the most successful CEOs in the entire world.

And now scientists think they’ve finally found the secret to Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg’s success.

Key attributes like strong leadership, strategic vision, or effective communication might be the first to spring to mind.

But according to researchers at the Donald G Costello College of Business, the answer is much simpler.

All three CEOs – as well as countless others – are left-handed.

In their study, the team analysed more than 1,000 CEOs across 472 companies.

Their results revealed a link between left-handed CEOs and greater innovation, unique patents, and higher returns for companies.

‘CEO decisions may be shaped by factors like family experiences, genetics, academic background, career paths, and more—really, the full range of experiences that makes them who they are,’ said Professor Long Chen, co-author of the study.

They’re three of the most successful CEOs in the entire world. And now scientists think they’ve finally found the secret to Steve Jobs, Bill Gates (pictured), and Mark Zuckerberg’s success

Former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, who sadly passed away in 2011, was left-handed

Previous studies have found a link between left-handedness and a range of attributes.

For example, a 2019 study found that left-handed people have better verbal skills, while a 2017 study found that lefties are better at fast-paced sports.

However, until now, the link between CEO success and handedness has been unclear.

During a 2013 interview with CBS News, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, was asked after his thoughts on his left-handedness.

‘You’re left-handed. Do you read anything into this?’ host Charlie Rose asked.

Gates responded: ‘I don’t know. There’s a little bit higher variance of talent high and low for left-handers, but it’s never been explained.’

To get to the bottom of it, the researchers firstly searched Google for photos and videos of CEOs engaged in activities like writing, throwing, drawing, and eating, to determine their dominant hand.

‘We looked at pictures of them on the golf course to see how they held their clubs,’ explained Professor June Woo Park, co-author of the study.

Previous studies have found a link between left-handedness and several attributes. For example, a 2019 study found that left-handed people have better verbal skills , while a 2017 study found that lefties are better at fast-paced sports. Pictured: Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg

‘We also noted which wrist they wore their watch on; left-handed people often wear it on the right.’

When in doubt, the team followed up with calls or emails to the respective companies.

In total, they were able to identify the handedness of 1,008 CEOs across 472 companies.

The vast majority (91.4 per cent) were right-handed, 7.9 per cent were left-handed, and 0.7 per cent were mixed.

Once their handedness had been confirmed, the researchers then looked at the number of patents and citations received by their firms from 1992 to 2015.

They also controlled for firm and industry characteristics, as well as other personal traits known to affect CEO innovativeness (such as age, education, risk preference shaped by experience, birth order, and founder status).

Their analysis revealed that firms led by left-handed CEOs demonstrated significantly higher innovative output, and had more unique patents.

What’s more, firms led by left-handers had higher return on assets and stronger buy-and-hold returns.

‘They outperformed their counterparts,’ Professor Park said.

‘Investors are drawn to innovative firms, and left-handedness is one of the factors investors could use in their stock-picking.’

Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are far from the only business moguls who are left-handed.

Steve Forbes (editor-in-chief of Forbes), Oprah Winfrey and Lou Gerstner (of IBM fame) are left-handed, as were John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford and Ratan Tata.