Recommendation letters from billionaires

I often get asked about recommendations from billionaires and high-profile figures. While it may seem like a "slam dunk" to have a billionaire's letter of recommendation, it's not so clear cut for scoring jobs, and here's why.

How well does the billionaire actually know you?

Reference letters need to serve a specific purpose, and that's even true if it's coming from a billionaire. Suppose, for example, you live in the same neighborhood as famous business tycoons, and your dad is friends with a celebrity CEO who lives next door. If your father asks the mogul to write a letter to help get you a job, but the referee has never worked with you and knows nothing about you, then what's the point? Recruiters will see right through the ruse. ​

Is the recommendation letter even verifiable? 

As a headhunter for billionaires and royal families, I am regularly faced with drama surrounding reference letters from high-net-worth individuals. In this next example, let's say that you did work with a billionaire. He could adequately attest to your business prowess; the letter would serve a purpose. But there is only one problem: it's a couple of years old, and his email and phone number have changed. The bad news is that it's now worthless. ​

The gold standard for recommendation letters from famous people

Whether the letter is from a billionaire, celebrity, or your first boss at the local coffee shop, all recommendation letters should ideally have the following:

• Written on company letterhead
• They should be dated
• Letters should be current (5 years is too old)
• The email should be a company domain
• There should be a phone number
• It should be signed in "wet ink" 

While it may not always be possible to tick every box on this checklist, it's the gold standard to reach for when obtaining letters of recommendation, especially from billionaires. ​