A positive electrode active material including a nickel-containing lithium transition metal oxide containing nickel in an amount of 60 mol % or more based on a total number of moles of transition metals excluding lithium, and a coating layer which is formed on a surface of the nickel-containing lithium transition metal oxide and includes a lithium-containing inorganic compound, a nickel oxide, and a nickel oxyhydroxide is provided. A method of preparing the positive electrode active material, and a positive electrode for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery which include the positive electrode active material are also provided.