Have you ever thought that to become wealthy, you must have a prestigious college degree? If so, then you might be surprised to learn that there are many billionaires in the world who never completed their formal education.
In fact, some of them were even expelled from college for unusual reasons, like collecting farm animals! Who are these billionaires? And how did they achieve success without a college degree?
Here are 9 billionaires who didn't graduate from college that might inspire you:
1. Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Facebook, one of the largest technology companies in the world. He is also one of the richest individuals globally, with a net worth of around $97 billion.
Zuckerberg started developing Facebook while he was still a student at Harvard University in 2004. However, he never completed his degree as he decided to focus on his business.
He even stated that he doesn't regret dropping out of Harvard because he felt that Facebook was his mission.
2. Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs is one of the most influential figures in the technology industry. He was the co-founder and former CEO of Apple, a company that created revolutionary products like the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
Jobs was also involved in the founding of Pixar, an animation studio that produced popular films such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles.
Jobs attended college for only one semester at Reed College in 1972. He later admitted that the tuition was too expensive and didn't align with his interests.
He then went through a difficult period working odd jobs and traveling before co-founding Apple with his friend Steve Wozniak in 1976.
3. Bill Gates
Bill Gates is one of the richest and most well-known individuals in the world. He is the co-founder and former chairman of Microsoft, a giant software company dominating the computer operating system market.
Gates is also known as a philanthropist, donating a significant portion of his wealth to various social causes through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gates enrolled at Harvard University in 1973 with the ambition of becoming a lawyer. However, he was more interested in computers and spent a lot of time in the campus computer lab.
He eventually dropped out of Harvard in 1975 to start Microsoft with his friend Paul Allen.
4. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most influential and respected celebrities worldwide. She hosted the legendary talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, which aired for 25 years.
She is also the owner of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), O, The Oprah Magazine, and Harpo Studios, a production company.
Winfrey was one of the first African American women to become a billionaire, with a net worth of around $2.6 billion.
Winfrey started her college education at Tennessee State University in 1971, majoring in communication. However, she never completed her degree as she received an offer to work as a news anchor at a local television station.
She then moved to Baltimore and Chicago to pursue her career in the media industry.
5. Richard Branson
Richard Branson is an entrepreneur and adventurer known as the founder of the Virgin Group, a conglomerate with over 400 companies in various sectors such as aviation, telecommunications, music, health, and tourism.
Branson is also famous for his world records in hot air ballooning, jet aircraft, and cruise ships.
Branson has a net worth of approximately $4.9 billion.
Branson never attended college due to his dyslexia, a learning disorder affecting reading and writing abilities.
He dropped out of school at the age of 16 and started his first business, a magazine for teenagers called Student.
6. Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is one of the most renowned and successful fashion designers in the world. He is the founder and creative head of Ralph Lauren Corporation, a global fashion company that sells clothing, accessories, fragrances, and home goods under the Polo Ralph Lauren brand.
Lauren is also a collector of classic cars, owning more than 70 rare and valuable automobiles.
Lauren has a net worth of around $7 billion.
Lauren never attended college because he aspired to be an entrepreneur. He dropped out of the City College of New York in 1962 after two years of studying business.
He then worked as a tie salesman in a fashion company before starting his own business in 1967.
7. David Geffen
David Geffen is one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry. He is the founder of Geffen Records, one of the largest record labels in the world, representing artists such as Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, and Cher.
He is also one of the founders of DreamWorks SKG, a film and television studio that produced movies like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and Lincoln.
Geffen has a net worth of approximately $9 billion.
Geffen never attended college because he wasn't interested in formal education. He dropped out of Brooklyn College after one semester and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in music.
He later lied about his educational background to secure a job at the famous talent agency William Morris Agency.
8. Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison is one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. He is the founder and former CEO of Oracle Corporation, a software giant specializing in database management systems.
Ellison also owns the island of Lanai in Hawaii, the Oracle Team USA sailing team, and the Aston Villa football club.
Ellison has a net worth of around $93 billion.
Ellison never attended college due to academic and personal difficulties. He dropped out of the University of Illinois after his first year following the death of his adoptive mother.
He then enrolled at the University of Chicago but only stayed for one semester. He later moved to California to work as a computer programmer before founding Oracle in 1977.
9. Michael Dell
Michael Dell is the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, a leading technology company that provides computer solutions, hardware, software, and cloud services.
Dell is also an investor and philanthropist, supporting various initiatives in education, healthcare, and the environment.
Dell has a net worth of approximately $45 billion.
Dell never attended college because he was more interested in the computer business. He dropped out of the University of Texas in 1984 after starting his own company in his dorm room.
He later renamed his company to Dell Computer Corporation and expanded it into one of the largest computer manufacturers in the world.
Conclusion
From the above list of 9 billionaires who didn't graduate from college, we can learn that a college degree is not an absolute requirement for achieving success.
What's more important is having vision, passion, creativity, hard work, and a willingness to keep learning and growing.
Of course, college also has its benefits, such as providing knowledge, skills, networks, and experiences that are valuable for your career and life.
However, if you feel that college is not the best choice for you, don't worry. You can still achieve your dreams through alternative paths.
Hopefully, this article has been informative and inspiring to you. Thank you for reading. If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below. See you in the next article! 😊
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