Success Advice

13 Successful Billionaires Who Dropped Out Of College

Published

8 years ago

Feb 9, 2012

Joel Brown (Founder of Addicted2Success.com)

These college dropouts are great examples of flunkers who can achieve success against the odds. They prove that if you work hard then you can be successful no matter what. Even if you are from a not so rich family, even if you decide to leave college, if you have enough drive and focus you can make your dreams come true.

Read on for the full list of the 13 Successful Billionaires Who Dropped Out Of College.

The 13 College Dropouts Who Made More Than A Billion Dollars

Bill Gates

$56 Billion

Education: Dropped out of Harvard.

Success: Co-Founder of Microsoft, Major Philanthropist.

Larry Ellison

$39.5 Billion

Education: Dropped out of University of Illinois Champagne-Urbana.

Success: Founder of Oracle, A Major Software Enterprise company.

Sheldon Adelson

$23.3 Billion

Education: Dropped out of City College Of New York.

Success: Sheldon Adelson is the Chairman & CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corp, the parent company of Venetian Macao Limited which operates the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Sands Expo & Convention Center.

Michael Dell

$14.6 Billion

Education: Dropped out of University Of Texas, Austin.

Success: Founder of Dell Computers.

Paul Allen

$13.5 Billion

Education: Dropped out of Washington State University.

Success: Co-Founder of Microsoft, owner of Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trailblazers, Major Philanthropist.

Mark Zuckerberg

$13.5 Billion

Education: Dropped out of Harvard.

Success: Founder of Facebook. Youngest billionaire in history.

Francois Pinault

$8.7 Billion

Education: Dropped out Of Saint-Martin school, in Rennes.

Success: Owner of Converse Shoes, Samsonite Luggage. Majority shareholder of brands such as Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Puma.

Steve Jobs (R.I.P)

$8.3 Billion

Education: Dropped out of Reed College.

Success: Founder of Apple Inc & Pixar.

Jack C. Taylor

$7.4 Billion

Education: Dropped out of Washington University.

Success: Founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Micky Arison

$5.9 Billion

Education: Dropped out of University Of Miami.

Success: CEO of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator and owner of the NBA’s Miami Heat.

Ralph Lauren

$5.8 Billion

Education: Dropped out of Baruch College.

Success: Founder of Ralph Lauren Clothing.

David Geffen

$5.1 Billion

Education: Dropped out of University Of Texas, Austin.

Success: Record executive, founder of Asylum Records and one of the three founders of DreamWorks.

Ronald Wayne Burkle

$3.2 Billion

Education: Dropped out of California State Polytechnic.

Success: Supermarket magnate, Invested in Sean John (Diddy’s Clothing Line) & American Apparel.

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Joel Brown (Founder of Addicted2Success.com)

I am the the Founder of Addicted2Success.com and I am so grateful you're here to be part of this awesome community. I love connecting with people who have a passion for Entrepreneurship, Self Development & Achieving Success. I started this website with the intention of educating and inspiring likeminded people to always strive for success no matter what their circumstances.I'm proud to say through my podcast and through this website we have impacted over 200 million lives in the last 10 years.

19 Comments

Faisal Khan
Aug 19, 2015 at 2:53 am
Someday I’ll be on this list too for sure ??✔️?
Reply
Patrick
Dec 18, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Gates has said that he’s a bad example of a billionaire dropout, because if he had just properly applied all his AP credits from high school he would have actually had enough credits and course requirements to graduate from Harvard.
Reply
Peter
May 31, 2012 at 9:38 am
I stayed in college, I guess that means I’m not going to make a million. THough I do win that amount almost daily from a lost Aunt in Uganda. Just need my bank details and I’ll be rich too!
Reply
- Carly Moss
  Mar 26, 2013 at 3:47 pm
  Lol seat & wait for it, I’m waiting 2 lol
  Reply
Nidal
Apr 19, 2012 at 3:44 pm
For Godness sake not a single billionaire women?! impressive!
Reply
- katherine
  Mar 3, 2013 at 12:11 am
  men are favored
  Reply
- sai jashwanth (@jashwanth_sai)
  May 27, 2013 at 5:59 am
  dude….. they are busy in chasing these guys..
  Reply
ANDREW IVOR
Apr 18, 2012 at 1:54 am
‘COLLEGE DROP-OUT’ The fact that someone made it out of high school to enroll in college means they can think and apply themselves to learning new things ‘KSA’ All the above followed their passions to success. Kudos to you ALL!
Reply
Nonso
Mar 25, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Great job guys, inspiring post – it should boost some confidence. @ Viki, d article isn’t saying u shouldn’t go to college but whatever ur situation coupled with great determination, u can make it.
Reply
ariel
Mar 1, 2012 at 12:51 pm
failure makes us stronger…
Reply
Mahesh
Feb 28, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Hat’s off to this guys…
Reply
viki
Feb 27, 2012 at 2:14 pm
so we should not go to college
Reply
James
Feb 16, 2012 at 7:44 pm
Confidence and an unshakeable belief that it can be done and that you are the one to do it are crucial for an Entrepreneur.
Reply
Adelere R.Afis
Feb 10, 2012 at 10:26 am
If they can make it up,we have no reason to remain here.
Reply
areghan adesua
Feb 10, 2012 at 6:39 am
Am so inspired, nothing on earth is enough excuse for failure. Pity there are no female billionaires here.
Reply
Judith Lain
Feb 10, 2012 at 5:31 am
Nice List guys. Aaron you are wrong. Half of this list are in different industries. They aren’t all in Tech Industries maybe you should read the post again.
It would be good to see some girls up on there, I had a look around and couldn’t find any female billionaires who dropped out of college though. Anyone know of any?
Reply
Edward Nakeli
Feb 10, 2012 at 5:04 am
Every time I visit this site I become more inspired, the only thing that comes in my mind is winning and I become barriers blind. I’ll be delighted to be up to date of every success stories that will lift me up to live the dream I’m pursuing. Lots of blessing to the people behind this side and keep up the good work.
Eddie: Founder of Endowed Gift Group
Reply
Aaron
Feb 10, 2012 at 4:23 am
In other words don’t drop out in less you are a tech expert with the next can’t miss idea/ you have a way of generating enormous capital to start a company. Despite the ridiculous examples on this list there are all kinds of people who achieve incredible success by going for it. So go for it!!!! You will never forgive yourself it you don’t.
@AaronKempker
Reply
- Shelley
  Apr 16, 2012 at 2:15 pm
  Hi there, well done to all those guys.
  What I’d like to know though, is how many billionnaires are they who did NOT drop out? Maybe a hell of a lot more…?
  Because it would be wrong to assume (ASS-ume) that dropping out is the answer!
  Reply

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