As much as we cater to graduates here at The Urban Journal, sometimes, it’s good to recognise that success can come from anywhere.
Everyone knows a university degree helps in the pursuit of prosperity – but as these successful people without degrees show, it’s by no means essential. As much as we cater to graduates here at The Urban Journal, sometimes, it’s good to recognise that success can come from anywhere.
So, we thought we’d throw together a nice little list of inordinately wealthy individuals to prove, once and for all, that a framed certificate doesn’t have to be the only key to lifelong happiness.
Don’t get us wrong, university is great – we just wanted to make this list, OK?
Oprah Winfrey
Before completing her degree, Oprah dropped out of university to pursue a career in broadcasting – the rest, as they say, is history. For more than 20 years, she reigned as the most popular and financially successful talkshow host around.
Mark Zuckerberg
When Mark Zuckerberg was invited to deliver the commencement speech at Harvard University, he joked, in a conversation with Bill Gates – who had also delivered a commencement address at Harvard – that “they know we didn’t actually graduate, right?” Bill’s reply: “Oh – that’s the best part.” With Facebook, Instagram and a host of other mega-valuable companies to his name – not to mention a personal wealth of around $96 billion – Mark Zuckerberg proves that you don’t need a degree to be successful. Especially not one from Harvard.
Bill Gates
OK, we’ve given the game away here, but like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates is a fellow Harvard dropout. After leaving the university, he co-founded a little company called Microsoft, and has since amassed a wealth of around $114 billion. If a legendary status in philanthropy and a long-held title as the world’s richest man prove anything, it’s that degrees are not a prerequisite to success.
Femi Otedola
Despite having no formal university education, Femi Otedola, a Nigerian businessman, philanthropist and former chairman of Forte Oil, has amassed an incredible fortune – his estimated wealth is over $14 billion. Yeah, he’s quite rich.
Anna Wintour
Ah, Anna Wintour. At 17, the now-formidable boss of Vogue and Condé Nast had no interest in getting a degree. Instead, she was intent on pursuing her interest in fashion – and, well, you know how that turned out. Follow your dreams, kids.
Steve Jobs
Like Bill Gates before him, Steve Jobs, the relentless founder and CEO of Apple and co-founder of Pixar, dropped out of university to start his fruit-shaped empire. The result? His company recently became the first to achieve a valuation of $2 trillion. So, yeah, he did pretty well.
Michael Dell
Like fellow successful technology enthusiasts, Michael Dell, the founder of Dell computers, quit university to focus on building his company. After earning $200,000 at 19 whilst still studying, he decided that finishing his degree just wasn’t worth it – and who could blame him?
Madam C. J. Walker
Madam C. J. Walker may no longer be alive, but her incredible story remains. By founding the Madame C. J. Walker manufacturing company, she became the first female self-made millionaire in the USA. Her achievements surpassed all expectations for two reasons: she was a woman, and she was Black. Unlike others, she couldn’t even attend university even if she wanted to – but through sheer will, she made her mark anyway.
Ralph Lauren
In the world of fashion, few names command respect like Ralph Lauren’s. He never completed his business degree, but would instead go on to create and preside over a fashion empire worth more than $7 billion. So, the next time a successful so and so is bragging about their flashy university certificate, take a look at the horse on their top and remind them that degrees are by no means an automatic marker of success.
Of course, if you don’t fancy a degree or putting in the business hours, you could just become a sports star? Read why Lewis Hamilton is at the top of his game.