The Wealthiest Billionaires Who Dropped Out Of School

Many people have dreams of earning big money in their lives. However, some don’t believe they’ll ever achieve such things because they haven’t gotten the right qualifications. Maybe their grades at school weren’t the best, or they didn’t end up going to college? Whatever the reason, they assume that their financial future is effectively set in stone.

Despite how it may seem, though, you don’t actually need an exceptional education to make a lot of money. Sure, good grades and a degree from an Ivy League school may give some people a leg up. However, there are plenty of rich people out there who don't actually have this. In fact, some of the wealthiest billionaires in the world dropped out of school before they graduated.

John D. Rockefeller got involved in oil instead of going to college

When John D. Rockefeller passed away in the 1930s, he did so as the wealthiest man in America. That’s thanks to him controlling 90% of the nation’s oil through the Standard Oil Company. He apparently began working at the age of 16 and was involved in several business partnerships once he reached his 20s. As a result, Rockefeller seemingly had no time for college. By the time his peers were graduating, he was making a name for himself in the oil business. Evidently, that worked out in his favor.

Ralph Lauren had no fashion school training when he became a billionaire

Those familiar with fashion will likely know the name Ralph Lauren. It’s become synonymous with high-quality clothing and general luxury, something that’s resulted in a net worth of $7.2 billion for the man. Lauren’s success is down to his business skills and eye for fashion rather than the right education. Although he did attend Baruch College, he dropped out after finishing his second year. Following time in the army and working as a salesman, Lauren started designing his own clothes and forged a path to success. While fashion school training may have helped him, he proved he could achieve great things without it.

Sheldon Adelson was too busy setting up businesses to focus on college

Sheldon Adelson started thinking seriously about his career long before most people. He was only 12 years old when he set up a newspaper business using money borrowed from his uncle. By 18, he’d already set up a second business in the form of candy vending machines. Given his penchant for making money, it’s perhaps no great surprise that Adelson didn’t end up graduating from the City College of New York. The man was far too busy setting up businesses, of which he had almost 50 before his passing. This apparently contributed to a net worth of nearly $30 billion.

Mark Zuckerburg’s social media idea was enough to make him ditch Harvard

Mark Zuckerburg’s wealth has certainly seen better days. Last year, it was reported that he’d lost $100 billion in just 13 months, putting his fortune down to $38.1 billion. It’s quite a devastating drop for a man responsible for the biggest social media platform in the world. Unfortunately, issues behind the scenes have hurt his company, as has the growth of other social networks. Still, there’s no denying that he’s achieved incredible things since ditching Harvard to make Facebook a reality. Plus, there’s always a possibility that Mark’s fortunes may turn around again in the future.

Larry Ellison dropped out of college twice before becoming a billionaire

Larry Ellison is a name that’s not talked about quite as often as some of the world’s other richest men. However, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, he currently stands as the seventh wealthiest man around, with a fortune exceeding $98 billion. His money primarily comes from the Oracle Corporation, one of the largest software companies that exist today. Ellison helped to set it up a decade after dropping out of college twice. The first time was following the loss of his adoptive mother, while the second time was simply because it wasn’t working for him. 

Bill Gates’ immense wealth came from his dropping out of college

Bill Gates has been up there as one of the world’s wealthiest men for quite a while now. Ever since he developed Microsoft, he hasn’t had to worry about having enough money to get by. His current net worth is reportedly around the $100 billion mark, meaning he’s not quite the richest man in the world. However, with Microsoft being the world’s most lucrative computer business, Gates has no reason to worry about his finances - all this because he dropped out of college to set up the company in the first place.

There’s no denying that a good education definitely has its benefits. However, sometimes all you need is a great idea and plenty of determination to make a lot of money. It’s not foolproof, but at least you know you can still achieve great things even with your school days behind you.