Education has traditionally been viewed as the foundation for success, with many believing that a degree is necessary to achieve professional success. However, the stories of many successful billionaires tell a different tale. Some of the world’s most iconic entrepreneurs and business leaders chose to forgo a formal college education, opting instead to follow their instincts, innovate, and carve out their own paths. These college dropouts not only achieved immense success but also revolutionized industries, created jobs, and became icons in the business world.
13 remarkable college dropouts who defied the conventional path and became billionaires, changing the world in the process. Their stories are a testament to the power of perseverance, creativity, and unconventional thinking.
1. Bill Gates – Co-founder of Microsoft
- Date of Birth: October 28, 1955
- City Born: Seattle, Washington, USA
- College Dropped Out Of: Harvard University
- Company Founded: Microsoft
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, is one of the most famous college dropouts in the world. Gates left Harvard University in 1975 to pursue his passion for software development. He co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen, and the company quickly revolutionized the software industry. Microsoft’s operating systems became the foundation for personal computers worldwide. Gates became the richest man in the world and continues his philanthropic efforts through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, donating billions to global health and education initiatives.
2. Mark Zuckerberg – Co-founder of Facebook
- Date of Birth: May 14, 1984
- City Born: White Plains, New York, USA
- College Dropped Out Of: Harvard University
- Company Founded: Facebook (now Meta Platforms)
Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard University in 2004 to focus on developing Facebook, which started in his dorm room. What began as a platform for college students quickly expanded to become the world’s largest social media network. Zuckerberg’s decision to leave Harvard was a gamble, but it paid off, as Facebook grew into a tech giant with billions of active users. Today, Zuckerberg is one of the wealthiest people in the world, continuing to lead Facebook (now Meta Platforms), with investments in virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
3. Larry Ellison – Co-founder of Oracle
- Date of Birth: August 17, 1944
- City Born: New York City, New York, USA
- College Dropped Out Of: University of Chicago
- Company Founded: Oracle
Larry Ellison, the co-founder and former CEO of Oracle Corporation, dropped out of the University of Chicago after just one year. In 1977, Ellison founded Oracle, a company that initially focused on database management systems. Oracle’s innovative products transformed the enterprise software industry, and Ellison became one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. He stepped down as Oracle’s CEO in 2014 but remains involved in the company as its executive chairman and chief technology officer.
4. Richard Branson – Founder of Virgin Group
- Date of Birth: July 18, 1950
- City Born: Blackheath, London, England
- College Dropped Out Of: Stowe School (at the age of 16)
- Company Founded: Virgin Group
Richard Branson dropped out of Stowe School at the age of 16 and went on to create the Virgin Group, which started with a mail-order record business. The Virgin brand has since expanded to include everything from airlines to telecommunications, music, and space tourism. Branson’s adventurous spirit and willingness to take risks have made him one of the most recognizable entrepreneurs in the world. His Virgin Galactic space company aims to make space tourism accessible in the near future.
5. Evan Williams – Co-founder of Twitter
- Date of Birth: March 15, 1972
- City Born: Clarks, Nebraska, USA
- College Dropped Out Of: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Company Founded: Twitter
Evan Williams, a co-founder of Twitter, dropped out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after just one year. Williams moved to Silicon Valley and later co-founded Blogger, which was acquired by Google. In 2006, he co-founded Twitter, which became one of the most influential social media platforms globally. Williams’ ability to identify new digital communication trends has made him a billionaire and an influential figure in the tech world.
6. Jan Koum – Co-founder of WhatsApp
- Date of Birth: February 24, 1976
- City Born: Kyiv, Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union)
- College Dropped Out Of: San Jose State University
- Company Founded: WhatsApp
Jan Koum, the co-founder of WhatsApp, dropped out of San Jose State University to pursue a career in technology. After working at Yahoo, Koum co-founded WhatsApp in 2009 with Brian Acton. WhatsApp quickly became one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, and in 2014, Facebook acquired it for $19 billion. Koum’s journey from a college dropout to a billionaire is a prime example of how determination and technical expertise can lead to success.
7. Travis Kalanick – Co-founder of Uber
- Date of Birth: August 6, 1976
- City Born: Los Angeles, California, USA
- College Dropped Out Of: UCLA
- Company Founded: Uber
Travis Kalanick dropped out of UCLA after two years to pursue his entrepreneurial goals. He co-founded Scour, a search engine, before moving on to create Uber, a ride-sharing platform that disrupted the transportation industry. Under Kalanick’s leadership, Uber transformed how people travel and redefined urban mobility. Despite controversies around his leadership style, Kalanick’s decision to drop out and focus on building Uber made him a billionaire and a key figure in the tech and transportation sectors.
8. Michael Dell – Founder of Dell Technologies
- Date of Birth: February 23, 1965
- City Born: Houston, Texas, USA
- College Dropped Out Of: University of Texas at Austin
- Company Founded: Dell Technologies
Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Technologies, dropped out of the University of Texas at Austin in 1984 to start his computer company. Dell started selling computer components from his dorm room, and within a few years, the company grew into one of the largest personal computer manufacturers in the world. Dell’s decision to leave college proved to be a strategic one, as his focus on direct sales and customized PCs helped him build a global business empire.
9. Jack Dorsey – Co-founder of Twitter and Square
- Date of Birth: November 19, 1976
- City Born: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- College Dropped Out Of: Missouri University of Science and Technology and New York University
- Company Founded: Twitter, Square
Jack Dorsey, a co-founder of Twitter and Square, dropped out of both the Missouri University of Science and Technology and New York University. Dorsey’s passion for technology and communication led him to create Twitter, the social media platform that revolutionized real-time communication. Later, he founded Square, a payment processing company that became a major player in the fintech industry. With both Twitter and Square, Dorsey has earned a place as one of the most influential entrepreneurs of his generation.
10. Larry Page – Co-founder of Google
- Date of Birth: March 26, 1973
- City Born: East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- College Dropped Out Of: Stanford University (Ph.D. program)
- Company Founded: Google
Larry Page, the co-founder of Google, dropped out of Stanford University’s Ph.D. program in 1998 to focus on developing the search engine that would change the internet. In 1998, Page and Sergey Brin founded Google, which quickly became the dominant search engine on the internet. Google’s revolutionary algorithms and its expansion into products like Android, YouTube, and Google Cloud transformed the tech landscape. Today, Page remains a significant figure in the world of technology, with Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., continuing to lead in innovation.
11. Jeff Bezos – Founder of Amazon
- Date of Birth: January 12, 1964
- City Born: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- College Dropped Out Of: Princeton University
- Company Founded: Amazon
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is often cited as one of the most successful college dropouts. Although Bezos graduated from Princeton University, he made the bold decision to leave a high-paying job in finance to start Amazon in 1994. Starting as an online bookstore, Amazon rapidly expanded into an e-commerce giant, revolutionizing retail and logistics. Bezos’ decision to leave a secure career and launch Amazon led to immense success, making him one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.
12. Daniel Ek – Co-founder of Spotify
- Date of Birth: February 21, 1983
- City Born: Stockholm, Sweden
- College Dropped Out Of: Royal Institute of Technology
- Company Founded: Spotify
Daniel Ek, the co-founder of Spotify, dropped out of the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden after just one semester to pursue a career in technology. Ek had a passion for music and technology, and in 2006, he co-founded Spotify, which would go on to disrupt the music industry. Spotify’s revolutionary approach to streaming music transformed the way people listen to music, and Ek’s vision has made him one of the wealthiest people in the tech industry.
13. Peter Thiel – Co-founder of PayPal
- Date of Birth: October 11, 1967
- City Born: Frankfurt, Germany
- College Dropped Out Of: Stanford Law School
- Company Founded: PayPal
Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal, is another college dropout who became a billionaire. Thiel dropped out of Stanford Law School and went on to create PayPal, an online payment system that eventually became one of the most widely used financial tools in the world. PayPal’s success led to Thiel becoming one of the first investors in Facebook, and he went on to found the venture capital firm Founders Fund. Thiel’s success is a prime example of how unconventional paths can lead to monumental achievements.
Summary
These 14 college dropouts are living proof that success doesn’t always follow the traditional path. While many choose to follow the typical educational route, these individuals dared to challenge the norms and created companies that changed the world. Their stories demonstrate that innovation, vision, and determination often matter more than a college degree. Whether in technology, business, or entertainment, these billionaires have shown that with the right mindset, a college dropout can become a force for change and achieve extraordinary success. Their journeys inspire countless others to take risks, follow their passions, and pursue their dreams without being bound by conventional expectations.
