Top billionaire business tycoons who did not need a college degree
Published by admin on July 15th, 2009 | Tagged Achievers, Billionaires, Business, Entrepreneurship
It is really surprising to know that some of the most powerful entrepreneurs and top business tycoons did not attend college or if they did, they never graduated.
Below is list of some very rich and successful people who did not go to college or need a degree in order to make it big:
Dhirubhai Ambani
Dhirubhai Ambani never went to college. He was only 16 when he left for Aden to work as a gas station attendant. He returned to India to start his own business at only 26 years of age. Dhirubhai Ambani set up Reliance, the largest private sector company of India. Ambani family became one of the richest families in the world, with the fortune running into billions of dollars. The business empire got split between his sons Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani in 2005.
Subhash Chandra, the Indian Media Tycoon, dropped out of school in class 12. He is the man behind Zee TV, one of the most popular Satellite TV networks in India. At just 19 years of age, he started a vegetable oil unit and after some time he began exporting food grains. He ventured into packaging business in 1981, set up Essel World Amusement Park in 1988. He started Zee in 1992. Forbes’ 2009 estimated his net worth to be $ 1.1 billion.
Indian Entrepreneur and Self Made Billionaire Gautam Adani, is the man behind Adani Group, one of the leading diversified conglomerates of India. Gautam Adani a college dropout, was only in his teens when he came to Mumbai where he got the job of a diamond sorter. After some time, he started a diamond brokerage business. He entered the Plastics Business in the 80s. In the late 90s Adani diversified into infrastructure. Had net worth of $ 1.6 Billion according to Forbes’ 2009.
Bill Gates
The richest man in the world and the the Chairman of Microsoft, Bill Gates, is a Harvard University dropout. He dropped out of college to concentrate on software development business. He co-founded Microsoft along with Paul Allen. According to Forbes 2009, he had a net worth of $ 40 Billion.
Paul Allen
Paul Allen started Microsoft along with Bill Gates after dropping out from Washington State University. They became friends when they were at the Lakeside School, Seattle. Both of them had keen interest in computers. After schooling Gates went to Harvard University and Allen to Washington State University. Paul Allen dropped out after 2 years to work as a programmer. He convinced Gates to drop out so that they could focus on software development. His wealth according to forbes 2009 was $ 10.5 billion.
Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison is the CEO and co-founder of Oracle, the multi billion dollar enterprise software giant. He dropped out of University of Illinois and later from University of Chicago. He worked as a computer programmer for a number companies. Started Oracle in 1977 with an investment of $ 2000. Forbes’ 2009 estimated net worth to be $ 22.5 billion.
Michael Dell
Micheal Dell is the founder of Dell Computers. Micheal Dell dropped out from the University of Texas at 19 years of age to venture into the computer business. He started with just $1000 dollars which he turned into a multi billion dollar corporate empire. Forbes’ 2009 estimated his net worth to be $ 12.3 billion.
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs, the co-founder and CEO of Apple, dropped out of Reed College, Portland, Oregon after completing just one semester. He started Apple 1976 along with his friend Stephen Wozniak. He introduced the Macintosh computer in the year 1984. He was also the co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios. Forbes’ 2009 estimated his net worth to be $ 3.4 billion.
Richard Branson
British business tycoon Richard Branson started his first venture at only 16 years of age. Branson established the famous ‘Virgin Brand’ which includes companies such as Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Mobile and Virgin Records. Forbes’ 2009 estimated his net worth to be $ 2.5 billion.
Does this mean that one should dropout in order to become rich and successful? Well, I don’t think so. Dropping out is not a good idea. Starting a business without any qualification may turn out to be risky, the individual may end up losing everything.
Why these people succeeded is because they knew what they were doing. They had the necessary skill and talent. Also they had complete knowledge about the business they were entering into. And after all, everybody is not Bill Gates or Dhirubhai Ambani.
23 Responses to “Top billionaire business tycoons who did not need a college degree”
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July 16th, 2009 at 5:06 am
These man are true inspiration for any country’s young blood. They had work hard and reach at top. We salute them and try to follow them.
July 17th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
It is really surprising that many business tycoons in India didn’t get any college degree, Although they have got tremendous success in their field. In fact creativity doesn’t require any degree. It comes from experience and imagination.
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William Brown
July 19th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
@william Brown– yes there are many business man in INDIA. who are hardly pass their school and never seen gate of collage.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:20 am
Yes these all are real hero in business world. They learn all by their own experience. Very inspirational article. thanks
July 20th, 2009 at 2:24 am
I read many things about Dhirubhai Ambani. He had worked hard for Reliance. I am very much impressed by him.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:25 pm
It was very important to mention what you have, at the end. No doubt that these men behind successful ventures needed no degree to be where they are today. But that doesn’t mean that you have to ignore education. And having said that, these men are truly an inspiration to people who can’t get through their academics and feel all’s lost.
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
It’s really inspiring and motivating.They all proved the saying”where the energy or attention goes it grows”.Thanks a lot for shairing such a article
August 1st, 2009 at 3:40 am
We are looking forward to you for another interesting post. We hope that you will update it very soon. Thanks
August 10th, 2009 at 3:17 am
Brilliant article.
Thanks 
Very inspiring !
August 10th, 2009 at 6:14 am
i m inspired by this..
August 11th, 2009 at 4:01 am
Its very worthy to know about these top business mans. I am really very surprised that how they make such way with out such degree. they are bron genuise.
September 4th, 2009 at 12:49 am
the fact is creativity and innovation flows only when you are free from structured and “told to do” education.
all these men prove it.
murali, co-founder & strategist, enright, Hyderabad , India
September 4th, 2009 at 12:56 am
the fact is creativity and innovation flows only when you are free from structured and \”told to do\” education.
all these men prove it.
murali, co-founder & strategist, enright, Hyderabad , India
September 4th, 2009 at 3:00 am
hi this is good information. it is true to become a businessman need not require a collge degree. we need new ideas and determination.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
very inspirational article…:)
November 9th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
This article was real inspiring..
Great job!!!!
one more think i am very much interested in knowing right 4m d scratch about how these Tycoons toiled during there early days.. if any1 knows any website or any suggestion just post me d link on–
mohammedali56@gmail.com
November 9th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Great job!!it was real helpful…
November 19th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Does this mean that one should dropout in order to become rich and successful? Well, I don’t think so. Dropping out is not a good idea. Starting a business without any qualification may turn out to be risky, the individual may end up losing everything.
Why these people succeeded is because they knew what they were doing. They had the necessary skill and talent. Also they had complete knowledge about the business they were entering into. And they had a burning desire to get what they want!
December 4th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
It is amazing hearing these kinds of stories of people dropping out of school and become hugely successful. Some people just are naturally gifted and don’t get much benefit out of going to school. For other people it is still important to develop the skills necessary to succeed.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Do you think that with today’s business climate, these guys would still be able to pull off this incredible feat? Just wondering.
January 4th, 2010 at 1:31 am
The important thing about all these people is that they had brains. They were very smart people and smart people are have a good chance of being successful in whatever they do.
January 5th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
This is upsetting =/ yet very inspirational =]
January 8th, 2010 at 4:10 am
Wow its so cool hearing all the stories of how people who took the different path than others wound up been so many times more successful than most people could have ever imagined =D Really inspiring!
Till then,
Jean