Success stories often feature unconventional paths, and nowhere is this more evident than in the lives of some of the world’s most successful billionaires.
These individuals chose to leave behind the security of academic institutions to chase their entrepreneurial dreams. Their decisions to prioritize passion over formal education have led them to build empires that have reshaped industries and impacted millions of lives.
As featured in BusinessDay, 14 billionaires opted to leave school early, embarking on a different road to success and building legacies that have left a lasting impact.
Travis Kalanick
Before revolutionizing the transportation industry with Uber, Travis Kalanick took a bold step by dropping out of UCLA in 1998 to co-found Scour, a multimedia search engine. Though Scour didn’t achieve long-term success, Kalanick’s resilience paid off with Uber, where he eventually sold his shares for over $2.5 billion in 2019. Today, his net worth is estimated at $3.6 billion.
Steven Spielberg
Iconic filmmaker Steven Spielberg dropped out of Cal State Long Beach in the late 1960s to pursue a career in television. His gamble led to an extraordinary career, directing some of the highest-grossing films of all time, including *Jaws* and *Jurassic Park*. After winning three Oscars, Spielberg completed his degree in 2002. His net worth is currently estimated to exceed $10 billion.
Daniel Ek
Daniel Ek, the Swedish entrepreneur behind Spotify, left the Royal Institute of Technology after only eight weeks to follow his passion for music and technology. His decision paid off handsomely, with Spotify now a global leader in music streaming. Ek’s net worth is estimated at $5.3 billion.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey received a full scholarship to Tennessee State University but left before graduating to pursue a television career. Her decision was a resounding success, leading to the creation of her own media empire. Winfrey later completed her degree and today has a net worth of $3 billion.
H. Wayne Huizenga
H. Wayne Huizenga, known for turning Blockbuster Video into America’s top video rental chain, dropped out of Calvin College in Michigan. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to expand Waste Management and later sell Blockbuster to Viacom for $8.4 billion. At the time of his passing in 2018, Huizenga was worth $2.8 billion.
Jack Dorsey
Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Square, left college twice, dropping out of the Missouri University of Science and Technology and later New York University. His ventures into tech led to massive success, and in 2022, he sold Twitter to Elon Musk for $44 billion. Dorsey’s current net worth is $4.2 billion.
Bill Gates
One of the most well-known college dropouts, Bill Gates left Harvard University after two years to focus on Microsoft, a decision that made him one of the richest people in the world. Gates’ fortune, diversified across multiple investments, currently stands at $136.9 billion.
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren, the fashion mogul behind his eponymous brand, left Baruch College to join the U.S. Army. After his service, he started designing men’s ties, which grew into a global fashion empire. Today, Lauren’s net worth is $9.3 billion.
Dustin Moskovitz
Dustin Moskovitz was part of the original team that created Facebook, dropping out of Harvard alongside Mark Zuckerberg. After leaving Facebook in 2008, Moskovitz co-founded Asana, a workflow software company. His current net worth is $14.3 billion.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers of all time, left Stanford University after two years to pursue a professional career. His decision led to a legendary sports career, earning him an estimated $1.8 billion.
Michael Dell
Michael Dell, who built Dell Technologies into a global leader, dropped out of the University of Texas at Austin after two semesters. His early departure from college allowed him to focus on his business, which has made him one of the wealthiest people in the world, with a net worth of $98.3 billion.
Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook from his Harvard dorm, left the Ivy League school in 2005 to focus on the social media platform. The move paid off, as Facebook (now Meta) became one of the world’s most influential companies. Zuckerberg’s net worth is $180.6 billion.
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs, the legendary co-founder of Apple, left Reed College after just one semester. His departure from formal education did not stop him from creating one of the most innovative companies in history. At the time of his death in 2011, Jobs had amassed a fortune worth $7 billion.
Paul Allen
Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, left Washington State University after two years to pursue his tech ambitions. His ventures included owning the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and, at the time of his death in 2018, Allen was worth $20.3 billion.
These stories remind us that success can come from the most unexpected paths. These visionaries chose to follow their passions and instincts, ultimately shaping industries and creating legacies that will endure for generations.
