Academic success is often regarded as a crucial step toward achieving greatness, yet some individuals have taken a different path, proving that the traditional route is not the only way to make an impact. These college dropouts walked away from formal education and, despite the challenges, built businesses that transformed industries and generated immense wealth. Their journeys highlight the significance of vision, determination, and the courage to pursue unconventional paths.
These individuals have not only achieved financial success but also left a lasting mark on the world through their innovations and leadership. Read also: 6 African CEOs who redefined success without a degree Here are 6 college dropouts who defied the odds to become billionaires and their net worth according to Forbes as of August 21 2024. Co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates is perhaps the most famous college dropout who achieved phenomenal success.
Gates attended Harvard University but left in 1975 to focus on building Microsoft, a decision that would revolutionize the tech industry. Under his leadership, Microsoft became the world’s largest personal computer software company, and Gates became one of the richest individuals in the world, with a net worth of $132.9 bn Richard Branson , the founder of the Virgin Group, is another self-made billionaire who never completed college.
Branson dropped out of school at the age of 16 and started his first business venture, Student Magazine. His entrepreneurial .