What Education Do Billionaires Have?

Have you ever wondered what kind of education you need to become one of the world’s richest people? Do all billionaires come from elite universities, or is higher education not as important to their success?

Here, we look at the educational backgrounds of five billionaires to better understand their paths to wealth.

Bill Gates

Co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates attended an exclusive prep school and then Harvard University for two years before dropping out to focus on Microsoft. His early access to computers and partnership with classmate Paul Allen were pivotal in his journey.

Carlos Slim Helu

Known as the “Warren Buffett of Mexico,” Carlos Slim was the world’s richest person from 2010 to 2013. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Slim started learning business skills at a young age in his family’s business, investing in a bank by age 12.

Amancio Ortega

Ortega, a giant in fast fashion with a net worth of $124.2 billion, grew up in poverty and dropped out of school at age 14 to work. He began his career in fashion at a local shirt shop, which laid the foundation for later founding Zara.

Warren Buffett:

Often called the Oracle of Omaha, Buffett bought his first stock at age 11. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and finished his degree at the University of Nebraska. He holds a master’s degree in economics from Columbia University, influenced greatly by his professors there.

Larry Ellison

Ellison, the founder of Oracle, dropped out of two colleges before moving to California. He attended the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago but never completed a degree. His interest in computers began in Chicago, leading him to eventually start Oracle.