15 Billionaires Who Dropped Out Of College Before Making Their Fortunes

Famous fashion designer Ralph Lauren dropped out of Barush college at the City University of New York where he studied business. He dropped out after completing two years. Forbes estimates his wealth at $5.5 billion right now.

In 2010, Bill Gates was considered Harvard's most successful dropout. He left the university during his sophomore year in 1975 and founded Microsoft. Forbes estimated his wealth approx $113.4 billion right now.

Steve Jobs’ net worth was around $10.2 billion. Jobs attended Reed College in 1972 before dropping out that same year and travelling through India in 1974 seeking enlightenment and studying Zen Buddhism. He would go on to establish Apple.

He dropped out of college twice. After high school, he enrolled in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but dropped out during his sophomore year after his adoptive mother died. He later completed one semester at the University of Chicago.

Whatsapp co-founder Jan Koum dropped out of San Jose State University, worked at Yahoo for nine years before founding WhatsApp. Jan Koum co founded WhatsApp, now the world's biggest mobile messaging service, in 2009. Jan Koum’s net worth was $10 billion.

Mark Zuckerberg founded the social network with the help of fellow students after that he dropped out of Harvard University to focus on Facebook. Zuckerberg’s net worth is $97.5 billion.

Sheldon Adelson is the CEO and chairman of casino company Las Vegas Sands. Sheldon Adelson dropped out of the City College of New York.

Before receiving a degree, Ted Turner was expelled for having a female student in his dormitory room. Turner was awarded an honorary B.A. from Brown University years later. Ted Turner’s net wealth is $2.2 billion.

Ty Warner is the creator of Beanie Babies, the plush toy fad of the 1990s. He dropped out of Kalamazoo College in 1962. Ty Warner’s net worth is $2.2 billion.

He dropped out of the University of Texas at Austin, worked as a talent agent at William Morris prior to founding DreamWorks. David Geffen’s net worth is $8.9 billion.