Go to school, get good grades, graduate, and land a rewarding job in your field. This path to success often works out, but it's not the only way to achieve financial freedom. If there's one thing to learn from many of the world's wealthiest people, it's that you can take different routes in life and still be successful.
Will the non-education path work for everyone? Most likely not. But it can still be a good idea to follow the millionaire lessons taught by the actions of individuals like Bill Gates, Kim Kardashian, and Simon Cowell. Applying these lessons in your life can help you focus on what's needed for a smart financial future.
If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources
Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.
How to become a member today:
- Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
- Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
- Start enjoying your discounts and perks!
Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $15 the first year with auto-renewal.
Bill Gates
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Bill Gates is a billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, but he's most known for his role as the co-founder of Microsoft. The thoughtful and bespectacled computer programmer from Seattle, Washington, has been one of the wealthiest people in the world for decades. But his early departure from Harvard University when he was younger comes as a surprise to many.
Gates attended Harvard to take pre-law courses but dropped out his junior year to pursue a business venture with his friend, Paul Allen. While this was likely a risky money move, it eventually led to the founding of Microsoft, the most successful software company in the world. In this case, that risk definitely paid off.
Bill Gates has an estimated net worth of $120.3 billion.
Mark Zuckerberg
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Mark Zuckerberg is known worldwide as a co-founder and CEO of Facebook, the largest social media platform in the world. His global fame was cemented with the release of the Oscar-winning 2010 film, The Social Network.
As with Bill Gates, Zuckerberg attended Harvard University but never graduated. He dropped out after launching the original form of Facebook and seeing its near-instantaneous success. Zuckerberg moved to California with his roommates, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes, to continue growing the Facebook name and business.
Mark Zuckerberg has an estimated net worth of $129.9 billion.
Michael Dell
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Michael Dell is the founder and CEO of Dell Inc., one of the world's largest and most successful technology and personal computer companies. Dell was interested in computers and technology from a young age, going as far as buying an Apple computer when he was 15 so he could take it apart and see how it worked.
Dell attended the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, where he started PCs Limited. He dropped out of college at age 19 to focus on running his business, which later turned into Dell Inc. and the global company we know today.
Michael Dell has an estimated net worth of $70.6 billion.
Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt
Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.
National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1 <p>Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 46% before fees, or 25% including our fees, over 12 to 48 months. All claims are based on enrolled debts. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all clients complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Estimates based on prior results, which will vary based on specific circumstances. We do not guarantee that your debts will be lowered by a specific amount or percentage or that you will be debt-free within a specific period of time. We do not assume consumer debt, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice or credit repair services. Not available in all states. Please contact a tax professional to discuss tax consequences of settlement. Please consult with a bankruptcy attorney for more information on bankruptcy. Depending on your state, we may be available to recommend a local tax professional and/or bankruptcy attorney. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment, including potential adverse impact on credit rating.</p>
How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.
Steve Jobs
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The co-founder and former CEO of Apple and Pixar, Steve Jobs, is known for his visionary leadership and helping to make Apple what it is today. He died on Oct. 5, 2011 of pancreatic cancer, but not before leaving his mark on the world of technology and computers, as well as the film and animation industry.
Jobs attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon, but dropped out after six months. However, he continued to audit courses he was interested in after dropping out. A few years later, after reconnecting with his friend Steve Wozniak, he helped found Apple Computers in his garage.
An unassuming start in a garage might seem like the story of someone who makes money mistakes, but Steve Jobs had an estimated net worth of $7 billion when he died.
Richard Branson
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British entrepreneur Richard Branson shares at least two things in common with Jay-Z: he's a billionaire and he dropped out of school at a young age. Specifically, Branson dropped out of school at age 16 and later helped form Virgin Records.
Virgin Records helped kickstart the growth of the Virgin Group empire, which now includes multiple companies within different sectors, like travel, hospitality, and communications. Branson was knighted at Buckingham Palace in 2000 for his many achievements as an entrepreneur.
Richard Branson has an estimated net worth of $2.9 billion.
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Evan Williams
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Evan Williams, an entrepreneur and computer programmer, helped co-found Twitter with Jack Dorsey and Chrisopher Isaac Stone. Williams attended the University of Nebraska, but left without earning a degree. This didn't hamper his success with computer software, though, as Google bought his company, Blogger, in 2003.
Williams eventually became chairman of Twitter before switching to the CEO role. He later left that position to focus elsewhere and then left Twitter altogether.
Evan Williams has an estimated net worth of $1.9 billion.
Ted Turner
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Ted Turner is a broadcasting entrepreneur known for creating multiple TV channels, including CNN, Cartoon Network, and Turner Network Television (TNT). Turner hoped to sign up for the U.S. Naval Academy when he was younger, but ended up attending Brown University instead.
Before he could graduate, he was expelled for having a female in his dorm room. This didn't deter Turner from working hard at his father's advertising business and eventually taking it over and making it highly profitable.
Ted Turner has an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion.
David Murdock
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David Murdock is the former CEO of Dole Food Company, Inc. and the real estate company Castle & Cooke. Murdock dropped out of high school his freshman year and later served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was involved in multiple business ventures after returning from overseas, many of which involved food products or real estate.
Murdock owns real estate properties in different U.S. states through Castle & Cooke, but he's likely more well-known for his role with Dole. It's hard to miss Dole products like salads, fruits, vegetables, and meal solutions when shopping at your local grocery store.
David Murdock has an estimated net worth of $3.4 billion.
Jay-Z
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American rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z is the world's first rap artist billionaire, a feat he achieved in 2019. Jay-Z came from humble and often turbulent beginnings in Brooklyn, New York, but he persevered through the hardships and ended up starting his own record label, clothing line, and entertainment company.
Jay-Z doesn't owe any of his success to a higher education, as he never attended college. In fact, he didn't graduate from high school either. But don't let this stop you from using investing advice from Jay-Z to kickstart your own financial pursuits.
Jay-Z has an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2 <p>See website for details.</p>
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Kim Kardashian
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Kim Kardashian is a TV personality and entrepreneur who first rose to fame for her personal exploits and TV series, Keeping Up With the Kardashians. However, her business ventures with cosmetics, fragrances, and shapewear account for much of her wealth. These include the companies KKW Beauty and Skims.
Kardashian attended Pierce College but didn't earn her degree. However, this hasn't stopped her from wanting to become a lawyer, like her deceased father, Robert Kardashian.
Kim Kardashian has an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion.
Simon Cowell
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Simon Cowell's fame is often attributed to his appearances as a judge on TV shows like American Idol , The X Factor , and America's Got Talent . However, his career in TV began only after he first made it in the music industry.
Cowell dropped out of school at age 16 and went to work in the mailroom of a music publishing company. This led to an opportunity to find new musical talent, and Cowell eventually became a premier talent consultant in the industry. Later, he helped develop new formats for singing and talent competitions, which led to his roles on TV and discovering talented artists like One Direction, Olly Murs, and Leona Lewis.
Simon Cowell has an estimated net worth of $600 million.
Russell Simmons
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Classic rap and hip-hop enthusiasts know about Russell Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings and an accomplished music producer. He was instrumental in launching the careers of famous artists and musical groups like Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and The Beastie Boys.
Simmons attended the City College of New York, majoring in sociology. However, he never earned a degree and instead focused on his music career and helping other artists get record deals. Apart from music, his other successful business ventures include multiple clothing lines and a financial services company.
Russell Simmons has an estimated net worth of $350 million.
John Mackey
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John Mackey is a co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, Inc., which was bought by Amazon for $13.7 billion in 2017. Mackey, a college dropout, and Renee Lawson borrowed money from family and friends to open SaferWay Natural Foods in Austin, Texas in 1978. They were kicked out of their shared apartment and ended up living at their store. Two years later, they merged SaferWay with another store to create the first Whole Foods Market.
Today, Whole Foods has more than 500 stores across North America and the U.K. and is a global leader in natural and organic products. The company also has tens of thousands of employees.
John Mackey has an estimated net worth of $85 million.
Rachael Ray
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Rachael Ray may not be a world-famous technology CEO, but she's known for her prowess in the kitchen and for translating her skills and talents into millions of dollars. The celebrity chef and Food Network star says she's not a chef, she's a cook. This is because she never attended a formal culinary school.
Ray did, however, attend Pace University in New York state, but left after two years and started her career in food. This led to different opportunities, including her show idea of 30 Minute Meals being picked up by a local TV station, which caught the eye of Food Network. Ray then signed her first big contract with the massive cable channel.
Rachael Ray has an estimated net worth of $100 million.
Anna Wintour
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Anna Wintour is a British fashion icon and magazine editor known for her work with American Vogue magazine, including its revitalization since the 1980s. Although Wintour wasn't born to humble beginnings and likely had ample opportunities for her career, that shouldn't shadow her numerous achievements.
Wintour dropped out of the North London Collegiate School and decided to focus on her love of fashion instead. She worked as a fashion editor for multiple magazines and eventually ended up with American Vogue magazine. She continues her work with American Vogue magazine and Condé Nast today.
Anna Wintour has an estimated net worth of $50 million.
Interestingly enough, a successful movie was made with Anna Wintour as the inspiration for the title character played by Meryl Streep — The Devil Wears Prada. Anne Hawathay makes some serious money starring in this film and, like Anna Wintour, is another multi-millionaire who never finished college.
Bottom line
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You never know what the future holds, but one thing is certain: if you work hard to do what you love, your opportunities for success will improve. This might include getting an education, or it might not.
Maybe you're not looking for the wealth and fame of these individuals, but you'd still like to achieve a level of financial success. This is a worthy goal that's more than attainable. Starting small and staying consistent with your efforts can help you reach your goals. As you make progress toward your objectives, your increased knowledge will help turn your actions into habits.
More from FinanceBuzz:
- 7 things to do if you’re barely scraping by financially.
- Do you owe the IRS >$10K? Ask this company to help you eliminate your late tax debt.
- 12 legit ways to earn extra cash.
- Learn how you can escape the paycheck-to-paycheck grind.
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