College Dropouts have become cool these days. We all have heard Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs come to mind, both of whom achieved tremendous entrepreneurial success despite not completing their college education. However, the focus of this article will shift away from these well-known figures and instead highlight a selection of world entrepreneurs who achieved prosperity after opting out of college.
They have proven their ability to transcend conventional routes to success, forging their paths and attaining global recognition.
Top Successful Dropout Entrepreneurs in the World
Here is the list of the Best Successful Dropout Entrepreneurs in the World
1. Bill Gates
Bill Gates is famously credited with popularizing the archetype of the billionaire college dropout in 1975 when he departed from Harvard to embark on his journey of establishing Microsoft. Demonstrating his penchant for programming at the tender age of 13, he crafted his inaugural software program to secure admission into the esteemed Lakeside School.
During his tenure at Lakeside School, Gates achieved the esteemed distinction of being named a National Merit Scholar, achieving a remarkable SAT score of 1590 out of 1600. Despite his father’s aspirations for him to pursue a legal career, Gates enrolled at Harvard in 1973 as a pre-law student. He excelled in both mathematical and computer science disciplines.
After he departed from Harvard, Gates, in partnership with his friend Paul, laid the foundation for ‘Microsoft’ in 1975. The company birthed the pioneering BASIC programming language for the MITS Altair 8800 ‘Microcomputer,’ a precursor to personal computers. In opting for this trajectory, Gates followed his strengths rather than the course his parents had envisioned for him.
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2. Mark Zuckerberg
In the year 2002, Mark Zuckerberg Among the prominent figures in the media industry, one notable individual is Mark Zuckerberg, who serves as the CEO of Meta Platforms. He initiated his educational journey at Ardsley High School and subsequently transitioned to Phillips Exeter Academy.
Displaying an early inclination towards computer and software programming, he commenced his endeavors during middle school, crafting a program that facilitated wireless communication between his father’s dental office and his location.rg gained admission to Harvard to pursue studies in Psychology and Computer Science.
Even at this juncture, he had already garnered recognition as a ‘programming prodigy’. It was during this period that Zuckerberg conceptualized a fresh code for his nascent website, Facebook. However, encountering numerous challenges during the process of establishment, he ultimately decided to depart from Harvard in 2005. This departure was motivated by his aspiration to concentrate fully on the realization of his visionary project, Facebook.
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3. Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs, renowned for his innovations, had a somewhat troublesome childhood, engaging in numerous pranks on teachers and displaying minimal interest in studies. This behavior led to him skipping the 5th grade and entering the 6th grade at Crittenden Middle School, where he faced bullying. Seeking a better environment, his family relocated to Los Altos, where he attended Homestead High School, known for its concentration of engineering families.
In 1971, Jobs made a pivotal decision to participate in the electronics club alongside his close friend Wozniak, who was accepted into the University of California, Berkeley. During this period, Wozniak created a cost-effective ‘blue box’ device capable of manipulating the telephone network to enable free long-distance calls. In the same year, Steve Jobs left Reed College after just one semester, as he deemed the education there irrelevant and didn’t want to burden his parents financially. In 1972, he started working as a technician at Atari, Inc. Then, in 1976, Jobs, along with his college dropout companion Steve Wozniak, assembled the Apple I computer in his parent’s garage.
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4. Larry Page
Larry Page, one of the founders of Google, was drawn to computers at the tender age of 6, even earning the distinction of being the first student in his basic school to submit an assignment via a word processor.
By the time he reached 12, his aspiration to create novel things had led him to contemplate launching his own company, sparking a growing fascination with technology and business. Throughout his academic journey, Larry Page excelled both in his primary and secondary education. He attended Montessori Radmoor for his initial schooling and later East Lansing High School.
Page’s academic achievements continued as he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan. He furthered his education with a Master of Science degree in computer science from Stanford University. Upon embarking on his Ph.D. studies, he began delving into computer science research at Stanford University, dedicating his full attention to the development of the World Wide Web.
However, in 1999, Larry Page decided to discontinue his Ph.D. pursuits, opting to leave college and focus intensively on his primary goal.
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5. Orji Uzor Kalu
At the age of 19, Orji Uzor Kalu was expelled from a Nigerian university for his involvement in provoking a sequence of student uprisings. To venture into trading commodities such as rice, sugar, and palm oil, he appealed to his mother for a sum of $35.
Through a strategic spread of investments, he achieved millionaire status by the time he turned 20. In 2015, Forbes ranked him as the 49th wealthiest individual in Africa. He initially founded SLOK Holding, a company based in West Africa that holds stakes in shipping, banking, manufacturing, and other sectors.
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6. Michael Dell
 In 1983, Michael Dell was enrolled as a student at the University of Texas; however, a significant portion of his time and effort was dedicated to his college dorm room, where he continually updated and promoted devices. At the age of 19, Dell established PCs Ltd., which eventually transformed into Dell Computer Corporation by 1987.
Subsequently, he secured a license from the State of Texas that allowed him to bid for substantial contracts. This was after he commenced the sale of upgrade modules for personal computers from his dormitory. At 27 years old, Michael Dell became the youngest CEO featured on the Fortune 500 list. Presently, his net worth stands at nearly $20 billion.
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7. Ritesh Agarwal
Ritesh Agarwal, the founder of OYO Rooms, emerged as one of India’s youngest billionaires. Hailing from a middle-class background, he finished his secondary education at St. John’s Senior Secondary School before relocating to New Delhi for college in 2011.
However, he soon decided to leave college after his project concept for Oravel Stays Pvt Ltd caught the attention of the Thiel Fellowship program in 2013. This prestigious fellowship awarded him $100,000, enabling him to establish OYO Rooms.
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8. John Mackey
In 1978, John Mackey pursued studies in Philosophy and Theology at the University of Texas, Austin. It was during this time that he crossed paths with Renee Lawson Hardy when they both joined a vegetarian co-op at the university.
Following their decision to leave school, the couple established SaferWay, which marked the inception of the first vegetarian supermarket in Austin. This venture eventually laid the groundwork for Whole Foods, which by 2014 had ascended to become the 30th top-ranking retailer in the United States in terms of revenue.
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9. Azim Premji
Azim Premji stands as another prominent entrepreneur among the ranks of dropout entrepreneurs. He is the son of the renowned businessman Mohamed Hashem Premji, often referred to as the Rice King of Burma. Azim’s academic journey at Stanford University was cut short due to his father’s passing, which necessitated his involvement in the family’s oil business.
As a consequence, Azim Premji assumed the full responsibility of overseeing his father’s business interests in India. Remarkably, he eventually fulfilled his academic pursuits, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Engineering from Stanford University after a hiatus of 30 years.
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10. Kunal Shah
Kunal Shah’s educational journey began with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Wilson College. Subsequently, he pursued an MBA degree at the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, although he opted to discontinue this pursuit. His initial entrepreneurial endeavor, PaisaBack, involved facilitating cashback from merchants. Among the distinguished Indian entrepreneurs who chose not to complete their college education, Kunal Shah stands out as a widely recognized figure.
He played a pivotal role in establishing FreeCharge, a respected online recharge service. The year 2012 marked the inception of this venture, which was later acquired by Snapdeal. FreeCharge introduced a groundbreaking concept by offering the value of the first three recharges as incentives, fundamentally transforming the landscape of internet recharges. Presently, Kunal Shah is most prominently recognized as the founder of CRED, a unicorn startup that has gained significant prominence in India.
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Conclusion
These individuals are among the highly accomplished entrepreneurs who achieved remarkable success despite lacking conventional education. They stand as prime examples that one’s educational background does not limit their potential. Instead, it’s their relentless effort, unwavering determination, and genuine passion that truly represent them.
This was our selection of the Top Successful Dropout Entrepreneurs in the World. We hope this is useful to you. The order of this list is random.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Which are the Top Successful Dropout Entrepreneurs in the World?
Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Larry Page, Orji Uzor Kalu, Michael Dell, John Mackey, Azim Premji, Kunal Shah, and Ritesh Agarwal are the Top Successful Dropout Entrepreneurs in the World.
Who are called Entrepreneurs?
The people who create a business based on an idea or product they originated in order to get profit are called entrepreneurs.
What is Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship refers to the process of establishing a new business and assuming any associated risks in order to generate a profit.
