Welcome to Top10Archive!
We've all heard it, had it drilled into our minds since we were old enough to first put
on a backpack.
If you want to be successful, then you have to go to college!
It's the only way to success?
Right?
Well, that's not always the case - and although we always suggest to further your education,
sometimes you can make your own way in this world without immediately going into debt
after you turn 18 - as seen with these 10 individuals.
10.
Ted Turner Network mogul and "entrepreneurial acumen"
Ted Turner, would find a multitude of success throughout his career; even though he hadn't
completed college.
His father, Robert Edward Turner Jr. owned the successful Turner Advertising company,
which found its success via billboard ad sales.
After a brief stint at a boarding school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ted would be encouraged
to enroll in Harvard, by his father.
Though Ted's grades weren't of the required levels for Harvard, he would in turn enroll
in Brown University; though he'd be kicked out for having a woman in his dorm.
It wasn't until 1960 that Ted was made the manager of Turner Advertising's Georgia branch
- and in 1963, after a costly buyout of a competitor about bankrupt the company, Ed
Turner would take his own life; leaving Ted as president of what is now called Turner
Communications.
Currently, as of the 2016, Ted Turner is worth a modest $2.2 Billion.
9.
Ty Warner Creator of the Beanie Baby, Ty Warner would
enroll in Kalamazoo College, of Michigan, where he majored in Drama.
After a short stint, Ty would drop out then move to Hollywood, California, where he would
go in search of an acting career.
With that failing, he would work a number of odd jobs; while he was working one of these
jobs as a camera salesman, he would be introduced to a representative for the toy company, Dakin,
in 1962.
He would work for Dakin for 18 years and in 1980 he would depart from the company to visit
and stay with some friends in Italy.
Inspired by the stuffed animals there, he would return to the United States and began
producing Beanie Babies in the early 1990's.
As of 2016, Ty Warner is worth about $2.5 Billion.
8.
Oprah Winfrey Philanthropist, actress and billionaire, Oprah
Winfrey, wasn't always in such good standings in life.
She was molested by numerous male relatives and friends of her mother, until she moved
to Nashville to live with her father.
In 1971 she enrolled in Tennessee State University and in 1976, she dropped out and moved to
Baltimore to pursue a job offer.
As the new host for People Are Talking, the show grew to become a sensation, with Oprah
at the helm for 8-years until she was approached by a station in Chicago to host her own morning
show.
The rest is pretty much history and as of 2016, Oprah is worth an impressive $3 Billion.
7.
Steve Jobs Co-founder of Apple Computers, alongside Steve
Wozniak, Steve Jobs would quickly become a name recognizable across the globe.
After high school, Jobs would enroll in Reed College in Portland, Oregon.
Though feeling lost and directionless, he would drop out less than a year later, and
in 1974, Steve would take a job with Atari.
Leaving Atari just a few months after, Jobs made his way to India where he experimented
with psychedelic drugs for "spiritual enlightenment".
Two years later, Jobs would return to the United States and form Apple Computer with
his old high school friend, Steve Wozniak.
Working out of their garages, the company would grow to become a multi-billion dollar
company, and at the time of his death in 2011, he was reportedly worth $10.2 Billion.
6.
Paul Allen When you think of Microsoft, you obviously
think of Bill Gates, but does the name Paul Allen ring a bell?
It should, as without Paul, then Microsoft probably never would have happened, after
just 2-years of college at Washington State University, Paul would convince Bill Gates
to drop out and co-create the company known as Microsoft in 1975.
In 1983, Allen would resign from Microsoft, but this wasn't due to a falling out, as Paul
and Bill remain friends to this day, but because he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.
As of 2016, Paul Allen is worth $17.4 billion.
5.
Michael Dell It wasn't until Michael Dell was enrolled
at the University of Texas that he would find his calling.
Realizing that the home computer was still a fairly new concept, and no one has tried
to sell it directly to the consumer, Dell would close out his savings account and began
building personal computers from his dorm room in college.
Focusing on more than just the machine itself, Dell provided affordable prices, amazing customer
support, and a bond of customer relations that had almost been lost in the times.
It wasn't long until he had clients outside of his school, and he was forced to drop out
to meet the expectations of his customers.
This decision, however, proved to be well worth it, as in 1984, his first full year
of operations, he made an impressive $6 million.
Now as of 2016, Michael Dell is worth just shy of $20 Billion.
4.
Mukesh Ambani Not all of these success stories are "underdog"
tales, in the instance of Mukesh Ambani, who was born the son of the Indian business tycoon,
Dhirubhai Ambani.
Mukesh would enroll himself into Stanford University, but was forced to drop out to
aid his father with the family startup company, Reliance, which had grown quickly.
Through his leadership, the company would boom as it expanded over multiple sectors,
such as petroleum refining and gas exploration.
As of 2016, Mukesh is worth a staggering $20.8 Billion, which he isn't afraid to show.
He lives with his family in one of the most expensive residential houses ever built, estimated
to be worth more than $1 Billion. 3.
Mark Zuckerberg As co-founder and CEO of the largest social
media website known as Facebook, he has also become one of the world's youngest billionaires
to date.
In 2002, Mark would enroll at Harvard University where he would develop and create a program
called CourseMatch; a program that helped students choose their classes, as well as
a program called Facemash.
With word of his creative genius spreading across campus rapidly, three fellow students
would reach out to him to ask for help developing a social network.
Though he agreed, he would quickly leave the group to focus on a social networking site
with a few other friends.
In 2004, after the success of his site "Facebook", he would drop out of college to commit all
his time to his craft.
A decision that has gained him a net worth of $35.7 Billion as of 2016.
2.
Lawrence Ellison Entrepreneur and CEO, Lawrence Ellison, founded
the Oracle Corporation, but not until he had his attempts at college first.
Right after high school, Larry would enroll in the University of Illinois, and was even
named the science student of the year.
During his second year, his adopted mother would pass away, resulting in his departure
from college.
A year later he would attempt a go at the University of Chicago, dropping out just after
a semester.
Deciding he would find his calling out west, he left for Berkeley, California, broke and
with hardly a belonging to his name, he bounced from job to job, developing limited programming
skills in between.
In 1977, he and two colleagues founded Software Development Labs, and were soon under contract
to develop a data management system for the CIA.
The resulting system was called Oracle, and just a few years later, in 1981, IBM agreed
to use it, doubling the company's sales for the next seven years.
Today the company employs over 130,000 people across the world, and Lawrence himself, is
worth an estimated $49.3 Billion. 1.
Bill Gates I feel as if this one is pretty self explanatory,
we know the story, after a normal and uneventful childhood, Bill would attend Harvard University,
and in 1974, he was convinced by friend and fellow billionaire, Paul Allen, to develop
software.
In 1975, they created Microsoft, creating the operating system MS-DOS for the computer
giant, IBM.
In 1985, Microsoft released its first retail version of Windows; and by 1993, they had
more than 25-million licensed users.
Being dubbed the richest man in America in 1993, he would hold onto that title for 18-years.
Still astoundingly rich by any means, as of 2016, Bill is worth $79.2-billion, even after
his retirement from Microsoft in 2008.