High School Dropouts: Celebs Who Didn't Receive Their Diplomas (2024)

FAQs

What famous person didn't graduate high school? ›

Quentin Tarantino dropped out at 15.

The Oscar winner attended Narbonne High School in Harbor City, California, until he dropped out at the age of 15 and started working as an usher at an adult film theater while taking acting classes, according to Bio.

Most people know that the successful Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, and Mark Zuckerberg are early dropouts. They were the rebels of their time who believed they could change the world. Education was a useless waste of time that prevented them from fulfilling their real dreams.

Eminem - The gifted rapper attended Lincoln High School in Warren, Michigan, where he failed the ninth grade three times and eventually dropped out at the age of 17. Despite being a poor student, Eminem showed an interest in language, devouring comic books and even studying the dictionary.

Do you need a diploma to be successful? Although a diploma is important and can open new paths in life for you, it's not necessary to be successful. There are many ways people around the world have found their own pathway to success that didn't involve education.

Fun fact: Beyoncé dropped out of high school at 15 to form Destiny's Child. Her dad homeschooled her. She never went to college, but you have to admit she does have business smarts. She also married a good man in Jay-Z, But still could've made it on her own.

Originally Answered: What billionaires did not finish high school? Richard Branson. Branson was dyslexic and by his own words a 'dunce'. He didn't particularly enjoy school, so left at Age 16, to found a magazine called 'The Student'.

Musk later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania and received bachelor's degrees in economics and physics. He moved to California in 1995 to attend Stanford University, but dropped out after two days and, with his brother Kimbal, co-founded online city guide software company Zip2.

Billionaires who found fame and wealth after dropping out are in industries including fashion, tech, and music. Jay-Z, hip-hop's first billionaire, never graduated from high school. The rapper does, however, publicly encourage people to value education. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson quit school at 16.

McDonald's founder Ray Kroc and Walt Disney both left high school to pursue other interests that became globally-recognized brands. Likewise, Henry Ford and Coco Chanel never finished high school but created enduring brand names that outlasted their lifetimes.

Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce are one of the highest earning celebrity couples. Clearly, the rapper and business mogul didn't ever let his lack of a high school diploma get in the way of his dreams. He attended schools across Brooklyn and New Jersey before ultimately dropping out and earning his GED.

Did Kanye West graduate HS? ›

After graduating from high school, West received a scholarship to attend Chicago's American Academy of Art in 1997 and began taking painting classes. Shortly after, he transferred to Chicago State University to study English. At age 20, he dropped out to pursue his musical career.

Here was the probability of a family having at least $1 million, based on the highest level of education in the household: No high school diploma: 1 in 110 (less than 1%)

People with high school diplomas tend to earn more.

The added credentials from a high school diploma can really help your earning potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers that have earned a high school diploma, make on average nearly $10,000 more per year than those without.

Studies show that high school diploma holders are more prepared for college and score higher on placement exams. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, less than 5% of GED holders will actually receive a Bachelor's Degreei. 77% of students with a GED do not continue past the first semester of collegeii.

Rihanna. The Grammy winner left school at age 16 after she landed a record deal. In addition to releasing eight hit albums, the Barbados native has since acted in films and founded a beauty company, lingerie line and fashion house.

Rockefeller. John D. Rockefeller, a prominent American business magnate, and philanthropist did not go to college. He started his career in the oil industry and went on to establish the Standard Oil Company, which became one of the largest and most successful companies in history.

Albert Einstein dropped out of high school at the age of 15 because he felt traditional schooling left little room for questioning or thought. After leaving high school, Einstein failed the entrance exam to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He then completed his education at a Swiss school in Aarau.

Kearney graduated from high school at 6 and went to Santa Rosa Junior College in Sonoma County, California, where he obtained an Associate of Science in Geology at age 8. In 1993, his family moved to Alabama. Circa 1996, he was interviewed by Meredith Vieira on Turning Point (ABC News).