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Have you ever pondered the true magnitude of the term ‘billionaire’ as it’s often casually mentioned? Consider this: Picture yourself receiving an allowance of RM1,000 daily. Even if you didn’t spend a single cent, it would take you a staggering three years to amass one million ringgit. Now, to reach a billion, you’d need to save for approximately 2,740 years.
If you’re curious about the top 10 wealthiest individuals globally and their educational backgrounds, you’re in the right spot! Exploring this might ignite your ambition towards joining the ranks of billionaires and potentially accelerate your journey towards that goal. After all, there’s no harm in aspiring to such heights!
1. Bernard Arnault Educational Background
Net worth: $211 Billion
Bernard Arnault serves as the co-founder, chairman, and chief executive of the luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which encompasses iconic brands like Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Loewe, Kenzo, Sephora, TAG Heuer, Bulgari, and Tiffany & Co., among approximately 60 other subsidiaries.
A native of Roubaix, France, Arnault was born in 1949 and holds a degree in engineering from École Polytechnique in Paris.
2. Elon Musk Educational Background
Net worth: $180 Billion
If you’re enthusiastic about electric cars, particularly Tesla, or if you’re an active presence on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), chances are you’re familiar with Elon Musk. Renowned as both a businessman and investor, Musk has left an indelible mark on several industries.
Elon Musk, also recognized as Elon Reeve Musk, co-founded six prominent companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, and is the proprietor of X. Among his diverse ventures are X.com (formerly PayPal), Neuralink, OpenAI, and the Musk Foundation. Following his graduation, Musk pursued two internships in Silicon Valley.
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, Musk is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and Physics.
3. Jeff Bezos Educational Background
Net worth: $114 Billion
Curious about the founder of Amazon? That would be Jeff Bezos. Technically, he holds multiple titles: founder, executive chairman, and former president and CEO of the largest e-commerce company, Amazon. Bezos even gets a shoutout in Bo Burnham’s song “I Bezos” with the lyrics, ‘CEO, entrepreneur, Born in 1964, Jeffrey, Jeffrey Bezos’, for those who follow TikTok trends.
Jeff Bezos, whose full name is Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen, initially ventured into Financial Technology and Banking before pivoting to establish an online bookstore. Alongside his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott, Bezos laid the foundation for Amazon, which has since diversified into various consumer goods.
Bezos is an alumnus of Princeton University, where he studied Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.
4. Larry Ellison Educational Background
Net worth: $107 Billion
According to the Forbes Billionaire 2023 list, Larry Ellison holds the title of the fourth richest person globally.
Larry Ellison, also known as Lawrence Joseph Ellison, played a pivotal role in the founding of Oracle Corporation, a software giant. Beginning as a startup with just three programmers, Oracle has evolved into the leading supplier of database software and significant provider of business applications. Ellison served as Oracle’s CEO until 2014 and currently holds positions as executive chairman and chief technology officer.
Before delving into computer coding and programming for various clients and companies, Ellison pursued studies in Computer Science principles.
5. Warren Buffett Educational Background
Net worth: $106 Billion
Ranked number five on the Forbes Billionaire 2023 list, Warren Buffett stands as one of the wealthiest individuals globally. Renowned as a businessman, investor, and philanthropist, Buffett has harbored a passion for business since his early years.
Warren Edward Buffett is celebrated as the most accomplished investor in history, thanks to his remarkable investment track record. Serving as CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett oversees a diverse portfolio that includes insurance company Geico, battery maker Duracell, and fast food chain Dairy Queen.
Born in 1930 in Nebraska, USA, Buffett pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska and a Master of Science in Economics from Columbia Business School at Columbia University.
6. Bill Gates Educational Background
Net worth: $104 Billion
According to the Forbes Billionaire 2023 list, Bill Gates ranks as the sixth wealthiest individual worldwide. Mention Bill Gates, and Microsoft immediately comes to mind. Gates, an American computer programmer, businessman, investor, writer, and philanthropist, has left an indelible mark on the tech industry.
Bill Gates, born William Henry Gates III, is best known as the co-founder of Microsoft. Throughout his tenure with the software giant, Gates held various key positions, including chairman, CEO, president, and chief software architect. Beyond Microsoft, Gates has engaged in numerous entrepreneurial and investment endeavors.
Born in 1955 in Washington, USA, Gates opted to drop out of Harvard, although he pursued mathematics and graduate-level computer science courses. Despite not completing his degree, Gates was bestowed with an Honorary doctorate from Harvard and other esteemed institutions. Interestingly, Gates doesn’t advocate for students to emulate his path; instead, through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he champions the importance of higher education.
7. Michael Bloomberg Educational Background
Net worth: $94.5 Billion
Who is Michael Bloomberg? As per the Forbes Billionaire 2023 list, Michael Bloomberg stands as the seventh wealthiest individual globally. Renowned as a businessman, stock trader, politician, and philanthropist, Bloomberg’s influence spans multiple domains.
Michael Bloomberg, also known as Michael Rubens Bloomberg, co-founded the financial information and media conglomerate Bloomberg LP and served as its CEO. Additionally, he ventured into politics and held the position of mayor of New York City until 2013.
Born in 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Bloomberg holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School.
8. Carlos Slim Helu Educational Background
Net worth: $93 Billion
As per the Forbes Billionaire 2023 list, Carlos Slim Helu and his family hold the eighth position among the wealthiest individuals globally. Known as a businessman, investor, and philanthropist, Slim Helu maintains a keen interest in Economics despite graduating with an engineering degree.
Carlos Slim Helu amassed his considerable fortune through substantial investments in various Mexican companies, including America Movil, the largest mobile telecom firm in Latin America, and Telmex, which operates under Grupo Carso, one of the region’s largest conglomerates.
Born in Mexico City in 1940, Carlos Slim Helu graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, majoring in civil engineering.
9. Mukesh Ambani Educational Background
Net worth: $83.4 Billion
Moving forward, according to the Forbes Billionaire 2023 list, Mukesh Ambani holds the ninth position among the wealthiest individuals globally. Known as a billionaire businessman in India, Ambani serves as the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Limited.
At the helm of Reliance Industries Limited, headquartered in Mumbai, India, Mukesh Ambani oversees operations across various sectors, including energy, petrochemicals, natural gas, retail, mass media, telecommunications, and textiles. Renowned as the largest public company in India, Reliance Industries Limited maintains a prominent presence in the global market.
Born in 1957 as Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani, he holds the distinction of being the richest individual in Asia. Ambani pursued his academic journey, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology, which is now recognized as the University Department of Chemical Technology at the University of Mumbai.
10. Steve Ballmer
Net worth: $80.7 Billion
According to the Forbes Billionaire 2023 list, Steve Ballmer holds the esteemed position of the tenth richest individual globally. Renowned as a businessman and investor, Ballmer has left a significant mark in the business world.
Born Steven Anthony Ballmer, he is recognized for his tenure as the former CEO of Microsoft, spanning from 2000 to 2014, during which he succeeded Bill Gates. Following his departure from Microsoft, Ballmer acquired ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers, a team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Additionally, he co-founded the Ballmer Group, a philanthropic endeavor.
Born in 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, USA, Steve Ballmer pursued his academic endeavors at Harvard University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematics and Economics.