Where Did the Top 10 Richest Men in the World Go to School?

As of September 2025, the top 10 richest men in the world, according to Forbes, are listed below with their net worths approximated from recent data. For each, I’ve detailed their place of birth, nationality, high school, college or university, and highest level of education, based on verified biographical sources. Note that many are college dropouts, reflecting a common trait among tech entrepreneurs.

The information is compiled from reliable profiles and may vary slightly by source. Below the table, you’ll find a brief paragraph about each individual, highlighting their background and achievements.

Brief Profiles of the Top 10 Richest Men

Elon Musk: Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Elon Musk is a visionary entrepreneur known for revolutionizing industries through companies like Tesla (electric vehicles), SpaceX (space exploration), and Neuralink (brain-machine interfaces). After attending the prestigious Pretoria Boys High School, he moved to Canada and later the U.S., earning dual bachelor’s degrees in physics and economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Musk’s innovative drive has made him the world’s richest person, with a focus on sustainable energy and multi-planetary life.

Larry Ellison: Larry Ellison, born in the Bronx, New York City, to an unwed Jewish mother and raised by his aunt and uncle in Chicago, is the co-founder of Oracle Corporation, a leading enterprise software company. He attended South Shore High School before briefly studying at the University of Illinois and University of Chicago, from which he dropped out. Ellison’s relentless pursuit of database technology has built an empire, making him a tech titan whose philanthropy supports medical research and education.

Mark Zuckerberg: Mark Zuckerberg, born in White Plains, New York, to a dentist father and psychiatrist mother, created Facebook (now Meta) in his Harvard dorm room, transforming social networking forever. He attended the elite Phillips Exeter Academy for high school and enrolled at Harvard University, studying computer science and psychology, but dropped out to focus on his startup. Zuckerberg’s platform connects billions, and his ventures into VR and AI continue to shape the digital world.

Jeff Bezos: Jeff Bezos, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to a teenage mother and later raised by his Cuban stepfather in Houston, founded Amazon as an online bookstore that evolved into a global e-commerce and cloud computing giant. He graduated from Miami Palmetto High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University. Bezos’s customer-centric approach and investments in Blue Origin space travel highlight his entrepreneurial genius.

Larry Page: Larry Page, born in East Lansing, Michigan, to academic parents in computer science and technology, co-founded Google with Sergey Brin, revolutionizing search and information access. He attended East Lansing High School, earned a bachelor’s in computer engineering from the University of Michigan, and a master’s in computer science from Stanford University. Page’s innovations in AI and autonomous vehicles through Alphabet Inc. underscore his role in the digital age.

Sergey Brin: Sergey Brin, born in Moscow, Soviet Union, to Jewish mathematician parents who emigrated to the U.S. to escape antisemitism, co-founded Google with Larry Page while at Stanford. He attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland, earned a bachelor’s in mathematics and computer science from the University of Maryland, and a master’s in computer science from Stanford (PhD incomplete). Brin’s contributions to search algorithms and philanthropy via the Brin Wojcicki Foundation reflect his intellectual legacy.

Steve Ballmer: Steve Ballmer, born in Detroit, Michigan, to a Swiss immigrant father and American mother, served as Microsoft’s CEO from 2000 to 2014, driving its growth into a tech powerhouse. He attended Detroit Country Day School, earned a bachelor’s in applied mathematics and economics from Harvard University, and started an MBA at Stanford but dropped out to join Microsoft. Ballmer’s energetic leadership and ownership of the LA Clippers NBA team exemplify his business acumen.

Bernard Arnault: Bernard Arnault, born in Roubaix, France, to a civil engineer father, built LVMH into the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate, overseeing brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior. He attended Maxence Van Der Meersch High School and earned an engineer’s degree in civil engineering from École Polytechnique. Arnault’s strategic acquisitions and family-run empire have made him Europe’s richest person, blending business savvy with art patronage.

Bill Gates: Bill Gates, born in Seattle, Washington, to a lawyer father and teacher mother, co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen, pioneering personal computing worldwide. He attended the affluent Lakeside School, where he first programmed, and enrolled at Harvard University to study pre-law and mathematics but dropped out to focus on Microsoft. Gates’s philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has addressed global health and education, cementing his legacy beyond wealth.

Michael Dell: Michael Dell, born in Houston, Texas, to a stockbroker father and orthodontist mother, founded Dell Technologies, revolutionizing the PC industry with direct-sales models. He attended Memorial High School and enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin to study medicine but dropped out at 19 to start his company from a dorm room. Dell’s innovative supply chain and expansions into servers and cloud services have made him a computing pioneer.

Key Insights

• Common Trends: Eight of the top 10 attended prestigious U.S. universities, with Harvard and Stanford prominent among dropouts (Zuckerberg, Gates, Ballmer). Tech-focused education dominates, aligning with their industries (e.g., Musk’s physics degree for SpaceX/Tesla).
• Dropouts’ Success: Five are college dropouts (Ellison, Zuckerberg, Gates, Dell, Ballmer’s MBA), echoing the narrative of self-made entrepreneurs, though all had strong high school foundations.
• Diversity: Birthplaces span the U.S., South Africa, Russia, and France, reflecting global influences, but all hold U.S. ties except Arnault (French).
• High Schools: Mostly elite prep or public schools with strong academics (e.g., Lakeside for Gates, known for early computer access).

This list is dynamic due to market changes; net worths are estimates from September 2025 sources. For the latest, check Forbes directly.