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15 Dropouts Who Found Success Post-School

Kids, stay in school. But if you don't, you're in good company.

15 Dropouts Who Found Success Post-School

March 29, 2021

Kids, stay in school. Education is important. However, if you do decide to drop out, you're in good company. (Keep in mind, a lot of these people were well-connected before they dropped out, so before you follow them, I just hope you were born rich.) Now that your earning potential is no longer on my conscious, here are 15 success stories to convince your parents to get off your back.

15

The Wright Brothers never graduated high school. The founders of aviation didn't complete high school, despite earning good grades. They would receive 15 honorary degrees, however. CRACKED COM — Source: Wright Brothers Aeroplane Co.

14

Ben Franklin

Benjamin Franklin's education ended at age 10. The celebrated Founding Father was only formally educated for two years. He would help found what would become the University of Pennsylvania, despite not having a formal college education himself. — Source: Britannica

13

George Carlin was expelled from high school. The famous comedian didn't graduate. After three semesters of high school, Carlin involuntarily left and only briefly attended another high school. — Source: The New York Times

12

Brad Pitt left college tWo weeks before graduation. Back before he was a household name, Pitt was in school for journalism but packed up and moved out to L.A. right before graduation. Obviously, his decision paid off. CRACKED COM — Source: NPR

11

Abraham Lincoln had less than a year of formal education. Lincoln was almost entirely self-taught through books, with on-and-off formal education adding up to less than a year. CRACKED COM — Source: National Geographic

10

Hiroshi Yamauchi dropped out of law school. Hiroshi left his studies when his grandfather had a stroke, and he needed to take over the family business. That business was Nintendo, which he turned into the giant empire it is now. CRACKED COM — Source: The Guardian

9

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday had to drop out of school at the age of 11. The incredible singer dropped out of fifth grade to run errands in a brothel. Although having an incredibly difficult life, she is considered to be the greatest jazz vocalist. CRACKED COM — Source: PBS

8

John D. Rockefeller dropped out of high school months before graduating. The oil tycoon would go on to become the world's first billionaire and the wealthiest American of all-time. CRACKED COM — Source: PBS

7

F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald dropped out of college due to bad grades. The Great Gatsby author, whose work is now a staple in school curriculums, failed trigonometry, geometry, algebra, and chemistry before leaving Princeton University. CRACKED COM — Source: Princeton Archives

6

Jane Austen's formal education ended at age 10. The Pride and Prejudice author continues to delight audiences her writing, even though her education was limited by her gender. CRACKED COM — Source: The British Library

5

Bill Murray dropped out of pre-med classes. The actor later received an honorary doctorate from the college he attended for only one year. CRACKED COM — Source: Denver Post

4

Bobby Fischer dropped out of high school at age 16 He left school to focus on chess, which makes sense since he was one of the greatest chess players to ever live. CRACKED COM — Source: New York Times

3

Walt Disney dropped out of high school at age 16 He used a forged birth certificate to enroll in the Red Cross Ambulance Corps during WWI since he wasn't 17, the minimum age. CRACKED COM — Source: Mental Floss

2

Ray Kroc didn't graduate high school He dropped out to be an ambulance driver but held many jobs in his lifetime, most notably as the businessman behind McDonald's massive success. CRACKED COM — Source: New York TImes

1

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell dropped out of school at 16 FO R THE The talent show judge entertainment producer is known for being no-nonsense, which might be why he left his British boarding school. Who needs a degree when you can say you're responsible for One Direction? — Source: Yahoo!

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