10 Famous Drop-Out Entrepreneurs

By Zulkifli Musa
Dec 15th, 2008
Site: http://skorcareer.com.my/blog

These people did not obtain degrees, attended college or even completed high school. Some of them were even considered ‘trouble’ during school.

Yet, their entrepreneurship spirit drove them to surpass all every imaginable barriers and in the end put their name in the history book, belonging to a very successful and famous entrepreneur group.

A few of them were seemingly bright and could have completed their degree but none of them had wished they did, and never wanting to turn back the time.

Here are 10 of very successful drop-out entrepreneurs:

1. Henry Ford

Upon the unexpected death of his mother, Henry was asked by his father to run the farm, a job he never loved to do. Instead, he left home and started his career as an apprentice in an electric company and made his way to become an engineer. All this was achieved through years of observation and on job training without receiving any formal education. Despite his lack of education, Henry Ford went on to become one of the earliest human beings in the universe who attained the status of billionaire, through the Ford Motor Company he started.

2. Richard Branson

In his earlier schooling days, Richard came down with suspected dyslexia. He excelled in sports but flunked in academic subjects, and left school at the age of 16. Once, he was told by his teacher, “you will either go to prison or become a millionaire.” Eventually he became a millionaire (and later billionaire), but in the process he did spent his time in the prison. His path of becoming an entrepreneur started with the publishing of a student magazine, followed by the very much successful Virgin Records, and later a string of other ventures.

3. Bill Gates

Bill Gates will probably go down as the man who holds the record as the world’s richest man for the longest time - 13 years. Together with another drop out friend, Paul Allen, the two became the creator of Microsoft which completely changed the landscape of software and computer system. And yes, if Bill had chosen to complete his studies in MIT, he would still graduate. Although officially retired, Bill is still working as Microsoft, as a ‘part time worker’.

4. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is presently the CEO and Chairman of Apple Inc, a company he co-founded at the back of his own house. From merely 2 employees, Apple grew to become one of the fastest growing companies in the world. The production of very successful Apple products is highly attributed to Steve’s fantastic knacks of modern taste and design. Boardroom tussles and power struggle led to his exit from the company he started but later returned as the company’s chief until today.

5. Walt Disney

Walt Disney received formal education up until he was 16, but that did not stop him from becoming award winning producer, screen writer, animator, director, designer and entrepreneur. He is a true testament of ‘do what you like best and the money will come’. What sets Walt apart from others is his down to earth manner even after achieving remarkable success. In one famous occasion (after becoming a millionaire), he was passing by a motorcar showroom, admiring the beauty of the cars showcased but later told himself, “only if I can afford that”. When he reached home, only he realized that he had more than enough money!

6. Michael Dell

Michael Dell started a small computer company while attending university. He made himself very busy and his ignorance to the studies made his parents concerned. Upon given the ultimatum, he decided to do the unexpected, which is leaving the university. Michael did not disappoint as his company, Dell Inc. went on to create history as the most profitable computer maker in the world. As of today, Dell is the second largest PC maker behind great rival, Hewlett Packard (HP).

7. Ingvar Kamprad

When it comes to modern housing furniture and design, IKEA is always in the leading pack, thanks to efforts from its founder, Ingvar Kamprad. Ingvar never received any education, and started his business by selling matches and other accessories while he was still a young boy. He also had one problem, which is remembering things in the stock and inventory. So to solve the problem, he referred the IKEA products by name, not by reference number, a system used by the company until today.

8. Ray Kroc

The man who introduced McDonald’s to the world, Ray Kroc, has an immense influence that the Time magazine included him as one of the 100 Most Important People in The Century. In 1950s, McDonald’s business was a merely a small, local based food restaurant, but Ray Kroc bought the corporation and transformed it into what we see today. He was trained as an ambulance driver but his career never took off and he worked as salesman and musician instead, before stumbling upon McDonald’s.

9. Li Ka-shing

The Hong Kong based entrepreneur Li Ka-shing is presently the richest Chinese man in the world, and the 11th richest man overall in 2008 as ranked by Forbes magazine. He belongs to the classic story of many China immigrants finding success ashore. Hard work, perseverance and never-say-no attitudes are the 3 main elements that drive Li Ka-shing to success. His company now operates one of the world’s largest container terminals.

10. Coco Chanel

A daughter to a struggling salesman, Coco was born in a poor house that came without necessities. With her parents unable to raise her, Coco had to spend her early years in an orphanage, during which she was first introduced to the world of sewing - the world that will change her life, and her generation, forever. Time magazine included Coco Chanel as one of the 100 Most Important People in The Century - the only person in the fashion industry to be induced into the list.

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