Famous Scientists and Inventors Who Dropped Out of School

FAMOUS SCIENTISTS & BILLIONAIRES H who - STOPPED SHORT OF A DEGREE They changed the way we understand and perceive reality. They proved that imagination, hard work, and trusting your hunches are more important than formal education. Their inventions gave recreation and work to millions of people around the world. They donated to charitable causes to eradicate poverty and diseases and to help the disadvantaged ... Who are these people? Straight to the Top With No Degree THOMAS EDISON Years Completed: 3 Months in High School He invented the light bulb, motion picture camera, telephone, phonograph, and has more than 1,000 patents in his name. His mother taught him to read and write after he was expelled from school because teachers thought he was too slow to learn. While working on a train, selling newspapers, tobacco, and candy, a bottle of phosphorus in his train lab started a fire." He gave up trains, changed several jobs,and devoted himself to inventing. WRIGHT BROTHERS Years Completed: Never Graduated High School airplane. Orville Wright was . The Wright brothers invented the "flying machine" and flew the expelled from elementary school. While both Wilbur and Orville attended high school, they never graduated. They spent a lot of time watching birds in flight, designed gliders, and invented an airplane that gained enough airspeed for a successful flight. "There is little hope for advance if we believe that reality is fixed and only accepted truths are true", Orville Wright once said. BILL GATES Founder of Microsoft Years Completed: 2 Years at Harvard He became a dropout billionaire who earns about $20 million a day. If he were to pay the U.S. national debt, it would take him about 10 years. The former chief executive of Microsoft is a computer programmer, entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist. While Edison put a lot of time and money into his inventions, Bill Gates is focused on malaria eradication and improving access to education. LARRY ELLISON Founder of ORACLE Years Completed: 1 Year at University of Chicago He is a billionaire college dropout and the world's 9th richest person. "Diplomas are for losers", he told Yale graduates in his commencement address. "Loserhood. Loser Cum Laude," he said. Ellison is a magnate who owns planes, yachts, and islands. He also said he has given millions of dollars to charitable causes, including education and medical research. DELL MICHAEL DELL Founder of DELL Years Completed: 1 Year at University of Texas Michael Dell dropped out of college at the age of 19. The founder of Dell Inc. has shown an. interest in technology from an early age and contributed to the computer revolution later in his life. Millions of companies, public libraries, foundations, and individuals use Dell computers for research and their daily tasks. The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation has donated to many charitable causes such as the Asian tsunami victims. PAUL ALLEN Co-founder of Microsoft Years Completed: 2 Years at University of Washingfon He is the founder of Xiant software and co-founder of Microsoft. Known as the "idea man", Allen became a billionaire in his early 30s. He invested in different companies while pursuing. his wired world strategy. In his words, he "saw a connected future" and a wired world. He convinced Bill Gates to drop out of Harvard to start Microsoft. The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has donated close to $30 million to non-for-profits in the U.S. STEVE JOBS Founder of Years Completed: 1 Year at Reed College He introduced the Macintosh and is recognized as one of the pioneers of the computer revolution. His many visionary creations, such as the iPad and iPhone, have changed the lives of millions of people. The man who set a standard for animated films believed that technology would help lives, not charity. MARK ZUCKERBERG Founder of facebook Years Completed: 2 Years at Harvard Mark Zuckerberg is a Harvard dropout and the founder of Facebook. For him, it is more important to connect the world than to offer services for money. Openness and minimalism are important for him. Zuckerberg is a charity donor who gave nearly $500 million to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. SOURCES: Forbes.com, Nytimes.com, Collegedropoutshalloffame.com, Businessinsider.com IMAGE SOURCES: flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/6767407465/ flickr.com/photos/43156897@N06 flickr.com/photos/49291777@N05/4540424707/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Matt_Yohe fansshare.com/gallery/photos/444139 O TECH-FAQ.com