Millionaires and College - Did they finish? - GoFuckYourself.com

slapass · 07-31-2005, 02:31 PM

was just sort of doing a poll with some friends and very few of the millionaires we know, finished college. The richest guys in the world have nice group who did not finish. Gates, Allen and guy from Oracle. But I only have one friend who is a millionaire that finished college. I was wondering if it was because I do not have very tech orientated friends and acquaintances.

Why · 07-31-2005, 03:04 PM

i dont think many that made millions in the tech sector finished college.

pradaboy · 07-31-2005, 03:05 PM

No idea, but as with anything else there's no "golden standard". I'm just happy when I get my masters degree so I always have something to fall back on if things turn for the worse.

Fizzgig · 07-31-2005, 03:09 PM

Lots of poor people didn't finish college either... Lack of education is probably not the key to success.

Trax · 07-31-2005, 03:09 PM

you don't need to finish if you are building a google
if you're submitting galleries I would suggest you keep studying ;)
if you net a million a year and it's stable why worry about getting a degree

overall I think everybody that started to study didn't regret it
not even a sergey brin or larry page... if they would not have done their little search engine project to get their degree.......
so college can't be that bad ;)

Trax · 07-31-2005, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizzgig

Lots of poor people didn't finish college either... Lack of education is probably not the key to success.

nice one

Dalai lama · 07-31-2005, 03:15 PM

College is not the key of success but I consider it as a backup. If ever, my business shuts down for any reason i have the papers to start at a above average job and income.

wedouglas · 07-31-2005, 04:21 PM

i think youll find many millionaires who finished grad school. college isnt difficult, grad school on the other hand is. phd in engineering makes a lot of money...

icedemon · 07-31-2005, 04:40 PM

College is for people that want to work for somebody else (or a backup, like what Dalai lama says). If you want to work at some job that will make you a millionaire, then college is for you (and the more the better). If you want to become a millionaire with your own business, then college isn't for you.

My dad didn't finish high school, but is a millionaire. Most of my friends that are millionaires didn't finish college (or never went).

BRISK · 07-31-2005, 04:48 PM

Education is good. More education is better.

pornguy · 07-31-2005, 04:57 PM

My uncle made his first million sellinf life insurance, and corporate insurance. He did that by the time he was 40. He quit school in the 8th grade, later took his GED, but never tool a university class.

BlueDesignStudios · 07-31-2005, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pradaboy

No idea, but as with anything else there's no "golden standard". I'm just happy when I get my masters degree so I always have something to fall back on if things turn for the worse.

what's your masters degree in?

VeriSexy · 07-31-2005, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizzgig

Lots of poor people didn't finish college either... Lack of education is probably not the key to success.

Very true, lot's of things can determine how rich or poor you get in this world....

CybermedAndy · 07-31-2005, 05:29 PM

College doesn't train entrepreneurs- it gives them some tools but in my experience to be a millionaire you need to have a very non-conformist attitude and be not only comfortable with, but eager to take risks.

College is often a breeding ground for sheep, imo.

tristan_D · 07-31-2005, 05:40 PM

I don't think a college degree is a ticket to millions. It's all about ability.

BlueDesignStudios · 07-31-2005, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelDollarsAndy

College is often a breeding ground for sheep, imo.

Like all those sheep who have been awarded nobel prizes for making significant contributions to the knowledge of mankind?

Lev · 07-31-2005, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelDollarsAndy

College doesn't train entrepreneurs- it gives them some tools but in my experience to be a millionaire you need to have a very non-conformist attitude and be not only comfortable with, but eager to take risks.

College is often a breeding ground for sheep, imo.

very true

Yanks_Todd · 07-31-2005, 06:26 PM

I am a high school dropout, and I seem to be doing pretty well

Pete-KT · 07-31-2005, 06:28 PM

I have my degree in Computer Engineering its always there in case I need to fall back on it

wedouglas · 07-31-2005, 06:32 PM

Just because some of the richest in the world didnt go to college, doesnt mean their VP's and high appointed didn't. I'd be willing to bet those VP's and such make waaaaaay more than your average self made millionaire.

Basic_man · 07-31-2005, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pradaboy

No idea, but as with anything else there's no "golden standard". I'm just happy when I get my masters degree so I always have something to fall back on if things turn for the worse.

Yeah, I think the same way.

But related to the topic of the thread, it's pretty weird. The only millionaire I know did finish his college degree.

wedouglas · 07-31-2005, 06:35 PM

why do people get things to "fall back on" ? Why not devote yourself to one thing and make sure you get shit done. If you need something to fall back on then you made the wrong choice to begin with.

BlueDesignStudios · 07-31-2005, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wedouglas

Just because some of the richest in the world didnt go to college, doesnt mean their VP's and high appointed didn't. I'd be willing to bet those VP's and such make waaaaaay more than your average self made millionaire.

yeah good point

infact there are a high number of billionaires who don't have a high level of formal education - and if you removed these from the education vs wealth plots, you'd find on average those with college degrees earn more than those without

TMM_John · 07-31-2005, 06:39 PM

Colleges these days crank out workers not thinkers. College (at least in the US) is nothing but another money making industry.

Drake · 07-31-2005, 06:49 PM

I think there's a difference between being smart and making money. Many academics, scientists, brilliant authors don't make much while somebody submitting galleries since 1996 can make a killing. Sometimes it's related, other times it's just the type of job that pays well or not.

E Guru · 07-31-2005, 06:55 PM

School is for people who want to work for other people...

E Guru · 07-31-2005, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBucksJohn

Colleges these days crank out workers not thinkers. College (at least in the US) is nothing but another money making industry.

Yup, you goto to school to "get a job" not to "start a business"
Althought I know there is classes that can help, I am just talking about the majority of people.

sniperwolf · 07-31-2005, 07:00 PM

I don't think many of them made it to college or even finished.. sometimes I think that rich family becomes richer and richer each year.

slapass · 07-31-2005, 07:03 PM

I guess the thought is does it have a built in impediment to self employmkent.

reynold · 07-31-2005, 07:08 PM

They were business. All they have on them are guts knowledge( not necessarily a degree), and luck to get to where they are now.

wedouglas · 07-31-2005, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E Guru

Yup, you goto to school to "get a job" not to "start a business"
Althought I know there is classes that can help, I am just talking about the majority of people.

You know, you might just learn a thing or two that lets you start your business. Not all businesses can be started with good ideas. I'd be wiling to bet all the stuff you take for granted wasnt created by people who dropped out of school or didnt go to college. You'd be very foolish to think anything technologically advanced could be created by someone without formal college or higher level education.

You can make it in porn or any service industry without a college degree, but i think you'd fail to create a successful business in anything dealing with science or advanced technology.

Point being, college is more necessary for some businesses than it is for others.

sweetcuties · 07-31-2005, 07:12 PM

I have my degree in business and I'm happy I've got it. It's a sense of achievement and accomplishment. Plus, it looks cool on the wall

Sly · 07-31-2005, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NichePay_PeteKT

I have my degree in Computer Engineering its always there in case I need to fall back on it

Uh, aren't you like 19?

wedouglas · 07-31-2005, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

Uh, aren't you like 19?

i think hes getting his degree. im 20 with a electrical and computer engineering major and i'd say that it woud be near impossible to have a degree in CE at 20.

CybermedAndy · 07-31-2005, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueDesignStudios

Like all those sheep who have been awarded nobel prizes for making significant contributions to the knowledge of mankind?

Ya, but how many can you count?

And I doubt that much of the knowledge they acquired in college contributed to who they were or how they thought.

I think college is a great place to go if you're keen on learning for the sake of gaining knowledge. I don't think its an establishment that you can count on for develloping or learning anything that will enable to you to gain much in life, financially or emotionally.

wedouglas · 07-31-2005, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelDollarsAndy

Ya, but how many can you count?

And I doubt that much of the knowledge they acquired in college contributed to who they were or how they thought.

I think you're looking at college on the undergrad level too much. The poeple who continue to grad school will usually end up working in funded R&D that leads to bigger things and requires the knowledge from undergrad and real world experience. not to mention that most of that real world experience required a degree to get.

wedouglas · 07-31-2005, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelDollarsAndy

I don't think its an establishment that you can count on for develloping or learning anything that will enable to you to gain much in life, financially or emotionally.

See: Doctors and Engineers.

KRL · 07-31-2005, 07:52 PM

If you are going to be a professional or corp exec you need that degree.

If you want to get rich you don't.

I did 2 years of college and was bored silly and dropped out.

slapass · 07-31-2005, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wedouglas

I think you're looking at college on the undergrad level too much. The poeple who continue to grad school will usually end up working in funded R&D that leads to bigger things and requires the knowledge from undergrad and real world experience. not to mention that most of that real world experience required a degree to get.

I only know a few people with advanced degrees. Only one is a millionaire and I did not count him as he is dead. The rest will get there just do to earning level.

Obviously this is a pretty low bar. But it was interesting that so few people with really good jobs had gotten there. Where as lots of folks with small businesses were there.

slapass · 07-31-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRL

If you are going to be a professional or corp exec you need that degree.

If you want to get rich you don't.

I did 2 years of college and was bored silly and dropped out.

KRL, i was quoting you the other night during this convo. The deal about having one good year and now multiply it by the 30 years you have left.

sacX · 07-31-2005, 08:00 PM

I have > $1 million and medical degrees to fall back on.

wedouglas · 07-31-2005, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sacX

I have > $1 million and medical degrees to fall back on.

haha. that is really something to fall back on. a friend i know is becoming a surgeon. the group of surgeons he works with make around 500K a year. if youre a back doctor, eye doctor, or detist, i would open a practice. serious money in those. and those are definately businesses you cant get without a degree hehe.

AmigoPorn · 07-31-2005, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniperwolf

I don't think many of them made it to college or even finished.. sometimes I think that rich family becomes richer and richer each year.

I agree with you.

Next question to those millionaires who didn't go to college would be: did they start from the ground up? or did their parents were well off before?

will76 · 07-31-2005, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelDollarsAndy

College doesn't train entrepreneurs- it gives them some tools but in my experience to be a millionaire you need to have a very non-conformist attitude and be not only comfortable with, but eager to take risks.

College is often a breeding ground for sheep, imo.

College is terrible in the sense that it pre programs you to work for someone else. Everything is based on, do this or do good " if you want to get a good job". Fuck that. College kills entrepreneural spirit.

College is good for general education, which is never bad to have. Helps you learn people skills, etc... but does nothing to help make you rich, just maybe get a better paying job.

I went to college and graduated. Never used my degree and make really really good money.

jayeff · 07-31-2005, 08:50 PM

Although I agree that education systems are designed to turn out workers and not entrepreneurs, several aspects of my education have proved very useful over the years.

I guess that depends on what you studied and on the nature of your business, but those who choose to finish their education for reasons of caution also get my vote. Unless you have a very time-sensitive idea, waiting a while to begin your business isn't going to make much difference in the long run. And like it or not you are far more likely to fail than succeed, so for most, having a Plan B is a very good idea.

There are a lot of people in this business who credit themselves with their success, but although it is true that it was much easier to make money pre-2002 than since, this is still a very, very easy industry. If you are in your early 20's now and merely riding a bandwagon to 6 figures a year (or whatever), by the time you are 30 you may well have discovered you are not quite the entrepreneur you imagined.

Doctor Dre · 07-31-2005, 09:01 PM

Let me dig an old post about this that I found really cool

Doctor Dre · 07-31-2005, 09:10 PM

God damn I can't find it . I thought it was in Mark's (GTS) ambush interview .

Where he said :
Once his teacher asked how much people were expecting to make after they finish their class ... they all said from 30 to 60k.

It's not only about the skills ... it's about the expectation and the ability to think "outside the box" . Sheeps can't become millionaires in today's industry as it is.

Doctor Dre · 07-31-2005, 09:10 PM

Don't get me wrong thought ... education is very good and usefull for an entrepreneur ... I'm not saying otherwise !

Screaming · 07-31-2005, 09:12 PM

hmm never really thought about it

AmigoPorn · 07-31-2005, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Dre

God damn I can't find it . I thought it was in Mark's (GTS) ambush interview .

Where he said :
Once his teacher asked how much people were expecting to make after they finish their class ... they all said from 30 to 60k.

It's not only about the skills ... it's about the expectation and the ability to think "outside the box" . Sheeps can't become millionaires in today's industry as it is.

I believe that's shap's interview you're referring to.

07-31-2005, 02:31 PM	#1
slapass Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 14,625	Millionaires and College - Did they finish? was just sort of doing a poll with some friends and very few of the millionaires we know, finished college. The richest guys in the world have nice group who did not finish. Gates, Allen and guy from Oracle. But I only have one friend who is a millionaire that finished college. I was wondering if it was because I do not have very tech orientated friends and acquaintances.

07-31-2005, 03:05 PM	#3
pradaboy sell me your banners Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: on the tubes Posts: 12,931	No idea, but as with anything else there's no "golden standard". I'm just happy when I get my masters degree so I always have something to fall back on if things turn for the worse. __________________ Media Buyer - Sell me your traffic! FREE to register domains... Better than 99% of the crap sold here!

07-31-2005, 03:09 PM	#4
Fizzgig Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: In Your Dreams Posts: 9,649	Lots of poor people didn't finish college either... Lack of education is probably not the key to success. __________________ ---'-,-{@ Sassy Grrrl @}-'-,---

07-31-2005, 03:15 PM	#7
Dalai lama Strength and Honor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 16,540	College is not the key of success but I consider it as a backup. If ever, my business shuts down for any reason i have the papers to start at a above average job and income. __________________ A program you can trust. Gallerybooster Run multiply TGPs of 1 script

07-31-2005, 04:48 PM	#10
BRISK Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,240	Education is good. More education is better. __________________ I post on GFY so that when people ask me what I do, I can tell them that I work with the mentally retarded.

07-31-2005, 03:04 PM	#2
Why MFBA Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: PNW Posts: 7,230	i dont think many that made millions in the tech sector finished college.

07-31-2005, 03:09 PM	#5
Trax [----------------------] Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 14,486	you don't need to finish if you are building a google if you're submitting galleries I would suggest you keep studying ;) if you net a million a year and it's stable why worry about getting a degree overall I think everybody that started to study didn't regret it not even a sergey brin or larry page... if they would not have done their little search engine project to get their degree....... so college can't be that bad ;)

07-31-2005, 04:21 PM	#8
wedouglas So Fucking Banned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dearborn, MI Posts: 5,921	i think youll find many millionaires who finished grad school. college isnt difficult, grad school on the other hand is. phd in engineering makes a lot of money...

07-31-2005, 04:40 PM	#9
icedemon Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lutz, FL Posts: 1,022	College is for people that want to work for somebody else (or a backup, like what Dalai lama says). If you want to work at some job that will make you a millionaire, then college is for you (and the more the better). If you want to become a millionaire with your own business, then college isn't for you. My dad didn't finish high school, but is a millionaire. Most of my friends that are millionaires didn't finish college (or never went).

07-31-2005, 04:57 PM	#11
pornguy Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Homeless Posts: 62,911	My uncle made his first million sellinf life insurance, and corporate insurance. He did that by the time he was 40. He quit school in the 8th grade, later took his GED, but never tool a university class. __________________ PornGuy skype me pornguy_epic AmateurDough The Hottes Shemales online! TChicks.com \| Angeles Cid \| Mariana Cordoba \| MAILERS WELCOME!

07-31-2005, 05:29 PM	#14
CybermedAndy Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 4,170	College doesn't train entrepreneurs- it gives them some tools but in my experience to be a millionaire you need to have a very non-conformist attitude and be not only comfortable with, but eager to take risks. College is often a breeding ground for sheep, imo. __________________ Add some upsell items to your pages here!

07-31-2005, 05:40 PM	#15
tristan_D Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 7,865	I don't think a college degree is a ticket to millions. It's all about ability. __________________ Increase your sales. Up to $4 per click.

07-31-2005, 06:26 PM	#18
Yanks_Todd Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Valencia Posts: 2,490	I am a high school dropout, and I seem to be doing pretty well __________________ Todd Spaits - Co-founder -YanksCash Premium ad-packages available - Skype for details - tmspaits

07-31-2005, 06:28 PM	#19
Pete-KT Workin With The Devil Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 51,532	I have my degree in Computer Engineering its always there in case I need to fall back on it

07-31-2005, 06:32 PM	#20
wedouglas So Fucking Banned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dearborn, MI Posts: 5,921	Just because some of the richest in the world didnt go to college, doesnt mean their VP's and high appointed didn't. I'd be willing to bet those VP's and such make waaaaaay more than your average self made millionaire.

07-31-2005, 06:35 PM	#22
wedouglas So Fucking Banned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dearborn, MI Posts: 5,921	why do people get things to "fall back on" ? Why not devote yourself to one thing and make sure you get shit done. If you need something to fall back on then you made the wrong choice to begin with.

07-31-2005, 06:39 PM	#24
TMM_John Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 6,660	Colleges these days crank out workers not thinkers. College (at least in the US) is nothing but another money making industry. __________________ Skype: JohnA1078 Too Much Media - Makers of the Industry's Leading Payite Management Platform, NATS!

07-31-2005, 06:49 PM	#25
Drake Hello world! Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 12,508	I think there's a difference between being smart and making money. Many academics, scientists, brilliant authors don't make much while somebody submitting galleries since 1996 can make a killing. Sometimes it's related, other times it's just the type of job that pays well or not.

07-31-2005, 06:55 PM	#26
E Guru Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 658	School is for people who want to work for other people... __________________ Guru

07-31-2005, 07:00 PM	#28
sniperwolf Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 17,743	I don't think many of them made it to college or even finished.. sometimes I think that rich family becomes richer and richer each year. __________________ ~Accepting design works~

07-31-2005, 07:03 PM	#29
slapass Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 14,625	I guess the thought is does it have a built in impediment to self employmkent.

07-31-2005, 07:08 PM	#30
reynold Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Global Traveler Posts: 51,271	They were business. All they have on them are guts knowledge( not necessarily a degree), and luck to get to where they are now.

07-31-2005, 07:12 PM	#32
sweetcuties Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 5,859	I have my degree in business and I'm happy I've got it. It's a sense of achievement and accomplishment. Plus, it looks cool on the wall __________________

07-31-2005, 07:52 PM	#38
KRL Entrepreneur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: USA Posts: 31,429	If you are going to be a professional or corp exec you need that degree. If you want to get rich you don't. I did 2 years of college and was bored silly and dropped out. __________________ If you would like to develop your domains, you can lease inexpensive foreign labor from the leaders in the field at iWebmasters.com TO LOWER YOUR COSTS AND INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTION! * * * * * * * * * * * * Domains Adult News KRL's Newsletter Biz Tips Just Listed Domains

07-31-2005, 08:00 PM	#41
sacX Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New Zealand Posts: 2,998	I have > $1 million and medical degrees to fall back on. __________________ Have Asian Language Traffic?

07-31-2005, 08:50 PM	#45
jayeff Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 2,944	Although I agree that education systems are designed to turn out workers and not entrepreneurs, several aspects of my education have proved very useful over the years. I guess that depends on what you studied and on the nature of your business, but those who choose to finish their education for reasons of caution also get my vote. Unless you have a very time-sensitive idea, waiting a while to begin your business isn't going to make much difference in the long run. And like it or not you are far more likely to fail than succeed, so for most, having a Plan B is a very good idea. There are a lot of people in this business who credit themselves with their success, but although it is true that it was much easier to make money pre-2002 than since, this is still a very, very easy industry. If you are in your early 20's now and merely riding a bandwagon to 6 figures a year (or whatever), by the time you are 30 you may well have discovered you are not quite the entrepreneur you imagined.

07-31-2005, 09:12 PM	#49
Screaming I can change this!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 18,972	hmm never really thought about it __________________