Education and great wealth often go together. While there will always be outliers, many of the world's richest individuals went to college and earned degrees they'd later use to amass their vast fortunes.
Some got an undergraduate education. Other folks have additional college education after that. But most do not. Here's what the richest person in countries around the world studied in college.
40. Vietnam: Pham Nhat Vuong
mapchart.net
College degree: Unknown
College: Moscow Geological Prospecting Institute
Year graduated: 1993
Net worth: $6 billion
Note: Data is from Resume.io for the rankings. When possible, all details were confirmed by Forbes databases. But wealth is a secretive issue, so only information that could be cited appropriately was included.
Bottom Line: Pham Nhat Vuong
Pham Nhat Vuong is Vietnam's first billionaire. Wikimedia Commons
Pham Nhat Vuong was so good at math that he earned a scholarship to study the economics of raw material extraction at the Moscow Geological Prospecting Institute.
He started a popular instant noodle business before moving back to Vietnam and became the country's first billionaire.
He now runs one of the country's largest conglomerates, Vingroup, that has various business interests, including real estate, healthcare, and retail.
39. Nigeria: Aliko Dangote
mapchart.net
College degree: Business studies and administration
College: Al-Azhar University
Year graduated: 1977
Net worth: $8.1 billion
Bottom Line: Aliko Dangote
Aliko Dangote, left, and his daughter Halima Dangote at the 2014 Time 100 Gala in New York. Evan Agostini / AP Photo
Aliko Dangote is Africa's richest man thanks to his company Dangote Cement, which is Africa's largest cement producer. He also has stakes in publicly traded salt, sugar, and flour manufacturing.
In 2013, the billionaire started work on the Dangote Refinery, which will be one of the largest oil refineries in the world once construction is complete.
38. Switzerland: Ernesto Bertarelli
mapchart.net
College degree: Unknown, master of business administration (MBA)
College: Babson College, Harvard University
Year graduated: 1989
Net worth: $8.2 billion
Bottom Line: Ernesto Bertarelli
Ernesto Bertarelli, right, with his wife, Kirsty, in 2007. Laurent Gillieron / AP Photo
It is unclear what the Italian-born Swiss billionaire businessperson studied as an undergraduate at Babson College.
But based on Ernesto Bertarelli's master of business administration from Harvard University, we're guessing it was related to business.
After inheriting the drug company Serono, he expanded its profits before selling it to Merck for over $13 billion.
37. Israel: Eyal Ofer
mapchart.net
College degree: Law
College: Unknown
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $8.2 billion
Bottom Line: Eyal Ofer
Eyal Ofer is active in shipping and real estate. Wikimedia Commons
Eyal Ofer made most of his money when he inherited part of his father's shipping empire in 2011, and then expanded upon its success.
He owns Global Holdings, an international real estate firm, and has a 5 percent stake in Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
36. Yemen: Shaher Abdulhak
mapchart.net
College degree: Unknown
College: Unknown
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $9 billion
Bottom Line: Shaher Abdulhak
Shaher Abdulhak has a lot of power in Yemen. Aftenposten / Twitter
Not too much is known about the notoriously private Yemen businessman Shaher Abdulhak.
His company, Shaher Trading, dabbles in a bit of everything, including luxury hotels, soft drinks, petroleum, cell networks, and property.
The billionaire was thrust into the spotlight when his son was accused of murdering a 23-year-old business student.
35. Colombia: Luis Carlos Sarmiento
mapchart.net
College degree: Civil engineering
College: National University of Colombia
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $9 billion
Bottom Line: Luis Carlos Sarmiento
Luis Carlos Sarmiento, left, and his son. Horadelaverdad / Twitter
The richest person in Colombia used his civil engineering education well and created a fortune from building residential and commercial developments.
He then invested that money into banks, which made him much more wealthy. His company, Grupo Aval, owns one-third of all banks in the country.
34. Cyprus: John Fredriksen
mapchart.net
College degree: No degree
College: N/A
Year graduated: N/A
Net worth: $10 billion
Bottom Line: John Fredriksen
John Fredriksen made his money in the oil business. John Fredriksen Foundation / Facebook
The Norwegian-born businessperson gave up his Norwegian citizenship in favor of tax-haven Cyprus.
He has made most of his money in every aspect of the oil business from trading it in the 1960s to owning oil tankers and deepwater drilling rigs now.
His biggest holding is in the most prominent fish farmer in the world, Mowi.
33. Singapore: Robert and Philip Ng
mapchart.net
Philip: Civil engineering
Robert: Law
Philip: King's College, London University
Robert: Unknown
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $10.1 billion
Bottom Line: Robert and Philip Ng
Philip Ng, left, and Robert Ng. Ng Chee Tat Philip / Facebook
It is unclear when Robert and Philip Ng graduated from their college studies.
The brothers control the Far East Organization, Singapore's largest private landlord and property developer.
Robert runs the Hong Kong branch, and Philip runs the Singapore businesses.
32. Germany: Georg Schaeffler
mapchart.net
College degree: Business and economics
College: University of St. Gallen
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $10.1 billion
Bottom Line: Georg Schaeffler
Georg Schaeffler studied business and economics in college. Schaeffler
The German businessman Georg Schaeffler is quite wealthy from his family's business that is one of the world's largest makers of ball bearings and machine components.
Interestingly, Schaeffler has spent time outside of Germany working as a lawyer in Dallas, Texas.
31. Malaysia: Robert Kuok
mapchart.net
College degree: Bachelor of arts/science
College: Raffles College
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $11.1 billion
Bottom Line: Robert Kuok
Robert Kuok's companies have investments in countries throughout Asia. AP Photo
Robert Kuok had a tough upbringing. He went to Raffles College, but it is unclear if and when he graduated.
The Malaysian businessperson owns the Kuok group, which works in hotels, real estate, and commodities.
He also founded the founded internationally renowned Shangri-La Hotels in 1971.
30. Bangladesh: Moosa Bin Shamsher
mapchart.net
College degree: Economics
College: Faridpur Rajendra College (B.A.), California State University at Northridge (Ph.D.)
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $11.1 billion
Bottom Line: Moosa Bin Shamsher
Moosa Bin Shamsher got a Ph.D. in economics from Cal State Northridge. Moosa Bin Shamsher / Facebook
Moosa Bin Shamsher studied economics at Faridpur Rajendra College and then got a Ph.D. from California State University at Northridge.
The billionaire businessman has been accused of various crimes, including tax evasion and money laundering. He is also an alleged broker of weapons.
29. Ireland: Pallonji Mistry
mapchart.net
College degree: Civil engineering
College: Imperial College London
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $11.5 billion
Bottom Line: Pallonji Mistry
Pallonji Mistry is a construction tycoon. Pallonji Mistry / Facebook
The Indian-born billionaire now calls Ireland home.
He made his enormous wealth running the Mumbai-headquartered Pallonji Mistry. The company is considered a giant in the engineering and construction space.
28. New Zealand: Graeme Hart
mapchart.net
College degree: Master of business administration
College: University of Otago
Year graduated: 1987
Net worth: $12.9 billion
Bottom Line: Graeme Hart
Graeme Hart is a shrewd investor. nzherald / Twitter
After dropping out of high school at 16 and working as a mechanic and truck driver, Graeme Hart earned an MBA from the University of Otago's business school.
Hart owns Rank Group, a private investment company. His biggest asset is Reynolds Consumer Products, which makes daily use items like aluminum foil and trash bags.
27. Philippines: The Sy Family
mapchart.net
College degree for the family members are unknown, but the colleges they attended have been publicized:
- Teresita Sy-Coson: Assumption College
- Elizabeth Sy: Maryknoll College
- Henry Sy Jr: De La Salle University
- Hans Sy: De La Salle University
- Herbert Sy: De La Salle University
- Harley Sy: De La Salle University
Net worth: $13.9 billion
Bottom Line: The Sy Family
The Sy family. PhilStar
The extreme wealth the Sy family has is split across the six siblings, most of whom attended De La Salle University.
What started as a small shoe store in Manila ballooned into SM Investments Corp., which oversees more than 200 outlets.
26. Netherlands: Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken
mapchart.net
College degree: Law
College: University of Leiden
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $14.5 billion
Bottom Line: Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken is one of the richest women in the world. FortuneMagazine / Twitter
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken studied law at the University of Leiden, but it is unclear if she graduated, as some reports say she disliked that course of study.
She interned at her family's company, Dutch brewer Heineken, which came in handy later in life when she inherited a 25 percent controlling stake.
She remains the executive director of the company.
25. Thailand: Dhanin Chearavanont
mapchart.net
College degree: Unknown
College: Education University of Hong Kong
Year graduated: 1956
Net worth: $14.7 billion
Bottom Line: Dhanin Chearavanont
Dhanin Chearavanont is a follower of Buddhism. Dhanin Chearavanont / Facebook
It is unclear what Dhanin Chearavanont studied in college, but in recent years the Thai-Chinese billionaire businessman has urged officials to reduce the amount of education children receive in Thailand.
Chearavanont is the senior chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group, which produces animal feed and livestock.
24. Croatia: Luksic Family, Andrónico Luksic Craig
mapchart.net
College degree: Business
College: Babson College
Year graduated: N/A
Net worth: $15 billion
Bottom Line: Croatia: Luksic family, Andrónico Luksic Craig
Andrónico Luksic Craig is chairman of Quiñenco, a holding of the Luksic Group, one of Chile's largest conglomerates. Andrónico Luksic Craig / Facebook
The Chilean Luksic family is considered the richest family in Croatia, where they got their start.
Leading that family is Andrónico Luksic Craig, who attended Babson College in Boston, but had to cut his time there short when the family business needed him.
His studies in business were useful, though, as he remains the chairman of Quiñenco, a holding of the Luksic Group.
23. Uzbekistan: Alisher Usmanov
mapchart.net
College degree: International law
College: Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Year graduated: 1976
Net worth: $15.7 billion
Bottom Line: Alisher Usmanov
Alisher Usmanov got through mining and metal operations and investments. Dmitry Lovetsky / AP Photo
After his undergraduate education, the Uzbekistan-born Russian businessman went on to earn additional degrees, including a master of law from the Moscow Institute of International Relations and a master's degree from the Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation.
Most of his money is invested in iron ore and steel giant Metalloinvest.
Alisher Usmanov made his first fortune making plastic bags.
22. Chile: Iris Fontbona
mapchart.net
College degree: No degree
College: N/A
Year graduated: N/A
Net worth: $15.9 billion
Bottom Line: Iris Fontbona
Iris Fontbona is the wealthiest person in Chile. Iris Fontbona / Facebook
Iris Fontbona is also part of the Luksic family. She's the widow of Andrónico Luksic Abaroa, who built the family's fortune in mining and beverages.
She is a longtime businesswoman with no degree. In addition to the Luksic Group, Fontbona and her adult children control Antofagasta Plc, which owns copper mines in Chile.
21. Australia: Gina Rinehart
mapchart.net
College degree: Economics
College: University of Sydney
Year graduated: Did not graduate
Net worth: $16.2 billion
Bottom Line: Gina Rinehart
Gina Rinehart is an Australian mining magnate and heiress. business / Twitter
Gina Rinehart studied economics briefly but didn't graduate.
She worked as her father’s personal assistant at Hancock Prospecting, and when he passed away, she turned the mining company into an even wealthier operation.
20. Indonesia: R. Budi Hartono
mapchart.net
College degree: Economics
College: Diponegoro University
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $16.3 billion
Bottom Line: Robert Budi Hartono
Robert Budi Hartono owns and runs the Djarum, the world's third-largest maker of clove cigarettes. rlthingy / Twitter
Robert Budi Hartono and his brother, Michael Hartono, are the two richest people in Indonesia.
The pair made their first fortune in the tobacco industry and still makes clove cigarettes today.
The brothers also made a ton of money from investing in Bank Central Asia.
19. Brazil: Jorge Paulo Lemann
mapchart.net
College degree: Economics
College: Harvard University
Year graduated: 1961
Net worth: $16.3 billion
Bottom Line: Jorge Paulo Lemann
Jorge Paulo Lemann has dual Brazilian and Swiss citizenship. The Nature Conservancy
Jorge Paulo Lemann is a Brazilian-Swiss business person who started making money as an investment banker.
He eventually became the controlling shareholder of Anheuser-Busch InBev.
In 2016, the company purchased Pilsner Urquell and Foster's Lager.
18. Sweden: Stefan Persson
mapchart.net
College degree: Unknown
College: University of Stockholm
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $17.9 billion
Bottom Line: Stefan Persson
Stefan Persson, center, is the chairman of fashion company H&M. Itsuo Inouye / AP Photo
It is unclear what the most prosperous Swedish citizen studied in college or when he graduated, but Stefan Persson has told the press he attended the University of Stockholm.
His father started the famous clothing company H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) in 1947.
The international chain has over 5,000 stores in 74 countries.
17. Sri Lanka: Mahinda Rajapaksa
mapchart.net
College degree: Law
College: Sri Lanka Law College
Year graduated: 1974
Net worth: $18 billion
Bottom Line: Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2018. Eranga Jayawardena / AP Photo
The Sri Lankan politician served as president from 2005 to 2015 and has been the prime minister since his brother appointed him to the position in 2019.
He is accused of hiding $2 billion-$10 billion of the country's money in Dubai.
16. Czech Republic: Petr Kellner
mapchart.net
College degree: Industrial economics
College: University of Economics
Year graduated: 1986
Net worth: $18.7 billion
Bottom Line: Petr Kellner
Petr Kellner is the founder and majority shareholder of the PPF Group. wealth / Twitter
The Czech Republics’ richest man made his billions via his investment fund.
Petr Kellner is a huge supporter of education programs and donates to them through his foundation, the Kellner Family Foundation.
He's helped open schools and provides grants to college students.
15. Saudi Arabia: Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud
mapchart.net
College degree: Business administration
College: Menlo College
Year graduated: 1979
Net worth: $18.7 billion
Bottom Line: Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, center, is a businessman, investor, philanthropist and a member of the Saudi royal family. Rafiq Maqbool / AP Photo
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud might have the most education of the billionaires featured on this list.
He attended Pinewood College in Beirut, a military school in Saudi Arabia, International School of Choueifat and the Manor School (both in Lebanon), the Menlo College in California, and finally Syracuse University in New York.
He's the founder and CEO of the investment company Kingdom Holding.
14. South Korea: Lee Kun-Hee
mapchart.net
College degree: Economics, MBA
College: Waseda University, George Washington University
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $19.8 billion
Bottom Line: Lee Kun-Hee
Lee Kun-Hee is the chairman of Samsung. Schalk van Zuydam / AP Photo
The South Korean businessman is the chairman of Samsung Group.
He started his studies at Waseda University, then went on to earn a master of business administration degree at George Washington University in Washington.
Today, Lee Kun-Hee is worth nearly $20 billion, and his family collectively is worth about $41 billion.
13. Brunei: Hassanal Bolkiah
mapchart.net
College degree: No degree
College: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Year graduated: 1967
Net worth: $20 billion
Bottom Line: Hassanal Bolkiah
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is one of the last absolute monarchs in the world. Ahim Rani / AP Photo
The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom in 1967, but he didn't earn a specific degree.
He made his billions in the oil and gas industry and spends most of it on luxury goods like more than 600 Rolls-Royces.
12. United Kingdom: Gopichand and Srichand Hinduja
mapchart.net
Gopichand college degree: Unknown
Srichand college degree: Unknown
Gopichand college: Jai Hind College
Srichand college: Davar's College of Commerce
Gopichand year graduated: 1959
Srichand year graduated: 1952
Gopichand net worth: $21 billion
Srichand net worth: $12.6 billion
Bottom Line: Gopichand and Srichand Hinduja
The Hinduja brothers, from left, Prakash, Ashok, Srichand and Gopichand. timesofindia / Twitter
The Hinduja brothers, Gopichand and Srichand, are Indian-born British billionaire business magnates and investors.
They run the multinational Hinduja Group, which has businesses in trucks, banking, cable, and lubricants, among other things.
Brothers Prakash and Ashok also help run the company as do the adult children of the four brothers.
11. Russia: Vladimir Potanin
mapchart.net
College degree: International economic relations
College: Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Year graduated: 1983
Net worth: $22.6 billion
Bottom Line: Vladimir Potanin
Vladimir Potanin, left, is the wealthiest person in Russia. Dmitry Astakhov / AP Photo
Vladimir Potanin studied international economic relations in college, which came in handy during his career as a billionaire, entrepreneur, and oligarch.
Potanin made most of his money in the 1990s in the metals industry with the controversial loans-for-shares program.
10. Syria: Joseph Safra
mapchart.net
College degree: Bachelor's degree
College: Whittingham College
Year graduated: Unknown
Net worth: $22.9 billion
Bottom Line: Joseph Safra
Joseph Safra runs Safra Group, a banking and investment empire. LizzieFournier / Twitter
Joseph Safra earned a bachelor's degree from Whittingham College in England, but it is unclear what he studied while there. Immediately after graduation, he joined his family in their business: banking.
His family has roots in Aleppo, Syria, but Safra has been a successful banker all over the world, including in the United States and Brazil.
9. Austria: Dietrich Mateschitz
mapchart.net
College degree: Marketing
College: Vienna University of Economics and Business
Year graduated: 1972
Net worth: $27.5 billion
Bottom Line: Dietrich Mateschitz
Dietrich Mateschitz is the cofounder of Red Bull. Kerstin Joensson / AP Photo
It reportedly took Dietrich Mateschitz 10 years to finish his degree, but the time was well worth it.
He cofounded Red Bull, which made him billions and also has led to countless marketing awards.
8. China: Li Ka-Shing
mapchart.net
College degree: No degree
College: N/A
Year graduated: N/A
Net worth: $29.4 billion
Bottom Line: Li Ka-Shing
Li Ka-Shing is one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Asia. Kin Cheung / AP Photo
Li Ka-Shing dropped out of high school but went on to become one of the wealthiest people in the world.
The billionaire is a self-made plastics magnate, who started his own company when he was just 21.
In 2019, his foundation committed to an annual donation of $14.5 million to Shantou University in Guangdong, according to Bloomberg.
7. Japan: Tadashi Yanai
mapchart.net
College degree: Economics and political science
College: Waseda University
Year graduated: 1971
Net worth: $31.3 billion
Bottom Line: Tadashi Yanai
Tadashi Yanai is the founder and president of Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo. Wong Maye-E / AP Photo
Popular Japanese casual wear brand Uniqlo is thanks to Tadashi Yanai.
In return, the clothing brand (and its parent company Fast Retailing) has made Yanai the richest man in Japan and a billionaire.
His company also houses the brands Theory and J. Brand.
6. Canada: David Thomson
mapchart.net
College degree: History
College: Selwyn College, Cambridge
Year graduated: 1978
Net worth: $38.2 billion
Bottom Line: David Thomson
David Thomson is the chairman of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters
David Thomson is the chairman of the incredibly successful media and publishing empire his grandfather Roy Thomson started, Thomson Reuters, mostly known just as Reuters.
He received his bachelor of arts with a major in history.
5. Mexico: Carlos Slim Helú
mapchart.net
College degree: Engineering
College: National Autonomous University of Mexico
Year graduated: 1961
Net worth: $51.7 billion
Bottom Line: Carlos Slim Helú
Carlos Slim is the founder of Grupo Carso, a Mexican global conglomerate. Fernando Llano / AP Photo
Carlos Slim Helú studied engineering in college, but worked as a stock trader in Mexico when he graduated.
Shortly after, he started investing in and founding businesses that formed his conglomerate, Grupo Carso.
Now, the corporation includes businesses in insurance, energy, mining, retail, publishing, finance, and communications.
4. Spain: Amancio Ortega
mapchart.net
College degree: No degree
College: N/A
Year graduated: N/A
Net worth: $67 billion
Bottom Line: Amancio Ortega
Amancio Ortega is the founder and former chairman of Inditex fashion group. Iago Lopez / AP Photo
Amancio Ortega is the wealthiest retailer in the world, and he owes a lot of his success to his ex-wife, Rosalia Mera.
She dropped out of school at 11 to work as a seamstress, which eventually led to her cofounding Inditex, home to world-famous fashion brand Zara, with Ortega.
The businessman invests his money in real estate in New York, Miami, Madrid, Barcelona, London, and Chicago.
3. India: Mukesh Ambani
mapchart.net
College degree: Chemical engineering
College: Institute of Chemical Technology - Mumbai
Year graduated: Unknown, likely in the 1970s
Net worth: $85.1 billion
Bottom Line: Mukesh Ambani
Mukesh Ambani, center, is the chairman of Reliance Industries. Rajanish Kakade / AP Photo
"I did chemical engineering because it was supposed to be the future," Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani told Rediff.
The business magnate is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd., a Fortune Global 500 conglomerate that works in energy, petrochemicals, textiles, natural resources, retail and telecommunications.
2. France: Bernard Arnault
mapchart.net
College degree: Engineering
College: École Polytechnique
Year graduated: 1971
Net worth: $110.9 billion
Bottom Line: Bernard Arnault
Bernard Arnault is chairman and CEO of LVMH Moet Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE, the world's largest luxury-goods company. Christophe Ena / AP Photo
Though the French billionaire studied engineering, he has turned his father's money into a small fortune via luxury goods.
Using $15 million from his father's construction business to buy Christian Dior in 1985, he turned that into the LVMH company, which oversees 70 brands, including Louis Vuitton and Sephora.
1. United States: Jeff Bezos
mapchart.net
College degree: Electrical engineering and computer science
College: Princeton University
Year graduated: 1986
Net worth: $175.3 billion
Bottom Line: Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos is the founder, CEO, and president of Amazon. Amy Harris / AP Photo
Jeff Bezos graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University in 1986.
He studied electrical engineering and computer science, and eight years later founded Amazon.
The e-commerce company has made him the richest person in the world.
Related: Richest People in the World