Celebrities You Didn't Know Were High School Dropouts

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Education is undoubtedly an important part of every human’s life and it’s widely believed that academic success leads to a secure future. However, there are several individuals who have proved that you don’t always need good grades to be successful in life. You would be surprised to know that some of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and big achievers, in general, haven’t even graduated from high school. Yet, some of these eminent personalities are role models to millions of people from across the world. Hollywood heartthrobs like Johnny Depp, Jim Carrey, John Travolta, Charlie Sheen, Quentin Tarantino, Katy Perry and Nicolas Cage are some world renowned names who never studied much. Maverick filmmaker Quentin Tarantino’s school teachers would have hardly expected their student to make cult classics like ‘Pulp Fiction’, ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Inglorious Bastards’. These films didn’t just strike gold at the box office, but garnered a lot of acclaim at film festivals around the world too. Although actors Nicolas Cage and Jim Carrey failed to finish high school, their lives went on to be known as one of the greatest success stories of all time. ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’ star Johnny Depp’s net worth is estimated to be around $400 Million and interestingly, he isn’t a Harvard or Stanford graduate. These celebrities have proved that graduating from high school and taking up a job like everybody else isn’t the only route to success. Here’s a list of high school dropouts who are famous worldwide for their endeavors.
Vote for Your Favourite Celebrities You Didn't Know Were High School Dropouts
 1 
Phil Collins
(Drummer & Lead Singer of the Rock Band 'Genesis')
Phil Collins
55
Birthdate: January 30, 1951
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chiswick, Middlesex, London, United Kingdom
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 2 
Keith Richards
(Musician)
Keith Richards
28
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: December 18, 1943
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Dartford, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 3 
Berry Gordy
(Record Executive)
Berry Gordy
17
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: November 28, 1929
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan, United States
 4 
Kid Rock
(Singer-songwriter)
Kid Rock
59
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 17, 1971
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Romeo, Michigan, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
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 5 
Bo Derek
(Actress)
Bo Derek
65
Birthdate: November 20, 1956
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 6 
Dame Vivienne Westwood
(British fashion designer)
Dame Vivienne Westwood
11
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: April 8, 1941
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Tintwistle
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 7 
Li Ka-shing
(Hong Kong Business Magnate and One of the Most Influential Entrepreneurs in Asia)
Li Ka-shing
1
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: July 29, 1928
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Chaozhou, Guangdong, China
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 8 
Rick Harrison
(American Businessman, Reality TV Personality and Owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop)
Rick Harrison
14
Birthdate: March 22, 1965
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lexington, North Carolina, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 9 
Sacagawea
(Interpreter)
Sacagawea
25
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1788 AD
Birthplace: Salmon
Died: 1812 AD
 10 
Judd Nelson
(American actor)
Judd Nelson
12
Birthdate: November 28, 1959
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Portland, Maine, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 11 
Honus Wagner
(Baseballer)
Honus Wagner
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 24, 1874
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Chartiers, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: December 6, 1955
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 12 
Jackie Collins
(Novelist)
Jackie Collins
11
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 4, 1937
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: London, England, UK
Died: September 19, 2015
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 13 
Jack Albertson
(Actor and Comedian Best Known for His Role as ‘John Cleary’ in the Film ‘The Subject Was Roses’)
Jack Albertson
4
Birthdate: June 16, 1907
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Malden, Massachusetts, United States
Died: November 25, 1981
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 14 
Steve Earle
(Musician, Singer-songwriter)
Steve Earle
6
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 17, 1955
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hampton, Virginia United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 15 
Rajkumar
(Actor)
Rajkumar
22
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: April 24, 1929
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Gajanur, India
Died: April 12, 2006
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 16 
Bud Abbott
(Comedian)
Bud Abbott
2
Birthdate: October 2, 1897
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Asbury Park, New Jersey, United States
Died: April 24, 1974
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 17 
Nicholas Brendon
(Actor)
Nicholas Brendon
1
Birthdate: April 12, 1971
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 18 
Nena
(German Singer-Songwriter Best Known as the Lead Singer of the Band 'Nena')
Nena
5
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: March 24, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hagen, Germany
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 19 
Carmen Basilio
(Boxer)
Carmen Basilio
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 2, 1927
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Canastota, New York, United States
Died: November 7, 2012
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 20 
Joan Hackett
(Actress)
Joan Hackett
0
Birthdate: March 1, 1934
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: East Harlem, New York City, New York, USA
Died: October 8, 1983
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 21 
Shaun Ryder
(Lead Vocalist of the Bands 'Happy Mondays' and 'Black Grape')
Shaun Ryder
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 23, 1962
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Little Hulton, Lancashire, England
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 22 
Kemmons Wilson
(Businessman)
Kemmons Wilson
2
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: January 5, 1913
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Osceola
Died: February 12, 2003
 23 
Niamh Cusack
(Actress)
Niamh Cusack
5
Birthdate: October 20, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
 24 
Gia Coppola
(Director)
Gia Coppola
1
Birthdate: January 1, 1987
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 25 
Leighton Rees
(Darts player)
Leighton Rees
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 17, 1940
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ynysybwl, Wales
Died: June 8, 2003
 26 
Camille Muffat
(Swimmer)
Camille Muffat
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 28, 1989
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Nice, France
Died: March 9, 2015
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 27 
Adam Rose
(Wrestler)
Adam Rose
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 20, 1979
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 28 
John Williamson
(Singer-songwriter)
John Williamson
0
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: November 1, 1945
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kerang, Australia
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 29 
Jacque Fresco
(Futurist and Self-Described Social Engineer)
Jacque Fresco
0
Listed In: Engineers
Birthdate: March 13, 1916
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: May 18, 2017
 30 
Lil Duval
(Comedian)
Lil Duval
2
Birthdate: June 12, 1977
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Florida, USA
 31 
Charlotte Dawson
(New Zealand–Australian Television Personality and Host of 'Getaway', 'The Contender Australia')
Charlotte Dawson
9
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: April 8, 1966
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Died: February 22, 2014
 32 
Spider One
(Singer-Songwriter)
Spider One
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 25, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Haverhill, Massachusetts, USA
 33 
Jim Bolger
(35th Prime Minister of New Zealand (1990 - 1997))
Jim Bolger
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 31, 1935
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Opunake, New Zealand
 34 
Aruna Irani
(Actress)
Aruna Irani
6
Birthdate: August 18, 1946
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 35 
David Low
(Cartoonist)
David Low
0
Birthdate: April 7, 1891
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dunedin, New Zealand
Died: September 19, 1963
 36 
Barney Oldfield
(American Automobile Racer)
Barney Oldfield
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 29, 1878
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Wauseon, Ohio, United States
Died: October 4, 1946
 37 
Willie Keeler
(Baseball player)
Willie Keeler
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 3, 1872
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York City, New York
Died: January 1, 1923
 38 
Arthur Fadden
(Politician)
Arthur Fadden
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 13, 1894
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ingham, Australia
Died: April 21, 1973
 39 
Phyllis Pearsall
(Entrepreneur)
Phyllis Pearsall
0
Birthdate: September 25, 1906
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: East Dulwich, London, England
Died: August 28, 1996
 40 
Rafael Escalona
(Colombian folk-song composer)
Rafael Escalona
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 26, 1926
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Patillal, Colombia
Died: May 13, 2009
 41 
Margaret Tafoya
(Potter)
Margaret Tafoya
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 13, 1904
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, United States
Died: February 25, 2001
 42 
Jack Webster
(Journalist)
Jack Webster
0
Birthdate: April 15, 1918
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
Died: March 2, 1999
 43 
John Lamb
(Actor)
John Lamb
1
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: February 13, 1916
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bishop Auckland, England
Died: February 13, 2010
 44 
Vincent Tewson
(Leader)
Vincent Tewson
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 4, 1898
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bradford, England
Died: May 2, 1981