What do actors, singers or athletes have to do with a degree from business institutions? Some pursued business education before fame, while others saw value in formal training to complement their careers. Check out our compilation of celebrities with an MBA or business degree.
Discover ten celebrities with business degrees who pursued education in business, management, or economics before achieving stardom. These famous business majors demonstrate how education shaped their careers and provided them with valuable skills – from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s real estate investments to Tiger Woods’ billion-dollar endorsement empire.For one reason or another, there are a few movie and music starts, as well as pro athletes, who spent some time at a business school.
1. Ivanka Trump: Wharton Graduate Following the Family Business Path
Considering the fact that Ivanka Trump’'s father is the billionaire and former President Donald Trump, it is of no surprise that Mrs. Trumpshe could become a powerful business force, too.
After graduating from high school, Ivankashe attended the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. She obtained a Bachelor’'s degree in Economics and became a Vice President of Real Estate and Acquisitions for the Trump Organization in the New York City. Her business degree provided her with the knowledge and credibility to expand her own ventures, including fashion and media enterprises.
2. Kevin Costner: Business Degree Holder who Chose Hollywood over Marketing
Kevin Costner, is one of the top movie stars in the 1990s, and continues to make popular films today. In 1978, he graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a B.A. in bBusiness. After graduating, Costner got married and started a job as a marketing executive. He quit 30 days later to pursue his acting career. Kevin Costner’s business education has proven valuable throughout his career, particularly when he ventured into producing his own films like “Dances with Wolves” and “Waterworld”, giving him unique insights into the financial aspects of filmmaking.
3. Benicio del Toro: From Business Student to Award-Winning Actor
Before Benicio del Toro became an Academy Award -winning actor, he was a student at a Catholic school in Puerto Rico. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the University of California as a business student. In college, del Toro started taking drama classes and eventually took small parts in music videos and films until his big hit break in The Usual Suspects in 1995. His business background must have played a crucial role in del Toro’s pragmatic approach to his acting career, helping him with roles that balanced artistic merit with commercial potential.
4. Clint Eastwood: Hollywood Legend with Business Foundations
Clint Eastwood is certainly one of the most iconic American actors. Besides being a significant influence on the entertainment industry, Eastwood has also dabbled in politics. He was elected as the Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea on the Monterey Peninsula in California and was twice appointed to the California State Park and Recreation Commission. After graduating from high school, he took several odd jobs and briefly pursued a business degree at the Los Angeles College. Clint Eastwood’s business education, though brief, has likely contributed to his successful transition into directing and producing, where he developed a reputation for bringing films in under budget and on schedule.
Shah Rukh Khan: Bollywood’s King with a Communications Background
Shah Rukh Khan, often referred to as the “King of Bollywood”, is one of India’s most successful actors with a career spanning over three decades. Before becoming an international superstar, Khan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and followed it with Master’s studies in Mass Communications from Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi, but dropped out to pursue a career in acting. Khan’s background in economics and communications proved instrumental in his evolution from actor to producer and business mogul, helping him establish Red Chillies Entertainment, one of India’s most successful production companies, and invest in various business ventures.5. P. DiddyEveryone has heard of Sean 'P.Diddy' Combs. He is one of the music industry's most powerful players. Born in Harlem, New York, and raised in The Bronx, Combs played football in high school and graduated in 1987. After high school, he attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he pursued a business degree. While in school, Combs earned an internship at Uptown Records in New York, and ultimately dropped out of Howard to pursue work in the music business.
6. Tiger Woods: Economics Major Turned Golf’s Billion-Dollar Athlete
Tiger Woods is a U.S. golfing legend. As a child, Woods was already known as an amazing golfer. He played against Bob Hope on The Mike Douglas Show when he was only two years old. Woods grew up in California and attended Stanford University after graduating high school, choosing to major in economics. He exemplifies how celebrities with economics degrees can use their education in building global brands. Although Woods he dropped out of Stanford after two years to turn pro, his studies provided him with financial literacy, enabling him to build an empire of businesses and helping him become the first athlete to earn over a billion dollars from endorsements.
7. Arnold Schwarzenegger: Action Star and Bodybuilder with a Business Mind
Arnold Schwarzenegger, widely known for his roles in Terminator, was also the Governor of California. Besides his acting and political career, Schwarzenegger is a former Mr. Universe and was married to Maria Shriver, niece of John F. Kennedya successful businessman. During his movie career, Schwarzenegger helped found the Planet Hollywood chain with Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone and Demi Moore. In 1976, he earned a degree in Business and International Economics by correspondence from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, joining the ranks of famous people with business administration degrees who successfully applied their education outside traditional corporate settings. Schwarzenegger’s business education was central to his success outside of acting, informing his real estate investments that made him a millionaire before his Hollywood career took off and later helping him navigate state economics as governor.
8. John Elway: Stanford Economics Graduate Scoring in Business after Football
American football legend John Elway has played for the Baltimore Colts and the Denver Broncos, with whom he wonwinning two Super Bowl titles. Elway was also known as a superior football player at Stanford University where he set records and received All-American honors. While at Stanford, he studied economics. John Elway’s economics background prepared him for his post-playing career as an executive, helping him succeed as the Denver Broncos’ General Manager and as a business owner with several car dealerships and restaurants.
9. Cate Blanchett: From Economics Student to Award-Winning Actress
Cate Blanchett is certainly one of the most well-respected movie stars in Hollywood today, with multiple Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs to her name. Moreover, she has won two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and three BAFTAs. Before becoming a professional actress, Blanchett studied economics at the University of Melbourne. Though Blanchett left her economics studies to pursue acting, the analytical thinking she developed has influenced her approach to selecting diverse roles and later in co-running the Sydney Theatre Company, where she demonstrated strong business acumen alongside artistic vision.
10. Lionel Richie: From Economics Major to Music Mogul
Singer Lionel Richie has enjoyed a successful musical career since the 1960s when he formed The Commodores. In addition to his career as a musician, Richie was a student at the Tuskegee Institute, where he played tennis and graduated with an economics degree. Lionel Richie’s economics education has helped him navigate the business side of the music industry, contributing to his longevity in a notoriously difficult field. It has informed his business ventures including a home collection line and his involvement in charitable foundations.
While some of these famous people who studied business never acquired their diploma, they demonstrate the benefits of business knowledge in managing their careers. Whether in Hollywood, music, or sports, understanding business principles can be an asset in navigating contracts, investments, and branding.
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