8 Universities With the Most Mega-Millionaire Alumni

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

Yale University
Helioscribe / Shutterstock.com

Nearly 10,000 people living in America qualify as centi-millionaires, meaning they have $100 million or more in wealth. These are the richest of the rich. How did they get that way?

While there is no single answer, one thing many of them share in common is the college they attended, according to a recent report from Henley & Partners, an immigration and investment consulting firm.

A handful of schools are responsible for educating many of the people who go on to become extremely wealthy. The firm’s analysis found that 35% of the centi-millionaires in the U.S. today are graduates of just eight schools. Following are the universities that the nation’s wealthiest individuals most recently attended.

Harvard University

Harvard University
Jorge Salcedo / Shutterstock.com

Centi-millionaires in the U.S. for whom this is the most recent institution they attended: 7%

Arguably, no other institution of higher learning in the U.S. has the cachet of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school’s roots trace back to 1636, meaning it predates the country itself.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT
Travel_Adventure / Shutterstock.com

Centi-millionaires in the U.S. for whom this is the most recent institution they attended: 5%

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology — more commonly known as MIT — is another world-class institution located in Cambridge. The school has earned a towering reputation for the quality of its engineering and physical sciences programs.

Stanford University

Stanford University
jejim / Shutterstock.com

Centi-millionaires in the U.S. for whom this is the most recent institution they attended: 5%

Stanford University is almost universally hailed as the best institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River. It is located in Stanford, California, and has a stellar reputation for many types of studies, especially engineering.

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania
f11photo / Shutterstock.com

Centi-millionaires in the U.S. for whom this is the most recent institution they attended: 4%

The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia has a reputation for reaching beyond U.S. borders. International students make up 13% of the first-year student body, and the school ranks first among all Ivy League schools in the number of students who study abroad.

Columbia University

Columbia University library
Dmitrii Sakharov / Shutterstock.com

Centi-millionaires in the U.S. for whom this is the most recent institution they attended: 4%

Columbia University has a reputation as one of the top research centers in the world. The school in New York City also administers the prestigious Pulitzer Prize to winners in journalism, letters, drama and music.

Yale University

Yale University
f11photo / Shutterstock.com

Centi-millionaires in the U.S. for whom this is the most recent institution they attended: 4%

Yale University is one of the most prestigious schools in America. Its rivalry with Harvard is legendary. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the school has a stellar reputation for everything from economics to music and drama.

Cornell University

Cornell University
Spiroview Inc / Shutterstock.com

Centi-millionaires in the U.S. for whom this is the most recent institution they attended: 3%

Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is perhaps best known for its programs in engineering and architecture. It proudly claims 50 Nobel laureates as graduates.

Princeton University

Princeton University
EQRoy / Shutterstock.com

Centi-millionaires in the U.S. for whom this is the most recent institution they attended: 3%

One of the oldest and most revered schools in the country, Princeton University was the academic home of two presidents, James Madison and Woodrow Wilson. It is renowned for its international relations and public affairs studies and its campus often is cited for its beauty.

Hoping to join the ranks of the nation’s centi-millionaires? Check out “5 College Majors With the Worst Employment Rates — and 5 With the Best.”

Get smarter with your money!

Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.