A bit of business savvy may help a variety of professional choices and lifestyles. While we all expect CEOs and other top management professionals to have a basic understanding of business, we don’t always assume celebrities in the entertainment industry. That assumption could hardly be farther from the truth: among individuals who have earned degrees in business and management are several surprising — if not renowned — names.
Here are few popular names in the list:
John Grisham, Mississippi State University
John Grisham was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in the United States, and is best known for his immensely popular thriller books. Before entering university, he worked in a nursery, as a plumber, and for a highway asphalt firm, among other places. When a brawl broke out on one of the highways, Grisham just escaped getting shot and decided to go to college and obtain a business degree while traveling home.
During his schooling, Grisham travelled about a lot and attended three different universities before graduating. He ultimately earned an accounting degree from Mississippi State University. Following that, Grisham practiced law for ten years before launching his literary career with the success of his second novel, “The Firm.”
Wanda Sykes, Hampton University
Wanda Sykes was born and raised in Washington, D.C. Her mother worked as a banker, and her father worked at the Pentagon. Sykes moved on to Hampton University in Virginia after graduating from high school, earning a marketing degree. She worked as a contracting expert for the National Security Agency after graduation.
Sykes began doing stand-up comedy in Washington, D.C., while in this position. She relocated to New York City in 1992 and began working at a publishing firm. Sykes rose to prominence after opening for fellow comedian Chris Rock. Soon after, she joined the Chris Rock Show’s writing staff and became a regular guest star. She featured in several successful American films on both the big and small screens and was once named one of Entertainment Weekly’s “Top 25 Funniest People in America.”
Eddie Izzard, University of Sheffield
Eddie Izzard, the British comedian, is our next surprise celebrity business school participant. Izzard was born in the modern-day Yemeni city of Aden, where his father worked as an accountant for British Petroleum. His mother died unexpectedly soon after moving to Northern Ireland, and Izzard was sent to boarding school.
Izzard’s initial excursion into comedy occurred while studying for an accountancy degree at the University of Sheffield, which is rated 92nd for management in the QS Masters in Management Rankings 2021. Izzard dropped out of university before finishing his degree after becoming friends with Rob Ballard, and the two became famous on the comic circuit.
Kevin Costner, California State University at Fullerton
Kevin Costner is an Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner who is most known for his appearances in The Bodyguard, JFK, and Man of Steel and his work as a director, producer, and musician. However, it may come as a surprise that he has a B.A. in marketing and finance from California State University!
Costner was more engaged in creative activities as a child in California and did not always thrive at the more intellectual side of school life. Costner rediscovered his creative leanings and began taking acting courses during his last year of business school, which seems appropriate. Costner chose to pursue acting as a career after a chance encounter with legendary actor Richard Burton on a plane ride — and the rest is history.
Mick Jagger, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Mick Jagger, a rock legend who came to popularity in the 1960s with rock and roll band the Rolling Stones, is regarded as one of the most influential frontmen of all time. After high school, Jagger met fellow Rolling Stone Keith Richards in Dartford, Kent, England, and the two travelled to London.
However, in the musical realm, Jagger soon teamed up with Richards. Richards wanted to start a band, while Jagger wanted to finish his schooling. He enrolled at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), which is rated 13th in the QS Masters in Management Rankings 2021, to enter politics – a profession he has equated to that of a rock star. Despite the fact that he didn’t finish his degree, it appears that a modest sacrifice was required to form one of the most successful rock and roll bands of all time.
Cate Blanchett, University of Melbourne
Cate Blanchett was born and reared in Melbourne, Australia, and is best known for her performances in Elizabeth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Blanchett studied a dual fine arts and economics degree at the University of Melbourne, placed 15th in the new QS Masters in Business Analytics Rankings 2020, despite her passion for acting throughout her undergraduate years.
Blanchett left Australia soon after finishing her degree to tour the world. Blanchett earned her first major big-screen part in the 1997 film Paradise Road, after many additional appearances in films and several stage performances, including one opposite fellow Australian Geoffrey Rush in Oleanna.
“You can be a celebrity without education,” says a famous actor, also working as a professional Assignment Help Australia and essay writing help service provider.
Ivanka Trump, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
The next star on our list of business school enrollees, the daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, is arguably the least surprising. Ivanka Trump was born in New York City in 1981 and attended Georgetown University for two years before moving to the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. In 2004, she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics.
Trump worked as a runway model for high-profile labels such as Versace and Thierry Mugler before becoming a prominent role in the family company and the U.S. administration. She has been on several television shows, many of which focus on her memories of growing up in the Trump family. Trump is also the author of the book The Trump Card: Winning at Work and in Life.
Lionel Richie, Tuskegee University
Lionel Richie is a pop music legend and one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. He was a prominent role in the Motown period, signing to Motown Records in the 1960s as part of The Commodores. Richie chose to go solo about 20 years later and has since sold over 100 million records.
Richie attended Tuskegee University on a tennis scholarship to study economics after growing up in Tuskegee, Alabama, where The Commodores were established. Richie, who is a fervent Christian, pondered studying theology and becoming a priest. He eventually concluded that this was not for him and resolved to seek a career in music instead.
Ray Romano is an actor and stand-up comedian who was born in Queens, New York. Romano has stated that he is “seven-eighths Italian and one-eighths French” and that his humour is based on his experiences growing up in New York’s Italian-American neighbourhood. This is arguably most evident in popular television programs. Everybody Loves Raymond, in which Romano lives across the street from his controlling parents.
After graduating from high school, Romano studied accounting and moved on to Queens College in Flushing, New York, to obtain a business degree. He got disillusioned with the course, though. Romano chose to forego his degree and pursue a career in show business after earning only 15 credits after three years of study.
Benicio Del Toro, University of California, San Diego
Benicio Del Toro is a Puerto Rican actor, producer, and director most known for his performance in Traffic. He received a BAFTA, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award – quite a haul for a single film!
Del Toro also went to business school, which may come as a surprise. Del Toro was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to a family of attorneys and moved to Pennsylvania when he was 12 years old to attend high school. He moved on to the University of California, San Diego, where he earned a Master of Science in Business Analytics degree, rated 26th in the Masters in Business Analytics Rankings 2021. Del Toro’s career might have followed a very different road if he hadn’t taken an extracurricular theatre class that convinced him to drop out of college and pursue success in Los Angeles.
Business schools are thus a blessing in disguise where you can discover a world of opportunities that the business realm has in store for you. For any assistance with business assignments, do not hesitate to reach out to a professional online assistance provider offering help with business assignments.
About Author:
Jake Thomson is a contributing writer to LiveWebTutors. He is a podcaster, style coach and has been a blogger and a professional blogger writing about educational skills, personal development, and motivation since 2010. He has her blogging website and well-established blog. We operate a team of experts and qualified professionals who will provide high-quality Essay Writing Service for students.