Where CEOs of Big Companies Went to College
They say you shouldn’t take advice from people you don’t want to be. Does going to the same universities count as advice? If your chosen career path is “CEO,” then you may want to check out where other CEOs studied – and what degrees they have.
When it comes to the biggest companies in the world, CEOs in this generation came down a couple common paths. They either studied engineering then found their way into business or studied business and worked their way up. But no matter what, these leaders sit at the heads of organizations making billions per year and employing hundreds of thousands of people.
Want to know what kind of education it takes to lead an organization worth billions? We’ve rounded up where the CEOs of global companies went to school – and what they studied.
Frederick W. Smith, CEO of FedEx
School(s) attended: Yale University
Graduation year: 1966
Degree: BA in Economics
When did Frederick W. Smith become CEO of FedEx: 1998
# of employees they have: 359,000
Company annual revenue: $65.45 billion
What does FedEx do?
FedEx is a shipping company, famously founded from an idea in a college paper at Yale that got a C+.
James Hackett, CEO of Ford Motor
School(s) attended: University of Michigan
Graduation year: 1977
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
When did James Hackett become CEO of Ford Motor: 2017
# of employees they have: 199,000
Company annual revenue: $160.33 billion
What does Ford Motor do?
Ford Motor is one of the largest car manufacturers in the world, producing multiple types of vehicles from small compact cars to industrial trucks.
Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon
School(s) attended: Princeton
Graduation year: 1986
Degree: BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
When did Jeff Bezos become CEO of Amazon: 1996 when he founded the company.
# of employees they have: 647,500
Company annual revenue: $232.88 billion
What does Amazon do?
Amazon.com is a global e-commerce company that sells nearly any product you could possibly look for in the world.
Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
School(s) attended:
- Wharton at UPenn (Transferred to the University of Nebraska)
- Columbia University
Graduation year:
- 1949 (Nebraska)
- 1951 (Columbia)
Degree:
- BBA (Nebraska)
- MBA (Columbia)
When did Warren Buffett become CEO of Berkshire Hathaway: 1967
# of employees they have: 389,000
Company annual revenue: $247.83 billion
What does Berkshire Hathaway do?
Berkshire Hathaway is a large holding company that invests in various companies in industries like real estate and insurance.
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple
School(s) attended:
- Auburn University
- Duke University
Graduation year:
- 1982 (Auburn)
- 1988 (Duke)
Degree:
- BS in Industrial Engineering (Auburn)
- MBA (Duke)
When did Tim Cook become CEO of Apple: 2011
# of employees they have: 132,000
Company annual revenue: $265.59 billion
What does Apple do?
Apple is a global technology retailer, famous for products like the iPod, iPhone, and Mac computers.
Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart
School(s) attended:
- University of Arkansas
- University of Tulsa
Graduation year:
- 1989 (Arkansas)
- 1992 (Tulsa)
Degree:
- BS in Business (Arkansas)
- MBA (Tulsa)
When did Doug McMillon become CEO of Walmart: 2014
# of employees they have: 2,200,000
Company annual revenue: $514.4 billion
What does Walmart do?
Walmart is a global discount retailer that sells everything from car tires to groceries. The company operates thousands of retail stores and has a massive e-commerce presence.
Robert (Bob) Iger, CEO of Walt Disney
School(s) attended: Ithaca College
Graduation year: 1973
Degree: BS in Television and Radio
When did Bob Iger become CEO of Walt Disney: 2005
# of employees they have: 201,000
Company annual revenue: $59.4 billion
What does Walt Disney do?
Walt Disney is a globally famous brand, named after its founder Walt Disney. The company owns cruise lines, makes movies and TV shows, and is also a holding company that owns other famous brands like ABC and ESPN.
Larry Page, CEO of Alphabet
School(s) attended:
- University of Michigan
- Stanford University
Graduation year: 1995 (Michigan – estimated)
Degree:
- Bachelors of Computer Engineering (Michigan)
- Masters of Computer Science (Stanford)
When did Larry Page become CEO of Alphabet: 2015
# of employees they have: 98,771
Company annual revenue: $136.81 billion
What does Alphabet do?
Alphabet is the holding company for Google and its subsidiaries. Page announced he was stepping down in late 2019 as CEO, but would remain involved in other ways.
Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
School(s) attended:
- Kettering University
- Stanford University
Graduation year: 1990 (Stanford)
Degree:
- BS in Electrical Engineering (Kettering)
- MBA (Stanford)
When did Mary Barra become CEO of General Motors: 2014
# of employees they have: 173,000
Company annual revenue: $147.04 billion
What does General Motors do?
General Motors is a global car maker and holding company, owning multiple car brands like Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac.
Ramon Laguarta, CEO of PepsiCo
School(s) attended: Esade (in Barcelona)
Graduation year: 1986
Degree: MBA
When did Ramon Laguarta become CEO of PepsiCo: 2018
# of employees they have: 267,000
Company annual revenue: $64.66 billion
What does PepsiCo do?
PepsiCo is a beverage and snack company with multiple products around the world.
David S. Taylor, CEO of Procter & Gamble
School(s) attended: Duke University
Graduation year: 1980
Degree: BS in Electrical Engineering
When did David S. Taylor become CEO of Procter & Gamble: 2015
# of employees they have: 92,000
Company annual revenue: $66.83 billion
What does Procter & Gamble do?
Procter & Gamble is a global consumer packaged goods (CPG) holding company that owns many brands like Charmin and Bounty.
Bob Swan, CEO of Intel
School(s) attended:
- University of Buffalo
- Binghamton University
Graduation year:
- 1983 (University of Buffalo)
- 1985 (Binghamton University)
Degree:
- Bachelors of Business Administration (University of Buffalo)
- MBA (Binghamton University)
When did Bob Swan become CEO of Intel: 2018
# of employees they have: 107,400
Company annual revenue: $70.84 billion
What does Intel do?
Intel is a global technology firm that makes microchips and processors for computers.
Marvin Ellison, CEO of Lowe’s
School(s) attended:
- The University of Memphis
- Emory University
Graduation year: 1980s (estimated)
Degree:
- Business administration (University of Memphis)
- MBA (Emory)
When did Marvin Ellison become CEO of Lowe’s: 2018
# of employees they have: 245,000
Company annual revenue: $71.30 billion
What does Lowe’s do?
Lowe’s is a home improvement big-box store, similar to Home Depot.
David P. Abney, CEO of United Parcel Service (UPS)
School(s) attended: Delta State University
Graduation year: 1976
Degree: Bachelors of Business Administration
When did David P. Abney become CEO of UPS: 2014
# of employees they have: 364,575
Company annual revenue: $71.86 billion
What does United Parcel Service (UPS) do?
United Parcel Service (UPS) is a shipping company that operates around the world, famous for its brown colors.
David Brickman, CEO of Freddie Mac
School(s) attended:
- University of Pennsylvania
- Harvard
- MIT
Graduation year:
- 1987 (Penn)
- 1993 (Harvard)
- 1999 (MIT)
Degree:
- BA (Penn)
- Masters of Public Policy (Harvard)
- PhD in Economics (MIT)
When did David Brickman become CEO of Freddie Mac: 2019
# of employees they have: 6,621
Company annual revenue: $73.59 billion
What does Freddie Mac do?
Freddie Mac is a secondary mortgage buyer that helps mortgage lenders have more cash on hand.
Brian Cornell, CEO of Target
School(s) attended: UCLA (Twice)
Graduation year:
- 1981 (Undergrad)
- 1991 (Business school)
Degree:
- Bachelors (Undergrad)
- MBA (Business school)
When did Brian Cornell become CEO of Target: 2014
# of employees they have: 360,000
Company annual revenue: $75.35 billion
What does Target do?
Target is an American retailer, similar to Walmart.
Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM
School(s) attended: Northwestern University
Graduation year: 1979
Degree: BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
When did Ginni Rometty become CEO of IBM: 2012
# of employees they have: 381,100
Company annual revenue: $79.59 billion
What does IBM do?
IBM is one of the oldest technology companies in the world, famous for its Watson AI computer.
Alex Gorsky, CEO of Johnson & Johnson
School(s) attended:
- West Point Military Academy
- Wharton School at UPenn
Graduation year:
- 1982 (West Point)
- 1996 (MBA)
Degree:
- BS in Engineering and Political Science (West Point)
- MBA (Wharton)
When did Alex Gorsky become CEO of Johnson & Johnson: 2012
# of employees they have: 135,100
Company annual revenue: $81.58 billion
What does Johnson & Johnson do?
Johnson & Johnson is a global brand and packaged goods holding company focused on wellbeing products.
Jim Fitterling, CEO of DuPont de Nemours, part of Dow Chemical
School(s) attended: University of Missouri-Columbia
Graduation year: 1983
Degree: BS in Mechanical Engineering
When did Jim Fitterling become CEO of DuPont: 2018
# of employees they have: 98,000
Company annual revenue: $85.97 billion
What does DuPont do?
DuPont de Nemours is a global chemical manufacturing company.
Michael S. Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies
School(s) attended: University of Texas
Graduation year: Dropped out to found Dell
Degree: Was pre-med
When did Michael S. Dell become CEO of Dell Technologies: 2007
# of employees they have: 157,000
Company annual revenue: $90.62 billion
What does Dell Technologies do?
Dell Technologies is a global manufacturer of computers and other technologies.
Gail Koziara Boudreaux, CEO of Anthem
School(s) attended:
- Dartmouth College
- Columbia University
Graduation year:
- 1982 (Dartmouth)
- 1989 (Columbia)
Degree:
- BA (Dartmouth)
- MBA (Columbia)
When did Gail Koziara Boudreaux become CEO of Anthem: 2017
# of employees they have: 63,900
Company annual revenue: $92.10 billion
What does Anthem do?
Anthem is a large provider of health insurance in the United States.
Brian L. Roberts, CEO of Comcast
School(s) attended: Wharton at UPenn
Graduation year: 1981
Degree: Bachelors of Science
When did Brian L. Roberts become CEO of Comcast: 2002
# of employees they have: 184,000
Company annual revenue: $94.50 billion
What does Comcast do?
Comcast is one of the biggest providers of cable in the United States.
Michael Corbat, CEO of Citigroup
School(s) attended: Harvard
Graduation year: 1982
Degree: BA in Economics
When did Michael Corbat become CEO of Citigroup: 2012
# of employees they have: 204,000
Company annual revenue: $97.1 billion
What does Citigroup do?
Citigroup is a global bank with operations in the US and Canada.
C. Allen Parker, CEO of Wells Fargo
School(s) attended:
- Duke University
- University of Chicago
- Columbia University
Graduation year:
- 1977 (Duke)
- 1980 (Chicago)
- 1983 (Columbia)
Degree:
- BA (Duke)
- MA (Chicago)
- JD (Columbia)
When did C. Allen Parker become CEO of Wells Fargo: 2019
# of employees they have: 258,700
Company annual revenue: $101.06 billion
What does Wells Fargo do?
Wells Fargo is an American bank headquartered in California.
Dennis Muilenburg, CEO of Boeing
School(s) attended:
- Iowa State University
- University of Washington
Graduation year:
- 1986 (Iowa – estimated)
- 1998 (Washington – estimated)
Degree:
- Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering (Iowa)
- Masters in Aeronautics (Washington)
When did Dennis Muilenburg become CEO of Boeing: 2015
# of employees they have: 153,000
Company annual revenue: $101.12 billion
What does Boeing do?
Boeing is a global airplane manufacturer and the maker of the Air Force One.
Craig Menear, CEO of Home Depot
School(s) attended: Michigan State
Graduation year: 1979
Degree: Business Administration
When did Craig Menear become CEO of the Home Depot: 2014
# of employees they have: 413,000
Company annual revenue: $108.20 billion
What does Home Depot do?
Home Depot is a global home goods retailer focused on building and renovation projects.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
School(s) attended:
- Manipal Institute of Technology (India)
- University of Wisconsin
- University of Chicago
Graduation year:
- 1988 (Manipal)
- 1990 (Wisconsin)
- 1992 (Chicago – estimated)
Degree:
- Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (Manipal)
- MS in Computer Science (Wisconsin)
- MBA (Chicago)
When did Satya Nadella become CEO of Microsoft: 2014
# of employees they have: 131,000
Company annual revenue: $110.36 billion
What does Microsoft do?
Microsoft is a global technology company, famously founded by Bill Gates.
Brian T. Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America
School(s) attended:
- Brown University
- University of Notre Dame
Graduation year:
- 1981 (Brown)
- 1983 (Notre Dame – estimated)
Degree:
- BA (Brown)
- JD (Notre Dame)
When did Brian T. Moynihan become CEO of Bank of America: 2010
# of employees they have: 204,489
Company annual revenue: $110.58 billion
What does Bank of America do?
Bank of America is a large bank offering a wide variety of services across the United States.
Joseph W. Gorder, CEO of Valero Energy
School(s) attended:
- University of Missouri – St Louis
- Our Lady of the Lake University
Graduation year: Unknown
Degree:
- Bachelors in Business Administration (Missouri)
- MBA (Lady of the Lake)
When did Joseph W. Gorder become CEO of Valero Energy: 2014
# of employees they have: 10,261
Company annual revenue: $111.40 billion
What does Valero Energy do?
Valero Energy is the world’s largest independent petroleum refiner.
Greg C. Garland, CEO of Phillips 66
School(s) attended: Texas A&M University
Graduation year: 1980
Degree: BA in Chemical Engineering
When did Greg C. Garland become CEO of Phillips 66: 2012
# of employees they have: 14,200
Company annual revenue: $114.21 billion
What does Phillips 66 do?
Phillips 66 is a diversified energy and manufacturing logistics company.
Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon Communications
School(s) attended: Uppsala University (Sweden)
Graduation year: 1991
Degree: Business Administration and Economics
When did Hans Vestberg become CEO of Verizon: 2018
# of employees they have: 144,500
Company annual revenue: $130.86 billion
What does Verizon Communications do?
Verizon Communications is a global communications company focused on providing phone, internet, and wireless services.
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase
School(s) attended:
- Tufts University
- Harvard University
Graduation year:
- 1978 (Tufts – Estimated)
- 1982 (Harvard)
Degree:
- BA (Tufts)
- MBA (Harvard)
When did Jamie Dimon become CEO of JPMorgan: 2005
# of employees they have: 256,105
Company annual revenue: $131.41 billion
What does JPMorgan Chase do?
JPMorgan Chase is a global bank that offers pretty much any banking service you could possibly need, from ordinary banking all the way to taking companies public.
Stefano Pessina, CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance
School(s) attended: Polytechnic University of Milan
Graduation year: Unknown
Degree: Nuclear Engineering
When did Stefano Pessina become CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance: 2015
# of employees they have: 299,000
Company annual revenue: $131.53 billion
What does Walgreens Boots Alliance do?
Walgreens Boots Alliance is a global pharmacy chain that focuses on helping people achieve greater wellbeing.
Charles F. Lowrey, CEO of Prudential Financial
School(s) attended:
- Princeton
- Yale
- Harvard Business School
Graduation year:
- 1979 (Princeton)
- 1982 (Yale)
- 1988 (Harvard)
Degree:
- BA in Architecture (Princeton)
- Masters of Architecture (Yale)
- MBA (Harvard)
When did Charles F. Lowrey become CEO of Prudential Financial: 2018
# of employees they have: 50,492
Company annual revenue: $62.99 billion
What does Prudential Financial do?
Prudential Financial is a company that offers multiple financial services products such as insurance, loans, retirement solutions, and more.
Juan Ricardo Luciano, CEO of Archer Daniels Midland
School(s) attended: Buenos Aires Institute of Technology
Graduation year: 1982 (estimated)
Degree: Bachelors of Science
When did Juan Ricardo Luciano become CEO of Archer Daniels Midland: 2015
# of employees they have: 31,600
Company annual revenue: $64.34 billion
What does Archer Daniels Midland do?
Archer Daniels Midland is one of the world’s largest agricultural processors and food ingredient providers.
Gregory Hayes, CEO of United Technologies
School(s) attended: Purdue University
Graduation year: 1982
Degree: Bachelors of Economics
When did Gregory Hayes become CEO of United Technologies: 2014
# of employees they have: 240,200
Company annual revenue: $66.50 billion
What does United Technologies do?
United Technologies is a technology holding company that owns tons of brands operating around the world.
