I notice most of those on the lists are in non-traditional jobs, like acting. Hardly examples for most of us to follow. Those who aren't, like Branson, were born with advantages most of us don't have, as Bill points out. You can dress it up anyway you want, but when an employer sees that you couldn't even be bothered to finish high school, it really does tell him something. It has nothing to do with intelligence, it has to do with the ability to finish a job.