Number of billionaire alumni: 11
Total billionaire wealth: $48 billion
Number of UHNW (Ultra-High Net Worth) alumni: 361
Total UHNW wealth: $93 billion
Self-made wealth: 70 percent
The Duke University study shows 鈥渢he importance of education and cognitive ability in being able to attain a position in the global elite.鈥� About a third of billionaires went to elite schools around the world, with a large number attaining degrees in STEM fields鈥攕cience, technology, engineering and mathematics. The study also suggests that the modern uber-wealthy work hard to get and stay there.
鈥淎s (former WSJ reporter Robert) Frank : 鈥楾he idle rich are being replaced by the workaholic wealthy,鈥欌�� Wai writes.
鈥淚 think we should deeply consider the implications when a select group of scary smart people also tend to hold a disproportionate share of global wealth and power,鈥� . 鈥淲e depend on these people to make wise decisions for all of us. 鈥�
The results mirror a study that maps out which of the world鈥檚 universities produce the most billionaires and 鈥渦ltra high net wealth鈥� individuals鈥攖hat is, those with $30 million or more in assets. The vast majority of the fortunes made by these wealthy alumni had been self-made.
The universities are ranked by the most billionaire alumni, according to Wealth-X. But a billionaire count does not a university make. Those merely boasting alumni with 鈥渦ltra high net wealth,鈥� or UHNW, of $30 million or more are also noted, along with the percentage of self-made wealth.
