15 Famous People Who Went to Harvard
When it comes to picking a college in the USA, Ivy League options are at the top of the list for every American. However, this choice is not just limited to regular citizens; it is also a top choice for celebrities from around the world.
Harvard has its own charm, which pulls people closer to it, no matter what their social status. Over the years, a large number of celebrities and famous people have enrolled in this prestigious school and received their education and degrees from it.
If you are unaware of the celebrities who went to Harvard, then today’s your lucky day. Not only are you about to find out all about the famous people who went to Harvard, but you will also find out their area of study, the year they got enrolled, and other information about them. So, let your inner curiosity out and start reading the article below.
Harvard is a top name in the dream college list of almost every high-school graduate. Over the years, this prestigious school has housed many celebrities and famous people as well. The top 15 celebs who went to Harvard are listed below.
- Bill Gates
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Natalie Portman
- Barack Obama
- Matt Damon
- John F. Kennedy
- George W. Bush
- Al Gore
- Theodore Roosevelt
- B.J. Noval
- Sheryl Sandberg
- Michael Bloomberg
- Neil Degrasse Tyson
- Rashida Jones
- Mira Sorvino
All of these celebrities and famous people have been discussed in detail below. So, you will find out their enrollment year and field of study down below.
1. Bill Gates
- Studied Mathematics and Computer Science
- Enrolled in 1973
Every single person who uses technology is aware of the name Bill Gates. This American billionaire enrolled in Harvard in the year 1973 in the field of Mathematics and Computer Science. However, he never completed his degree, as he dropped out of the university in the year 1975, 2 years after enrollment.
Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard to start developing Microsoft with his partner, Paul Allen, and their mutual creation turned out to be one of the biggest software companies in the whole world. Despite the fact that Gates never completed his education at Harvard, he received an honorary degree from the institute in the year 2007. However, after spending years in the field of software and computers, in the year 2020, Gates stepped away from Microsoft and has been pursuing philanthropy ever since.
2. Mark Zuckerberg
- Studied Computer Science
- Enrolled in the year 2002
The second name that we have on the list of famous people who went to Harvard is one that millennials are very familiar with: Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg got enrolled in Harvard in the year 2002 in the field of Computer Science. He was known as a software and programming prodigy at Harvard, and while studying there, he designed multiple programs.
However, like Gates, Mark Zuckerberg also left his education merely two years after getting enrolled in Harvard a few months after he had designed and launched Facebook. The application was gaining popularity worldwide, and he discontinued his studies to focus on Facebook. Today, Mark Zuckerberg is among the richest people in the whole world.
3. Natalie Portman
- Enrolled in the year 1999
- Graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
Hollywood sweetheart Natalie Portman is also among the famous people who graduated from Harvard. This famous Hollywood actress has focused on her education side by side with her acting career, which is quite obvious by the fact that she was admitted into the prestigious school of Harvard in 1999 in the field of Psychology.
Natalie completed her Bachelor’s from Harvard and graduated in the year 2003, even though she had a role in Star Wars Menace I and many other movies during her time at Harvard. After receiving her degree from Harvard, Portman continued her acting career and was seen in the female lead role of multiple movies such as V for Vendetta, The Black Swan, and Thor.
4. Barack Obama
- Enrolled in the year 1988
- Studied Harvard Law School
There is not a single person in the whole USA who is not aware or familiar with the name of Barack Obama. However, what many people do not know is that the famous ex-president of the country also attended Harvard, specifically Harvard Law School, and he did not just get enrolled in the institute but completed his degree and graduated in the year 1991.
During his education at Harvard, he worked at a law firm, Sidley & Austin, which is where he met Michelle Obama. The couple got married a year after Barack graduated from Harvard, and in 1996, Barack got the position of the Illinois State Senate through elections. After serving in the state senate for eight years, he was elected to the United States Senate in 2004, and after spending four years in the United States Senate, Barack became the first African-American President of the United States in 2008.
5. Matt Damon
- Enrolled in 1988
- Studied Bachelor’s in English
Every Hollywood fan knows the name of Matt Damon, and yes, his name is also on the list of the famous people who went to Harvard. The famous actor got enrolled in this prestigious institute in the year 1988, the same year he got a small acting role in the film Mystic Pizza. The actor played the role and continued his education at Harvard, but a couple of months before his graduation from the university, he got the lead role in the film Geronimo: An American Legend and left the institute in 1992 to start filming for the movie.
The actor is quite famous for his movie Good Will Hunting, which he co-wrote with his schoolfellow and co-star Ben Affleck. He received an Academy Award for that movie, and after that, his success in the field of acting has gone upwards. He was a part of Saving Private Ryan, Bourne Identity, Ocean’s Eleven, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and many other movies that were quite successful films.
6. John F. Kennedy
- Enrolled in 1936
- Studied for Bachelor of Arts in Government
If your curiosity regarding what famous people went to Harvard still has not quenched, then let me give you another big name: John F. Kennedy. He was admitted into Harvard in the year 1936 in the field of political science, and he graduated from Harvard in the year 1940 with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts in Government. Right after graduating from the prestigious Harvard Institute, Kennedy joined the UX Navy.
Kennedy served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, and after the war ended, he returned to his country with a single goal: entering politics. He was elected in 1946 to the U.S. House of Representatives, which then led him to the U.S. Senate in 1952. In the year 1960, he ran for the position of President of the United States and was elected, but he only served as the President of the country for three years, and he was assassinated in August 1963.
7. George W. Bush
- Harvard Business School
- Enrolled in the year 1973
George W. Bush is another addition to the list of famous individuals who attended Harvard. Before coming to Harvard, Bush attended another prestigious institute in the US, Yale, where he got his Bachelor’s degree. After Yale, he came to Harvard for his Master’s degree, and he graduated from Harvard in the year 1975 with a Master of Business Administration degree.
During his two years at Harvard, Bush was a part of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. After graduating from Harvard, Bush moved to Texas, where he started working at an oil company, but soon after, he entered the field of politics. His official entry into politics was at the Texas House of Representatives in 1978, and he ran for President in 1988 but lost the position to Bill Clinton; however, he became the President of the United States in the year 2000.
8. Al Gore
- Enrolled in 1965
- Studied Government
Another big name on the list of famous people who studied at Harvard is Al Gore, who is the son of a three-time Senator of the United States. After attending a private school in Washington, Gore enrolled in Harvard in the year 1965 in the field of Government and graduated in the year 1969 with an honors degree in his selected field. During his time at this prestigious institute, he was a member of the famous Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
After graduating from Harvard, Gore joined the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War. Once the war was over, he returned to the USA and entered politics, which was his true calling, considering he was the son of a politician. In 1976, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, and in 1984, he joined the United States Senate and then became the vice president of the United States in 1992.
9. Theodore Roosevelt
- Enrolled in 1876
- Bachelor’s of Arts Degree
Whether you know him from his writing or his time serving as the President of the United States, the name of Theodore Roosevelt is associated with many admirable feats. In fact, this great man was also among those who got their education from Harvard. He graduated from the institute in 1880 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and during his four years there, he was a member of the famous fraternity of Harvard, Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.
Roosevelt joined politics right after graduating from Harvard, as the institute broadened his horizons and gave him the dose of confidence he needed. He spent the years of 1882 to 1884 associated with the New York State Assembly. In 1898, he was elected the Governor of the State of New York, and two years later, he became the Vice President of the United States, and in 1901, he became the President of the country.
10. B.J. Novak
- Enrolled in 1997
- Studied English and Spanish Literature
The name of B.J. Novak is also among those who went to and graduated from the reputable institute of Harvard. He studied English and Spanish Literature at Harvard and graduated in the year 2001 with his Bachelor’s degree. He was a part of the Harvard Lampoon and often performed at the famous The B.J. Show.
After his graduation from the institute, Novak took his two passions of comedy and writing and turned them into a career as a sitcom writer at NBC. He wrote multiple shows, including Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Saturday Night Live, and the famous T.V. show The Office. His later work not only got him fame in the form of awards but also opened the doors to many lucrative opportunities for him.
11. Sheryl Sandberg
- Enrolled in 1987
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics
The COO of Facebook is another great addition to the list of the powerful and famous people who have been to Harvard University. Sheryl Sandberg is the definition of women’s power as the woman who graduated from Harvard in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. The woman was a member of multiple societies during her time at Harvard, and the list includes Harvard Political Review, Women in Economics and Government Club, and the Institute of Politics.
After graduating from Harvard, Sheryl Sandberg signed up to be the assistant of the chief economist of the World Bank. However, she joined Harvard again for her Master’s degree, and in 1995, she graduated from Harvard Business School. After the completion of her Master’s degree, she has worked at many notable institutes, including Google and Facebook, but her list of accomplishments does not end here as she is also the author of the famous women empowerment book titled ‘Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.’
12. Michael Bloomberg
- Enrolled in 1964
- Studied Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Michael Bloomberg has gotten his education from reputable and prestigious institutes in the USA. He graduated from Johns Hopkins and then got admitted to Harvard University for his Master’s degree. After completing his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1966, he began to work at Salomon Brothers and continued to climb the ladder of positions with every year that passed.
In 1981, Bloomberg started his own company, Bloomberg L.P., which he co-founded with Thomas Secunda, Charles Zegar, and Duncan MacMillan. Along with running his successful company, Bloomberg has also been a part of United States politics as he served as the mayor of New York for 11 years, from 2002 to 2013. The third successful part of Bloomberg’s life is his philanthropic foundation, called Bloomberg Philanthropies.
13. Neil Degrasse Tyson
- Got enrolled in the year 1976
- Bachelor’s Degree in Physics
Every science enthusiast has heard and been obsessed with the name Neil Degrasse Tyson, and for good reasons, as the man is a legend in the field of astronomy; he joined Harvard in 1976. In 1980, Neil Degrasse Tyson graduated from Harvard with the degree of Bachelor’s in Physics in his hand. Right after completing his Bachelor’s, Neil moved to Columbia University and completed his Master’s in Astronomy from Columbia University.
He also completed his Master of Philosophy degree in astrophysics and Doctor of Philosophy degree in astrophysics from Columbia University. After that, the man has been part of reputable institutes across the United States, such as Princeton University as a research scientist and the Hayden Planetarium as the Director. Along with his position as the Director of Hayden Planetarium, the man has also written multiple books on astronomy and hosted science television shows, some of which include the NOVA ScienceNow, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Inexplicable Universe, and StarTalk.
14. Rashida Jones
- Got enrolled in the year 1993
- Religion and Philosophy
The famous Hollywood actress Rashida Jones, whom we have been seeing on our Television screens for many years, has a very strong educational background, considering the fact that she graduated from Harvard in 1997 with a Bachelor’s in Religion and Philosophy. During her time at Harvard, the woman was a part of multiple societies, some of which were the Harvard Radcliffe Dramatic Club, Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the Signet Society, and the Black Students Association. After graduating from Harvard, the woman took two career paths, writer and actress, and continued both successfully.
She was a part of The Office, Parks and Recreation, Angie Tribeca, and Boston Public. However, the achievements of Rashida Jones are not limited to acting only, as she was also the producer of some amazing projects, including Black-ish: A Celebration of Culture and Black Mirror. In addition to that, the name of Rashida is also associated with Animal Kingdom, which is a production company, and Global Citizen, which she is a board member of.
15. Mira Sorvino
- Enrolled in the year 1985
- Received a degree in East Asian Studies
The last person on my list of famous people who went to Harvard is Mira Sorvino, who attended Harvard from 1985 to 1989. After completing her Bachelor’s from Harvard in East Asian Studies, Mira Sorvino turned to the field of acting, and the list of projects that she has done is very long. However, her most famous work is Quiz Show, Mighty Aphrodite, At First Sight, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, and Summer of Sam.
The most famous work of Mira is when she played the character of the famous Marilyn Monroe in Norma Jean & Marilyn, which got her nominated for the Golden Globes. However, along with acting, the woman has also been associated with this field as a director, as she has directed multiple projects. At the top of the list is the famous documentary Under the Gun, and she is also associated with multiple organizations, especially Women’s rights and social justice ones.
What famous celebrities went to Harvard University?
The list of famous celebrities who attended Harvard is very long. At the top of the list are Natalie Portman, Rashida Jones, Matt Damon, Bill Gates, and Barack Obama.
Who is the most famous alumni at Harvard?
Even though many famous faces have gotten enrolled and walked the hallways of Harvard University, there are a few that are at the top of the list. The most famous alumni of Harvard in the USA is the ex-President Barack Obama.
Who are the famous Harvard rejects?
Harvard has a very low acceptance rate, which means that even famous celebrities have received a letter of rejection from this prestigious educational institute. The famous ones who got rejected from Harvard include Ted Turner and Art Garfunkel.
Who is the richest person to go to Harvard?
Harvard has a long list of rich people who have graduated from the institute, but the richest person who has gone to Harvard is Michael Bloomberg. He graduated from Harvard in 1966 with a business degree.
Every person who is obsessed with celebrities desires to find out more information about them every day. So, when you enter the ones who have infatuation with famous people as well as the prestigious institute of Harvard, then the curiosity takes a different turn and makes them wonder which of their idols attended Harvard.
Well, worry not, as some of the most famous people who went to Harvard have been discussed in the article above. So, not only will you find out about their major and enrollment year, but other information as well. I hope the knowledge shared above quenches some of your curiosity regarding Harvard alumni.