Education is, without a doubt, one of the most important and valued prerequisites for pursuing one's dreams; however, as the wacky world continues to unfold, it is surprising to see how many well-established
actors and billionaires barely had any and yet still managed to make a name for
themselves through other means. The following is a list of just some of the many well-known
stars with low educational background. Stars with low educational background are still adored. 1. Paris Hilton
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Paris Hilton attended several different schools before settling up at Dwight School, where she would soon withdraw. Soon after, Hilton began her career as a model, and she never looked back as many doors opened for her. Despite not having completed high school, Hilton has made the most of her life; she is a supermodel, actress, singer, author, and, most importantly, the heiress to the opulent Hilton Hotels.
2. Daniel Radcliffe
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Daniel Radcliffe does not have a degree like his co-star Emma Watson does in English Literature from Brown University, where she recently graduated. Star of the Harry Potter films, who started acting at age 10, dropped out of school due to scheduling issues. The actor dropped out of school at 17 after being bullied so severely.
3. James Cameron
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It is quite a shock to learn that the man who paved the way for science fiction never finished high school, given his status as the director of two of the highest-grossing movies of all time (Avatar and Titanic). James Cameron became a truck driver after abandoning his high school education at Sonora and used his spare time to read every special effects thesis he could get his hands on.
4. Katy Perry
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As the saying goes, "When you've got a voice like that, who needs brains?" Of course not, Katy Perry! After dropping out of Dos Pueblos High School, the path to a successful music career was anything but smooth. Katy Perry's first album, 2001's Katy Hudson, failed to sell more than 200 copies, motivating her to hone her craft and eventually achieve superstar status with 2008's One of the Boys.
5. Tom Cruise
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Even though he is now one of Hollywood's most recognizable actors, the fact that Tom Cruise originally intended to become a priest after graduating from high school is quite a surprise. Cruise quickly shifted gears from racing to acting, resulting in many successful films, including A Few Good Men, Top Gun, and the Mission: Impossible series.
6. Cameron Diaz
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Cameron Diaz, who dropped out of Long Beach Polytechnic High School at 16 to pursue a modeling career and eventually became an actress, was probably not one of the school's brightest students. In addition, it's worth noting that rapper
Snoop Dogg went to the same high school as Diaz and, surprisingly, even graduated.
7. Jim Carrey
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Jim Carrey had a really rough upbringing. Carrey was forced to drop out of high school at 15 to help support his family after his father lost his job and the family fell on hard times. A janitor by day and a caregiver for his dying mother by night, Jim Carrey struggled to make ends meet before becoming a household name as a comedic performer.
8. Robert Downey, Jr.
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Robert Downey, Jr. is one of the best and most iconic actors working in Hollywood today, largely thanks to his portrayal of Iron Man in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe. The ambitious teen dropped out of Santa Monica High School at 16 to return to New York City and pursue acting like his father did, only to find greater success.
9. Nicholas Cage
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Nicolas Cage was once considered one of Hollywood's brightest stars and even won an Oscar for Best Actor. The actor may be wishing he had never left Beverly Hills High when he was 16, now that his career is in freefall.
10. Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp is one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, but he never intended to become an actor. Depp dropped out of high school at age 15 to pursue a career in music but quickly realized that acting was where he truly belonged. The actor, however, is a talented guitarist and has worked with the likes of Marilyn Manson and the band Oasis.