30 notable Wharton Business School graduates

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30 notable Wharton Business School graduates
  • The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Business School is widely renowned as one of the top institutions of its kind in the world.
  • Since its founding in 1882 by industrialist Joseph Wharton, the school has produced graduates in almost every sphere of influence, from Fred Wilson in venture capital to Sundar Pichai in tech and Nassim Taleb in economic philosophy.
  • One of the school's graduates happens to be President Donald Trump — and his niece Mary Trump just claimed in a forthcoming book that he paid a proxy to take his SATs to guarantee his admission.
  • Here's a look at influential Wharton graduates, including Trump's children, other heirs, celebrated business minds, and more. Alumni are listed in ascending order of their graduation year.
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Laurence Tisch got his MBA in 1943 at age 20. He served as CEO of CBS from 1986 to 1995. He later became a major benefactor of New York City cultural institutions.

Laurence Tisch got his MBA in 1943 at age 20. He served as CEO of CBS from 1986 to 1995. He later became a major benefactor of New York City cultural institutions.
Reuters

Source: Wharton Magazine

Edmund T. Pratt Jr. graduated from Wharton in 1947. He served as CEO of Pfizer from 1972 to 1991. He turned the pharma company into an international giant.

Edmund T. Pratt Jr. graduated from Wharton in 1947. He served as CEO of Pfizer from 1972 to 1991. He turned the pharma company into an international giant.
AP Photo

Source: Wharton Magazine

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Yotaro Kobayashi finished at Wharton in 1958. He served as the CEO of Fuji Xerox and was on the Board of Trustees at Penn.

Yotaro Kobayashi finished at Wharton in 1958. He served as the CEO of Fuji Xerox and was on the Board of Trustees at Penn.
Reuters

Source: UPenn Almanac

JD Power, class of 1959, changed the way we buy cars. His market research company JD Power & Associates has become a byword for high-quality automobiles.

JD Power, class of 1959, changed the way we buy cars. His market research company JD Power & Associates has become a byword for high-quality automobiles.
The McGraw-Hill Companies

Source: Wharton

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Robert Crandall got his MBA from Wharton in 1960. He was the former president and chairman of American Airlines and is credited with creating the frequent flyer program.

Robert Crandall got his MBA from Wharton in 1960. He was the former president and chairman of American Airlines and is credited with creating the frequent flyer program.
Bill Janscha/AP

Source: Wharton Magazine

Mort Zuckerman, class of 1961, is worth an estimated $2.5 billion. He's a real estate and media mogul who owns the US News & World Report. He previously owned the New York Daily News and The Atlantic.

Mort Zuckerman, class of 1961, is worth an estimated $2.5 billion. He's a real estate and media mogul who owns the US News & World Report. He previously owned the New York Daily News and The Atlantic.
Henry S. Dziekan III/Getty Images

Source: Forbes, Wharton Magazine

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After finishing at Wharton in 1963, John Sculley went on to run two worldwide brands: Pepsi and Apple. He also had the honor of firing Steve Jobs.

After finishing at Wharton in 1963, John Sculley went on to run two worldwide brands: Pepsi and Apple. He also had the honor of firing Steve Jobs.
Brad Barket / Stringer / Getty Images

Source: Business Insider, Wharton Magazine

Ron Perelman, class of 1966, became a prominent investor with diverse dealings from candy to cosmetics. He's worth an estimated $7.4 billion.

Ron Perelman, class of 1966, became a prominent investor with diverse dealings from candy to cosmetics. He's worth an estimated $7.4 billion.
Donald Traill/Invision/AP

Source: Forbes

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Lewis E. Platt graduated from Wharton in 1966 and served as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard from 1992 to 1999.

Lewis E. Platt graduated from Wharton in 1966 and served as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard from 1992 to 1999.
Scott Olson/Getty

Source: Wharton Magazine

Alfred R. Berkeley III finished his MBA in 1968. He was president of NASDAQ from 1996 until 2000.

Alfred R. Berkeley III finished his MBA in 1968. He was president of NASDAQ from 1996 until 2000.
Stephen Jaffe/Reuters

Source: Wharton Magazine

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Peter Lynch, class of 1968, is a Wall Street legend. Lynch's 1977-1990 tenure made Fidelity Investment's Magellan Fund the top-ranked general equity mutual fund in the US.

Peter Lynch, class of 1968, is a Wall Street legend. Lynch's 1977-1990 tenure made Fidelity Investment's Magellan Fund the top-ranked general equity mutual fund in the US.
Brian Snyder/Reuters

Source: Wharton

Peter Nicholas received his MBA in 1968 and cofounded Boston Scientific in 1979, growing it into a multibillion-dollar global manufacturer of medical equipment.

Peter Nicholas received his MBA in 1968 and cofounded Boston Scientific in 1979, growing it into a multibillion-dollar global manufacturer of medical equipment.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Images

Source: Wharton Magazine

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President Donald Trump graduated from Wharton in 1968. Mary Trump, his niece, has claimed that he paid a proxy to take his SAT for him, which helped him get admitted.

President Donald Trump graduated from Wharton in 1968. Mary Trump, his niece, has claimed that he paid a proxy to take his SAT for him, which helped him get admitted.
Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images

Source: Politico, Business Insider

Harold McGraw III graduated from Wharton in 1976 and used his degree to further the family business. He served as the CEO of McGraw Hill (now S&P Global) from 1998-2013.

Harold McGraw III graduated from Wharton in 1976 and used his degree to further the family business. He served as the CEO of McGraw Hill (now S&P Global) from 1998-2013.
China Daily/REUTERS

Source: Wharton Magazine

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Rakesh Gangwal, right, graduated from Wharton in 1979. He grew US Airways' market cap from $800 million to $8 billion in less than three years as its CEO. He also founded IndiGo, an airline headquartered outside New Delhi, in 2006. He has an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion.

Rakesh Gangwal, right, graduated from Wharton in 1979. He grew US Airways' market cap from $800 million to $8 billion in less than three years as its CEO. He also founded IndiGo, an airline headquartered outside New Delhi, in 2006. He has an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion.
Kamal Kishore/Reuters

Source: Forbes, Wharton Magazine

Laura Lang received her MBA in 1980 and served as the CEO of Time Inc. from 2011 to 2013. She currently serves on the board of Tufts University's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.

Laura Lang received her MBA in 1980 and served as the CEO of Time Inc. from 2011 to 2013. She currently serves on the board of Tufts University's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.
Laura Cavanaugh/Getty

Source: MetroMBA

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Bill DeLaney earned his MBA in 1982 and worked his way up through Sysco, becoming its CEO in 2009. He stepped down in 2017. In his final year at the helm, his compensation totaled $14.1 million.

Bill DeLaney earned his MBA in 1982 and worked his way up through Sysco, becoming its CEO in 2009. He stepped down in 2017. In his final year at the helm, his compensation totaled $14.1 million.
Mark Duncan/AP Images

Source: Reuters, Bloomberg

Nassim Taleb finished his Wharton MBA in 1983. He has published books like "Fooled By Randomness" and "The Black Swan," both of which foretold financial catastrophe.

Nassim Taleb finished his Wharton MBA in 1983. He has published books like "Fooled By Randomness" and "The Black Swan," both of which foretold financial catastrophe.
REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Source: Business Insider, Wharton

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Anil Ambani, a member of one of the world's richest families, graduated from Wharton in 1983. He is the chairman of Reliance Group, one of the most valuable companies in India.

Anil Ambani, a member of one of the world's richest families, graduated from Wharton in 1983. He is the chairman of Reliance Group, one of the most valuable companies in India.
Reuters

Source: Business Insider, Economic Times

Ruth Porat got her MBA in 1987. Before becoming the CFO of Google, Porat was widely referred to as the most powerful woman on Wall Street as the CFO of Morgan Stanley. She recently joined the Blackstone Group's board of directors.

Ruth Porat got her MBA in 1987. Before becoming the CFO of Google, Porat was widely referred to as the most powerful woman on Wall Street as the CFO of Morgan Stanley. She recently joined the Blackstone Group's board of directors.
Ruth Porat, CFO of Google. Denis Balibouse/Reuters
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Fred Wilson graduated from Wharton in 1987. He is the cofounder of Union Square Ventures. He was an early investor in Twitter, Tumblr, and Etsy.

Fred Wilson graduated from Wharton in 1987. He is the cofounder of Union Square Ventures. He was an early investor in Twitter, Tumblr, and Etsy.
REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Source: Wharton Magazine, Business Insider

Ann McLaughlin Korologos, class of of 1988, became President Reagan's secretary of labor. She has served on the boards of Fannie Mae, Kellogg, Marriott, Nordstrom, and more, and as the chairman of the Aspen Institute and the RAND corporation.

Ann McLaughlin Korologos, class of of 1988, became President Reagan's secretary of labor. She has served on the boards of Fannie Mae, Kellogg, Marriott, Nordstrom, and more, and as the chairman of the Aspen Institute and the RAND corporation.
Ted Soqui/Corbis via Getty Images

Source: Wharton Magazine, Aspen Institute

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Gerard Kleisterlee, Wharton class of 1991, is the chairman of Vodafone. He served as the CEO of Philips from 2001 to 2010.

Gerard Kleisterlee, Wharton class of 1991, is the chairman of Vodafone. He served as the CEO of Philips from 2001 to 2010.
Peter Dejong/AP

Source: Wharton

William Wrigley Jr. II, the bubble gum heir, graduated from Wharton in 1994. He sold the family business to Mars Candy for $23 billion in 2008. He is currently the CEO of a medical marijuana company. He's worth an estimated $3 billion.

William Wrigley Jr. II, the bubble gum heir, graduated from Wharton in 1994. He sold the family business to Mars Candy for $23 billion in 2008. He is currently the CEO of a medical marijuana company. He's worth an estimated $3 billion.
John Gress/Reuters

Source: Forbes

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Alfred C. Liggins III, Wharton class of 1995, became the CEO of Radio One in 1997. He took the company his mother founded public and grew it into the largest Black-owned broadcasting company in the US.

Alfred C. Liggins III, Wharton class of 1995, became the CEO of Radio One in 1997. He took the company his mother founded public and grew it into the largest Black-owned broadcasting company in the US.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty

Source: Wharton Magazine

Alex Gorsky, who received a Wharton degree in 1996, has been the CEO of Johnson & Johnson since 2012. Gorsky also serves on the board of IBM.

Alex Gorsky, who received a Wharton degree in 1996, has been the CEO of Johnson & Johnson since 2012. Gorsky also serves on the board of IBM.
Thos Robinson/Getty Images

Source: Wharton

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Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, graduated from Wharton in 1997. He is worth an estimated $54.7 billion.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, graduated from Wharton in 1997. He is worth an estimated $54.7 billion.
Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Source: The Daily Pennsylvanian, Forbes

Sundar Pichai graduated from Wharton in 2002. He joined Google in 2004, and then became the CEO of Google and its parent company Alphabet in 2015.

Sundar Pichai graduated from Wharton in 2002. He joined Google in 2004, and then became the CEO of Google and its parent company Alphabet in 2015.
Stephen Lam/Reuters

Source: Wharton Magazine

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Trump's children, Donald Jr. and Ivanka, graduated from Wharton in 2000 and 2004, respectively.

Trump's children, Donald Jr. and Ivanka, graduated from Wharton in 2000 and 2004, respectively.
Win McNamee/Associated Press

Source: Politico