The 26 most successful Harvard Business School graduates

Marguerite Ward,Drake BaerJul 22, 2020, 21:57 IST

JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon graduated from the Harvard Business School in 1982.Brian Snyder/Reuters

Harvard Business School boasts some of the world's richest and most influential alumni.
Founded in 1908, HBS was the first institution in the world to grant a Masters in Business Administration.
Here are several notable graduates from the esteemed institution.

If you want to be an executive, billionaire, or US president, it's a good idea to graduate from Harvard Business School.

Founded in 1908, HBS was the first institution in the world to grant a Masters in Business Administration.

The Harvard MBA has since been a hallmark of the elite, with George W. Bush, Ray Dalio, and Sheryl Sandberg all earning the degree.

We sifted through HBS's sterling history to find the most powerful, prominent, and financially successful grads that came out of Cambridge.

Richard Feloni contributed to an earlier version of this article.

Walter Haas, Jr., Class of 1939, succeeded his father as the CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. He grew Levi's from a regional California brand to one of the world's biggest apparel companies.

Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

Walter Haas, Jr., Class of 1939, succeeded his father as the CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. He grew Levi's from a regional California brand to one of the world's biggest apparel companies.

1939 MBA Robert S. McNamara served as the US Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War.

Wikimedia

After nabbing his MBA in 1942, Philip Caldwell took over as the first non-Ford to run Ford Motor Company, where he led one of the biggest turnarounds in American business history.

Stephen R. Covey, Class of 1957, become tremendously influential after publishing his bestselling book 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.'

Robert Kraft, MBA graduate of 1965, is the chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group, which most notably owns the New England Patriots.

Jim Rogash/Getty

Michael Bloomberg finished his MBA in 1966 and went on to found financial data company Bloomberg in 1981 and serve three terms as New York Mayor. He ran for president in 2019. He is worth an estimated $60 billion.

REUTERS/Jonathan Drake/File Photo

Source: Forbes

Michael Bloomberg finished his MBA in 1966 and went on to found financial data company Bloomberg in 1981 and serve three terms as New York Mayor. He ran for president in 2019. He is worth an estimated $60 billion.

George Kaiser graduated from HBS in 1966 and is the chairman of BOK Financial Corporation. He's worth an estimated $5.3 billion and his foundation donates millions each year, mostly to early childhood education.

YouTube/CBS News

Source: Bloomberg

George Kaiser graduated from HBS in 1966 and is the chairman of BOK Financial Corporation. He's worth an estimated $5.3 billion and his foundation donates millions each year, mostly to early childhood education.

Henry Paulson finished his MBA in 1970, and joined Goldman Sachs in 1974, working his way up to CEO. In 2006, he left the bank to serve as the US Treasury Secretary until 2009.

Wikimedia

Henry Paulson finished his MBA in 1970, and joined Goldman Sachs in 1974, working his way up to CEO. In 2006, he left the bank to serve as the US Treasury Secretary until 2009.

Stephen Schwarzman, class of 1972, is the chairman and CEO of the Blackstone Group.

Alex Wong/Getty

Ray Dalio got his MBA in 1973 and is the highly influential founder and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates. He's worth an estimated $15.4 billion.

Founder of Bridgewater Associates Ray Dalio AP

Source: Bloomberg

After finishing his MBA in 1974, Mitt Romney had a long career with Bain Consulting. He was elected Massachusetts governor in 2002, was a two-time presidential candidate in 2008 and 2012, and was elected as a US Senator in 2018.

Mitt and Ann Romney at the Republican National Convention in 2012. AP

After finishing his MBA in 1974, Mitt Romney had a long career with Bain Consulting. He was elected Massachusetts governor in 2002, was a two-time presidential candidate in 2008 and 2012, and was elected as a US Senator in 2018.

George W. Bush graduated from HBS in 1975 before working in the oil business, owning the Texas Rangers, becoming governor of Texas, and then serving as US president from 2000 to 2008.

President George W. Bush in 2003. Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images

George W. Bush graduated from HBS in 1975 before working in the oil business, owning the Texas Rangers, becoming governor of Texas, and then serving as US president from 2000 to 2008.

Jim Koch, Class of 1978, left management consulting to start the Boston Beer Company, which makes Samuel Adams. He's now a billionaire.

AP Photo/Christof Stache

Source: Forbes

Anne Moore earned her MBA in 1978 and went on to the top of publishing, becoming the first female CEO of Time, Inc., in 2002.

Wikimedia

Meg Whitman, MBA graduate of 1979, is the CEO of Quibi and serves on the boards of Procter & Gamble and Dropbox.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman AP

Source: Forbes

John Paulson got his MBA in 1980 and went on to found the investment management firm Paulson & Co. He's worth an estimated $4.4 billion.

Mark Lennihan/AP

Source: Bloomberg

After finishing his MBA in 1981, Chase Carey started an influential media career. He helped launch Fox News and Fox Sports, was CEO of DirecTV, and is was the former president of News Corp. He is now the CEO of Formula One Group.

Valerie Macon/Getty

After finishing his MBA in 1981, Chase Carey started an influential media career. He helped launch Fox News and Fox Sports, was CEO of DirecTV, and is was the former president of News Corp. He is now the CEO of Formula One Group.

Jamie Dimon graduated from HBS in 1982. He's the chairman, president, and CEO of JPMorgan Chase. He's worth an estimated $1.3 billion.

Mario Tama/Getty

Source: Forbes

Jeffrey Immelt, Class of 1982, is the chairman and CEO of General Electric. He was selected as Jack Welch's successor in 2000 and served as the company's leader until 2017.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Jeffrey Immelt, Class of 1982, is the chairman and CEO of General Electric. He was selected as Jack Welch's successor in 2000 and served as the company's leader until 2017.

Michael Lynton, MBA graduate of 1987, served as the CEO of Sony Entertainment and a board member of Snap. In 2017, he stepped down as CEO of Sony Entertainment to become the chairman of Snap.

Abigail Johnson got her MBA in 1988 and is today the chair of Fidelity Worldwide Investment. She ranks among the richest women in the world, with an estimated net worth of $17.3 billion.

REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Source: Forbes

Abigail Johnson got her MBA in 1988 and is today the chair of Fidelity Worldwide Investment. She ranks among the richest women in the world, with an estimated net worth of $17.3 billion.

Bill Ackman, '92 MBA, is an influential activist investor who leads Pershing Square, a massive hedge fund. He's worth an estimated $1.9 billion.

Reuters/ Eduardo Munoz

Source: Forbes

Mark Pincus, MBA graduate of 1993, is the cofounder of social media gaming company Zynga. He's worth around $783 million.

Larry Busacca/Getty

Source: Forbes

Sheryl Sandberg is largely credited with making Facebook profitable. The 1995 HBS alum initiated a global conversation about women and work with her bestselling book 'Lean In.' She's worth an estimated $1.8 billion.

Sheryl Sandberg speaks during a forum in San Francisco. AP Photo/Eric Risberg

Source: Forbes

Sheryl Sandberg is largely credited with making Facebook profitable. The 1995 HBS alum initiated a global conversation about women and work with her bestselling book 'Lean In.' She's worth an estimated $1.8 billion.

Sal Khan, Class of 2003, is the founder of the increasingly popular online learning site Khan Academy, which has received funding from the Gates Foundation and Google.

Sam Rega/Business Insider

Sal Khan, Class of 2003, is the founder of the increasingly popular online learning site Khan Academy, which has received funding from the Gates Foundation and Google.

Elaine Chao, MBA graduate of 1979, assumed her current role of US Secretary of Transportation in 2017. She previously served as Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao speaks during a major infrastructure investment announcement at transportation headquarters in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018. Jose Luis Magana/AP

Elaine Chao, MBA graduate of 1979, assumed her current role of US Secretary of Transportation in 2017. She previously served as Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.

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The 26 most successful Harvard Business School graduates

Walter Haas, Jr., Class of 1939, succeeded his father as the CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. He grew Levi's from a regional California brand to one of the world's biggest apparel companies.

1939 MBA Robert S. McNamara served as the US Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War.

After nabbing his MBA in 1942, Philip Caldwell took over as the first non-Ford to run Ford Motor Company, where he led one of the biggest turnarounds in American business history.

Stephen R. Covey, Class of 1957, become tremendously influential after publishing his bestselling book 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.'

Robert Kraft, MBA graduate of 1965, is the chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group, which most notably owns the New England Patriots.

Michael Bloomberg finished his MBA in 1966 and went on to found financial data company Bloomberg in 1981 and serve three terms as New York Mayor. He ran for president in 2019. He is worth an estimated $60 billion.

George Kaiser graduated from HBS in 1966 and is the chairman of BOK Financial Corporation. He's worth an estimated $5.3 billion and his foundation donates millions each year, mostly to early childhood education.

Henry Paulson finished his MBA in 1970, and joined Goldman Sachs in 1974, working his way up to CEO. In 2006, he left the bank to serve as the US Treasury Secretary until 2009.

Stephen Schwarzman, class of 1972, is the chairman and CEO of the Blackstone Group.

Ray Dalio got his MBA in 1973 and is the highly influential founder and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates. He's worth an estimated $15.4 billion.

After finishing his MBA in 1974, Mitt Romney had a long career with Bain Consulting. He was elected Massachusetts governor in 2002, was a two-time presidential candidate in 2008 and 2012, and was elected as a US Senator in 2018.

George W. Bush graduated from HBS in 1975 before working in the oil business, owning the Texas Rangers, becoming governor of Texas, and then serving as US president from 2000 to 2008.

Jim Koch, Class of 1978, left management consulting to start the Boston Beer Company, which makes Samuel Adams. He's now a billionaire.

Anne Moore earned her MBA in 1978 and went on to the top of publishing, becoming the first female CEO of Time, Inc., in 2002.

Meg Whitman, MBA graduate of 1979, is the CEO of Quibi and serves on the boards of Procter & Gamble and Dropbox.

John Paulson got his MBA in 1980 and went on to found the investment management firm Paulson & Co. He's worth an estimated $4.4 billion.

After finishing his MBA in 1981, Chase Carey started an influential media career. He helped launch Fox News and Fox Sports, was CEO of DirecTV, and is was the former president of News Corp. He is now the CEO of Formula One Group.

Jamie Dimon graduated from HBS in 1982. He's the chairman, president, and CEO of JPMorgan Chase. He's worth an estimated $1.3 billion.

Jeffrey Immelt, Class of 1982, is the chairman and CEO of General Electric. He was selected as Jack Welch's successor in 2000 and served as the company's leader until 2017.

Michael Lynton, MBA graduate of 1987, served as the CEO of Sony Entertainment and a board member of Snap. In 2017, he stepped down as CEO of Sony Entertainment to become the chairman of Snap.

Abigail Johnson got her MBA in 1988 and is today the chair of Fidelity Worldwide Investment. She ranks among the richest women in the world, with an estimated net worth of $17.3 billion.

Bill Ackman, '92 MBA, is an influential activist investor who leads Pershing Square, a massive hedge fund. He's worth an estimated $1.9 billion.

Mark Pincus, MBA graduate of 1993, is the cofounder of social media gaming company Zynga. He's worth around $783 million.

Sheryl Sandberg is largely credited with making Facebook profitable. The 1995 HBS alum initiated a global conversation about women and work with her bestselling book 'Lean In.' She's worth an estimated $1.8 billion.

Sal Khan, Class of 2003, is the founder of the increasingly popular online learning site Khan Academy, which has received funding from the Gates Foundation and Google.

Elaine Chao, MBA graduate of 1979, assumed her current role of US Secretary of Transportation in 2017. She previously served as Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.