What degree makes the most millionaires?

Asked by: Columbus Hahn  |  Last update: January 31, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (69 votes)

Engineering, Economics/Finance, and Computer Science consistently rank as top degrees for creating millionaires due to high earning potential in lucrative industries, but fields like Law, Accounting, and even Management/Teaching also produce many wealth builders through disciplined financial habits, with STEM and business-related majors often leading the way for high starting salaries and growth.

What creates 90% of millionaires?

While the exact "90%" figure is often linked to real estate, most millionaires actually build wealth through a combination of ** consistent savings, smart investing (stocks, real estate), disciplined spending (avoiding debt, living below means), growing income via careers or business, and a mindset of control and financial literacy**, often starting early and focusing on long-term wealth building over flashy spending. Real estate is a significant contributor, but it's part of a broader financial discipline rather than the sole secret.
 

What are the top 3 careers for millionaires?

THE TOP 5 CAREERS OF MILLIONAIRES: - Engineer - Accountant (CPA) - Teacher - Management - Attorney Some of those are surprising, huh?

What job makes $1,000,000 a year?

Entrepreneurship, Healthcare and CEOs

Founders in tech, and Silicon Valley Venture Capitalists can hit it big. Also, mom-and-pop retail, or services can scale to businesses making million-dollar profits. About 1% of U.S. small business owners, roughly 300,000, achieve this annually, per IRS data.

What is the best degree to get rich?

Majors like computer science, engineering, quantitative finance, and data science offer the most direct routes to high earnings and scalable wealth, but converting a degree into riches requires ownership (equity), disciplined investing, strong networks, and continuous skill compounding.

6 BORING Businesses that Always Make Millionaires (90% success rate)

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What professions make $500,000 a year?

Jobs paying $500k or more annually are typically in specialized medicine (surgeons, specialists), high-level corporate leadership (CEOs, VPs, Directors), finance (investment banking, private equity), top-tier sales (Enterprise Account Executive), specialized tech, and successful entrepreneurship, often requiring extensive education, experience, or successful business ownership. Medical specialties like Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Cardiology, and Dermatology consistently offer such high salaries, as do roles in C-suite management, senior legal positions, and senior finance roles. 

What degrees do billionaires have?

What to study to become a billionaire? You can study Engineering, Economics/Finance, Politics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Law, or MBA to enhance your financial strength, as these are some of the highest-paying degrees in the world.

What jobs pay $500,000 in the UK?

Jobs paying £500k a year in the UK are typically high-level executive, finance, legal, or specialist consulting roles, often found in London, including roles like Chief Management Consultant, senior lawyers, hedge fund managers, investment bankers, or FAANG tech leaders, alongside high-performing sales roles (like Enterprise Account Executive) or senior brokers, though many general job sites list projects up to £500k rather than salaries of £500k. 

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

Yes, jobs paying over $400,000 without a college degree exist, with Walmart Store Managers being a prominent example due to increased bonuses and stock, while other high earners include roles in enterprise tech sales, commercial real estate, high-level trades (like nuclear operators, air traffic controllers), and self-made entrepreneurs/influencers, all relying on high skill, performance, and market demand, not just degrees, according to sources from Tallo and The Wall Street Journal. 

Who makes 700K a year?

What is a 700K Salary job? A $700K salary job typically refers to high-paying roles in industries such as technology, finance, law, or medicine.

What profession makes $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300k/year are typically high-level, specialized roles in Medicine (Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, Psychiatrists), Finance (Investment Bankers, Private Equity), Tech (Senior Engineers, Product Managers), Law (Big Law Attorneys), and Sales (Enterprise Software Sales), often requiring extensive experience or education, though successful entrepreneurs, high-end sales execs, and some skilled trades can also reach this income without traditional degrees. 

What did most millionaires study at university?

Here's a look at several college majors that have frequently led to financial success.

  • Engineering. Engineering has long been a top field for producing millionaires. ...
  • Business Administration and Finance. ...
  • Economics. ...
  • Computer Science and Information Technology. ...
  • Law. ...
  • Medicine.

What jobs get you rich?

Top 10 Jobs That Make You Rich

  • Doctor. Average salary: $189,760. ...
  • Surgeon. Average salary: $352,220. ...
  • Investment Banker. Average salary: $130,230. ...
  • Corporate Executive. Average salary: $173,320. ...
  • Petroleum Engineer. Average salary: $147,520. ...
  • Psychiatrist. Average salary: $181,880. ...
  • Data Scientist. ...
  • Research & Development Manager.

How rare is it to get rich?

Recent wealth reports put the world at around 60 million dollar millionaires, about 1 in 135 people. The United States added roughly 400,000 new millionaires, around 1,100 a day, or one about every 80 seconds.

What are the 4 buckets of wealth?

The "4 buckets of wealth" refer to organizing finances into distinct categories for different time horizons and goals, commonly including Immediate Needs (cash, emergency fund), Short-to-Medium Term (goals like a down payment, 1-5 years), Long-Term Growth (retirement, stocks, real estate), and sometimes a Legacy/Perpetual Growth bucket for generational wealth, ensuring funds are safe and accessible for their intended purpose, from daily expenses to decades-away retirement. Other variations focus on types of assets or principles like emergency funds, retirement, debt, and freedom investments.
 

What do millionaires do for fun?

Collecting Antiques and Rare Art

Collecting is more than just a hobby for the world's wealthiest. It allows them to build their legacy in the way they want. Art, antiques, historical artifacts, and rare items become investments that link to the billionaire's identity.

What jobs pay $2000 a day?

Earning $2000 daily often involves high-skill freelancing (consulting, specialized writing), high-ticket sales, advanced digital marketing (SEO, funnel building), or specialized gig economy work (luxury pet care, event services), with some paths like content creation or e-commerce taking significant time to scale; quick cash might come from selling valuable items or intense gig work (Uber, TaskRabbit, Rover), while long-term potential lies in building assets like courses or membership sites. 

Which is the no. 1 high salary job?

The #1 highest-paying job consistently ranks as Surgeons, particularly Pediatric Surgeons, followed closely by Cardiologists, Anesthesiologists, and Orthodontists, all within the medical field, requiring extensive education and specialized skills for high-stakes procedures and patient care. Other top earners include Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Psychiatrists, and specialized IT roles like Enterprise Architects, but healthcare physicians generally dominate the very top of salary lists. 

What is the lowest paid degree?

10 of the lowest-paying majors

  1. Theology. Average salary: $40,000 per year A theology major studies various religious texts, religions and the relationship between humans and religion. ...
  2. Fine and performing arts. ...
  3. Public policy and social services. ...
  4. Education. ...
  5. Library science. ...
  6. Liberal arts. ...
  7. Psychology. ...
  8. English.

What jobs pay 100 an hour in the UK?

£100 per hour jobs in london

  • Lunchtime Servery Assistant. Ark Schools —London3.5. ...
  • First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers. ...
  • AI Training - Machine Learning Specialist (UK) ...
  • Night Cleaner. ...
  • GP Role Clinic and Admin Only. ...
  • Private Detectives and Investigators. ...
  • GP OOH Night Shifts. ...
  • Geopolitics Forecaster.

Am I poor if I make 50k a year?

An annual salary of $50,000 is considered a middle-class income, and can be a comfortable wage for a recent graduate or a person starting a new career. A single person may not be able to live large in some areas of the country, but that doesn't mean they can't live comfortably elsewhere.

Do any jobs pay $1 million a year?

Jobs paying over $1 million annually are typically in C-suite executive leadership, high-level finance (hedge funds, investment banking), specialized medicine (surgeons, radiologists), top-tier tech (senior engineers with equity), high-stakes sales (luxury real estate, large deals), and successful entrepreneurship, often involving performance-based compensation like massive bonuses or equity, long hours, and extreme responsibility for organizational success. 

What do 90% of millionaires do?

About 90% of millionaires build wealth through long-term investing, often focusing on real estate, starting their own businesses, and making consistent, disciplined financial choices like budgeting, saving, and continuous self-education, rather than flashy spending, with a strong belief in controlling their own financial destiny. They prioritize tangible assets and income streams, using strategies like leverage and tax benefits, and avoid excessive spending on depreciating assets like luxury cars.
 

What is Jeff Bezos's degree in?

Jeff Bezos graduated from Princeton University with degrees in computer science and electrical engineering. Upon graduating, he turned down offers from Intel and Bell Labs to join a startup called Fitel.

Is Mark Zuckerberg a college dropout?

Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard in his second year in order to complete the project. Zuckerberg, Moskovitz and the other co-founders moved to Palo Alto, California, where they leased a small house that served as an office. Over the summer, Zuckerberg met Peter Thiel, who invested in his company.