One of the best universities in the world, Harvard has been producing excellent graduates and exceptional professionals since 1636. It is an institute of higher education that has maintained its global status and standard of education over almost four centuries. However, why is it essential to look at the alumni? While a student’s efforts and dedication are the prime contributors to success, the chosen university’s facilities and quality of education also matter equally. By looking at Harvard University notable alumni, we can understand whether the institute has enough to offer, based on the previous track records.
In this blog, get a list of 20 Harvard University Notable Alumni who have marked their presence in the world.
Top Harvard University Notable Alumni
Harvard University boasts an illustrious group of notable alumni, including U.S. Presidents, Nobel laureates, and pioneers in various fields. These distinguished individuals exemplify the institution’s legacy of academic excellence and global influence. Continue reading to learn about the top Harvard University notable alumni.
#1 Ratan Tata
Source: Wikipedia
India’s famous entrepreneur and industrialist, Ratan Tata, is a Harvard Business School graduate who graduated in 1975. He is the epitome of leadership and vision for the Tata Group in India. He is equally popular for his unwavering work ethic, humanity, and social work. Ratan Tata has brought about a revolution in Indian industries that probably no other industrialist or businessman has been able to.
#2 Barack Obama
Source: Wikipedia
One of the most popular presidents of the United States of America, Barack Obama, graduated from Harvard University in 1991 with a Juris Doctor in Law. Being the 44th President of the US and the first African-American US President, Obama tackled the oncoming issues in the US with a commendable spirit of leadership and fervour. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his dedication to international peace and cooperation. Today, although he’s no longer in the presidential office, he chooses to remain active in democratic politics.
#3 John F Kennedy
Source: Britannica
The 35th President of the United States of America is another Harvard University notable alumni who was, unfortunately, assassinated during the third year of his presidency term. Despite that, he is well-known worldwide for being one of the youngest American presidents and for his contribution and dedication to the country. He was a 1940 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in the Harvard International Relations Graduate Programme.
#4 Bill Gates
Source: CNBC
William Henry Gates enrolled at Harvard University in 1973 as a pre-law student who continued to study mathematics and computer science. However, he never got around to completing his degree. Gates dropped out 1975 to join hands with Paul Allen to establish Microsoft. He held the status of the richest man on Earth for several years. Gates, along with his wife Melinda Gates, founded an NGO to help the fight against poverty and diseases. Despite never completing his degree, Bill Gates’ work is so impressive that he gained the top spot on the list of Harvard University notable alumni.
#5 Mark Zuckerburg
Source: The Guardian
Another dropout who never got around to completing his degree, Mark Zuckerburg founded Facebook in 2004, becoming one of the biggest companies worldwide. Facebook, now known under the parent company Meta, enjoys a net worth of more than USD 695.60 billion.
Zuckerburg was initially enrolled at Harvard University in 2002 for a double major in Psychology and Computer Science. However, he dropped out in 2004 to pursue and establish Facebook. Zuckerburg was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Laws in 2017 for his innovation and great entrepreneurship.
#6 Robert J. Oppenheimer
Source: ABC
Father of the Atomic Bomb, Robert J. Oppenheimer, is one of the most popular and respected Harvard University notable alumni. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry in 1925. He is widely known for his contribution to leading the Manhattan Project that gave birth to the two atomic bombs, ‘Little Boy’ and ‘Fat Man’. He was known for his eccentric behaviour, love of physics, indigenous theories, and his gang of devout followers. He went on to win the Enrico Fermi Award in 1963, following which he passed away from cancer.
#7 Natalie Portman
Source: Variety
Star Wars, Thor, Black Swan, Brothers, Annihilation, Leon, and V for Vendetta are just some of the most popular movies featuring this talented and exceptional actress. Natalie Portman graduated as a famous Harvard University notable alumni in 2003 with a degree in Psychology. She has won an accolade for commendable awards, like the British Academy Film Award and Golden Globe Awards.
#8 Matt Damon
Source: Big Issue
Joining the ranks of Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerburg, Matt Damon is another Harvard dropout who enrolled but never completed his degree. He was offered the lead role in “Geronimo: An American Legend”. Unfortunately, the movie did not do as well as anyone would expect. However, Damon’s career was set. He became one of the highest-paid actors of all time in Hollywood. He also received the Academy Award in 1997 for the best original screenplay. His best movies include The Martian, Invictus, Contagion, The Last Duel, Oppenheimer, Ocean’s Eleven, and Happy Feet Two.
#9 George Bush
Source: Wikipedia
Another commendable leader of the United States of America, George Bush is a popular Harvard University notable alumni with a business administration degree from Harvard Business School. After graduating in 1975, he became an excellent statement and leader, and he later became the 43rd President of the United States. He was also the first president to hold an MBA degree from a university as reputed as Harvard.
#10 Helen Keller
Source: Lapham’s Quarterly
The epitome of perseverance and passion, Helen Keller was a renowned author, activist and lecturer in the US. Although she lost her ability to see and hear when she was only 19 months old, she continued on the path of dedication to achieve great things. Keller wrote two books, “The Story of My Life” and “Optimism”, which gained national and global recognition and praise. She spent her life advocating socialism and dedicating her work to political activism. Keller attended the Radcliffe College of Harvard University and is widely noted as the first disabled person in the US to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
#11 Michelle Obama
Source: Healthline
Wife of Barack Obama and former first lady of the country, Michelle Obama is an attorney and author, as well as a Harvard University notable alumni. She acquired her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and then completed her juris doctor degree from Harvard Law School. In addition to being a stoic leader and icon, she is a role model and an advocate for poverty awareness, betterment of education, nutrition, physical health, etc.
#12 Neil deGrasse Tyson
Source: Britannica
One of the most popular Science Communicators and authors, Neil deGrasse Tyson, is an astrophysicist who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Harvard in 1980. His research on star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies and the structure of the Milky Way galaxy is well-known in the professional astro circle. He is highly celebrated for the books “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry”, “To Infinity and Beyond”, “Starry Messenger”, “Death by Black Hole” and many others.
#13 Franklin D. Roosevelt
Source: Wikipedia
The list of US Presidents who graduated from Harvard is quite long. One of the most popular presidents of the United States, Roosevelt served the country and helped the population navigate through the Great Depression by implementing the New Deal. He is incredibly popular worldwide for his leadership skills and powerful impact. Roosevelt graduated in 1903 with an A.B. in history, making him one of the top Harvard University notable alumni.
#14 Conan O’Brien
Source: America Magazine
Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show, and Conan are all shows hosted by the popular American TV host Conan O’Brien. He’s a writer, producer and comedian who has given several memorable TV moments over the years. He also has an impressive filmography as a voice-over artist, having worked in movies like The LEGO Batman and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. O’Brien graduated from Harvard University in 1985 with a major in American History and Literature.
#15 Margaret Atwood
Source: British Council Literature
Recipient of the Booker Prize and the Governor General’s Award, Margaret Atwood is a famous poet, novelist, essayist, story writer and environmental activist who is known for her books, like The Handmaid’s Tale, The Edible Woman, and The Robber Bride. She graduated from the Radcliffe College of Harvard University with a master’s degree and is now one of the most popular Harvard University notable alumni.
#16 Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Source: Britannica
RBG was a true symbol of feminism and one of the most powerful advocates of female civil rights that the US has seen. She was a fearless activist and lawyer who took the American Judiciary to become the first Jewish woman to have served on an American court. She was also the US Supreme Court’s associate justice from 1993 to 2020. Her mettle was so powerful that Bill Clinton nominated her to replace the retiring Justice Byron White.
RBG enrolled at the Harvard Law School and was famously among the only nine women out of the hundreds of students in the class. However, she could not graduate from Harvard because of a string of indignities against women at that time, which later became a focus of activism for her. Despite that, Ruth Bader Ginsburg earns the honorary Harvard University notable alumni title because of her fierce dedication and passion.
#17 T. S. Eliot
Source: IMDb
The Naming of Cats, Preludes, The Waste Land and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock are some of the popular works by the legendary poet and playwright T. S. Eliot. Eliot is known for the commendable impression he left on the literary world through his poems and plays. He studied at Harvard University from 1906 to 1909 to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts in English literature the following year. He is known for his complex work and the impressive symbolism expressed through his writing. He also won the Nobel Prize in 1948 for his exceptional work.
#18 Anand Mahindra
Source: Forbes India
Another business tycoon in India, Anand Mahindra, is the Chairman of Mahindra Group, a member of the US-India Business Council and an integral part of the advisory council of Singapore’s Economic Development Board. He is also the Chairman of the India Advisory Council at the Lincoln Center in New York and the Chairman of the Governing Council National Institute of Design. Along with these accolades, Mahindra has successfully built an empire of automotive, agribusiness, construction equipment and real estate. He is one of the top businessmen in India. He studied filmmaking and architecture at Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1977.
#19 Benazir Bhutto
Source: India Today
The first female Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, enrolled at Harvard University to study Comparative Government. She wrote history by being the first woman elected to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country. Unfortunately, she was assassinated in 2007 after serving two terms in Pakistan.
#20 Teddy Roosevelt
Source: Britannica
Distantly related to Franklin Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt was also one of the most famous and impressive US presidents to date. He served as the 26th president and was one of the youngest US presidents. He immersed himself in the Naval History and Strategy of the US. In 1880, he graduated from Harvard with an A.B. magna cum laude, making him one of the top Harvard University notable alumni.
FAQs
Q1. Who is the most famous student at Harvard?
Ans: Barack Obama, Steve Ballmer, Ratan Tata, and George Bush are among the most famous Harvard graduates.
Q2. Which Indian studied at Harvard?
Ans: Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra, Rahul Bajaj, P. Chidambaram, Suhel Seth, and Sundar Pichai are some of the Harvard University notable alumni.
Q3. Why is Harvard University so famous?
Ans: Harvard University is one of the oldest universities in the US, which is renowned for its unwavering reputation, academic pedigree, and high standards of education.
Q4. What movie star went to Harvard?
Ans: Natalie Portman, Conan O’Brien, Matt Damon, Colin Jost, Rashida Jones, and B.J. Novak are popular movie stars or Hollywood celebrities who went to Harvard.
Q5. Who went to Harvard at 13?
Ans: Eugenie Carys de Silva is an academic who completed her master’s degree in Intelligence Studies from Harvard University at the age of 13.
Thank you for reading our guide to the top Harvard University Notable Alumni! Let us know which is your favourite personality in the comments section below!
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