--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The smartest billionaires I know never…" description: "\"The smartest billionaires I know never finished high school. I got my degree and my doctorate on the street and an advanced degree in jail.\" — Tommy Chong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/tommy-chong-4039_billionaire_the-smartest-billionaires-i-know-never-f_2529327.png" --- # The smartest billionaires I know never finished high… ![“The smartest billionaires I know never finished high school. I got my degree and my doctorate on the street and an advanced degree in jail.” quote by Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/tommy-chong-4039_billionaire_the-smartest-billionaires-i-know-never-f_2529327.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/tommy-chong-4039_billionaire_the-smartest-billionaires-i-know-never-f_2529327.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/tommy-chong-4039_billionaire_the-smartest-billionaires-i-know-never-f_2529327.png) > “The smartest billionaires I know never finished high school. I got my degree and my doctorate on the street and an advanced degree in jail.” [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Formal education isn’t the only path to success; real‑world experience can be equally valuable. **In simple terms:** Experience can replace formal schooling. Key Takeaway Value learning outside classrooms. Themes education self‑directed learning resilience Mood reflective empowering Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - creative arts - personal development - career change Key Concepts informal education street smarts Questions to Reflect On - How have you leveraged unconventional learning? - What barriers exist for non‑degree holders? A Different Perspective Not all fields recognize non‑traditional credentials. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Billionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaire/) [Billionaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaires/) [Billionaires Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaires-know-1328852/) [Degree Jail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree-jail-1328853/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished/) [Got Degree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-degree/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Jail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jail/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Smartest Billionaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smartest-billionaires-1328851/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) ## Related quotes > [Look at all the billionaires. If I know 15 billionaires, I know 13 unhappy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/look-at-all-the-billionaires-if-i-know-15-billionaires-i-know-13/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Why are the Kardashians still on TV? They're billionaires! It's because they know that being on camera is going to move product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-pratt/why-are-the-kardashians-still-on-tv-they-re-billionaires-it-s-because/) [Spencer Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-pratt/) > [Millionaires don't have astrologers, billionaires do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-morgan/millionaires-don-t-have-astrologers-billionaires-do/) [J. P. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-p-morgan/) > [I know it's bad to generalize, but when you think about billionaires, you just think this guy is going to walk into a room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-bryan/i-know-it-s-bad-to-generalize-but-when-you-think-about-billionaires/) [Sabrina Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-bryan/) > [I find the fact that billionaires are quoted as if the fact that they are billionaires gives them some kind of wisdom is outrageous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/i-find-the-fact-that-billionaires-are-quoted-as-if-the-fact-that-they/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [Regardless of the overall state of the economy, there is now a large enough elite made up of new multi-millionaires and billionaires for Wall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/regardless-of-the-overall-state-of-the-economy-there-is-now-a-large/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [What kind of nation are we when we give tax breaks to billionaires, but we can't take care of the elderly and the children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-kind-of-nation-are-we-when-we-give-tax-breaks-to-billionaires/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I think what the American people are saying is enough is enough. This country, this great country, belongs to all of us. It cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-think-what-the-american-people-are-saying-is-enough-is-enough-this/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Plot idea: 97% of the world's scientists contrive an environmental crisis, but are exposed by a plucky band of billionaires & oil companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/plot-idea-97-of-the-world-s-scientists-contrive-an-environmental/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [If you like easygoing, monogamous men, stay away from billionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/if-you-like-easygoing-monogamous-men-stay-away-from-billionaires/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [If your parents are billionaires, that might actually be an obstacle to your own happiness and self-development. If you go to Oxford or Harvard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/if-your-parents-are-billionaires-that-might-actually-be-an-obstacle/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I believe in a society where all people do well. Not just a handful of billionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/i-believe-in-a-society-where-all-people-do-well-not-just-a-handful-of/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [I know a lot of people in the city, at all levels, horizontally and vertically - and that to me is a privilege, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-know-a-lot-of-people-in-the-city-at-all-levels-horizontally-and/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [A government run by billionaires for billionaires is an affront to freedom and morality and humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/a-government-run-by-billionaires-for-billionaires-is-an-affront-to/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [If I could set a world record, it would be that I have 150 business partners, all with thriving businesses of their own that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/if-i-could-set-a-world-record-it-would-be-that-i-have-150-business/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) ## More by Tommy Chong > [I've always known, all my life, that I was going to be something special. I never knew what it was, but I always had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-ve-always-known-all-my-life-that-i-was-going-to-be-something/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [People try to put ownership on things: 'That's mine, that's my joke.' No such thing. Like if you tripped or stumbled and people go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/people-try-to-put-ownership-on-things-that-s-mine-that-s-my-joke-no/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [We survived Nixon and Reagan and George Bush, and so we can survive anything that comes along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/we-survived-nixon-and-reagan-and-george-bush-and-so-we-can-survive/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [The Shades never recorded anything, Little Daddy and the Bachelors recorded a couple of records, ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/the-shades-never-recorded-anything-little-daddy-and-the-bachelors/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I believe that all marijuana is medical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-believe-that-all-marijuana-is-medical/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I look on everything with a very optimistic eye. Because I'm a body builder by trade, you know, that was my intent all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-look-on-everything-with-a-very-optimistic-eye-because-i-m-a-body/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I'm a hybrid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-m-a-hybrid/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I've always been into improvisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-ve-always-been-into-improvisation/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I used to joke for years that I was a black man. I adopted the black culture, the black race. I married a black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-used-to-joke-for-years-that-i-was-a-black-man-i-adopted-the-black/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I am off all the cancer meds. Energy is a bit low but other than that, I feel really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-am-off-all-the-cancer-meds-energy-is-a-bit-low-but-other-than-that/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [When they put me in jail, that's when they turned me into an activist. Up until the time I went to jail, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/when-they-put-me-in-jail-that-s-when-they-turned-me-into-an-activist/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [Marijuana grows everywhere in the world. And it really is currency, if you think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/marijuana-grows-everywhere-in-the-world-and-it-really-is-currency-if/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [More than anything, the weed really helped with my mental state, because marijuana works on the brain. And if anything, it soothes the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/more-than-anything-the-weed-really-helped-with-my-mental-state/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I never did smoke that much pot; never was a big pothead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-never-did-smoke-that-much-pot-never-was-a-big-pothead/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I converted a family-owned strip club into an improvisational acting theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-converted-a-family-owned-strip-club-into-an-improvisational-acting/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) [Explore all 117 Tommy Chong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) ## More Billionaire quotes > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [“The candidate who billed himself as a billionaire—ten times over—refused even to invest his own money in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/the-candidate-who-billed-himself-as-a-billionaire-ten-times-over/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If I could set a world record, it would be that I have 150 business partners, all with thriving businesses of their own that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/if-i-could-set-a-world-record-it-would-be-that-i-have-150-business/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [A government run by billionaires for billionaires is an affront to freedom and morality and humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/a-government-run-by-billionaires-for-billionaires-is-an-affront-to/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [The reaction of weak management to weak operations is often weak accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-reaction-of-weak-management-to-weak-operations-is-often-weak/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“People don’t make too much money around here, but what comes with that is a different definition of what it means to be well-off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/people-don-t-make-too-much-money-around-here-but-what-comes-with-that/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [The biggest risk is not taking any risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/the-biggest-risk-is-not-taking-any-risk/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [Message to the billionaire class: You can't have it all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/message-to-the-billionaire-class-you-can-t-have-it-all/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Every decision I make is, 'How is this helping me become a billionaire?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/every-decision-i-make-is-how-is-this-helping-me-become-a-billionaire/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [“A Debt Problem Is, At Its Core, a Budgeting Problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-pace/a-debt-problem-is-at-its-core-a-budgeting-problem/) [Natalie Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-pace/) > ['I don't need brains,' says the billionaire contemptuously. 'I'm brainy enough myself!' The broker cries out in desperation, 'What, in heaven's name, do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/i-don-t-need-brains-says-the-billionaire-contemptuously-i-m-brainy/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [I know a lot of people in the city, at all levels, horizontally and vertically - and that to me is a privilege, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-know-a-lot-of-people-in-the-city-at-all-levels-horizontally-and/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [As a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, American democracy is being undermined by the ability of the Koch brothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-a-result-of-the-citizens-united-supreme-court-decision-american/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I believe in a society where all people do well. Not just a handful of billionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/i-believe-in-a-society-where-all-people-do-well-not-just-a-handful-of/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) [Browse all 356 Billionaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The smartest billionaires I know never finished high school. 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