The Austrian-American actor and former governor of California is more than just his huge biceps. Arnold Schwarzenegger completed a degree in international business and economics at the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1979. He also had a degree in fitness marketing and business administration, obtained in 1980.
The filmmaker, author, and philanthropist made use of his degrees as he invested in real estate and marketed gym equipment and exercise supplements. With his success in bodybuilding and in business, he was on his way to becoming a millionaire before he even turned 22. It was then that he tried to get into acting. He rose to international fame with the movie Pumping Iron, which gave him the notoriety he needed to take over Hollywood.
Carrie Underwood Has a Degree in Mass Communications
We all know her as the sweet country girl who rose to fame when she won American Idol in 2005, but it seems like her brilliance doesn’t just shine on stage. Underwood earned a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications at Northeastern State University with an emphasis in journalism. She graduated as magna cum laude and had to fly back to Oklahoma to attend her graduation ceremony, even though she had just started her first tour.
Underwood has mentioned before that if she didn’t win American Idol, she would have become a reporter or a news anchor. But destiny had other plans. She is now one of the best-selling female country singers.
Hugh Laurie Has a Bachelor's in Anthropology and Archaeology
Hugh Laurie played the brilliant and unconventional medical genius, Dr. Gregory House, in the TV drama, House. But in real life, Laurie is an expert in something else. The English actor graduated from the same college as his father—Selwyn College in Cambridge. He took anthropology and archaeology with a specialization in social anthropology. Laurie entered Selwyn College to focus on rowing and becoming an expert oarsman just like his dad.
Laurie previously enrolled in the prestigious Eton College for his higher education and it was there that he briefly thought of becoming a doctor or a member of the medical profession. But that, as we know, did not push through (not in the real world anyway) and he is now a multi-talented actor.
Vinny Guadagnino Has a Bachelor's in Political Science
Vinny Guadagnino may have been surrounded by party people on the reality television series, Jersey Shore, but who knew this television personality is a political science major? That’s right, he graduated with a bachelor of arts in political science from the College of Staten Island. And he graduated with a remarkable 3.9-grade point average.
The actor was about to go to law school and was studying for his LSATs when he was cast in Jersey Shore. He has often expressed his desire to attend law school, but right now, he is seizing all the opportunities thrown at him.
John Cleese Has a Bachelor's in Law
Known for his work with the comedy group, Monty Python, none of us would have imagined John Cleese being a lawyer. Cleese earned his degree in law in 1963 from Downing College, Cambridge University. Prior to studying law, he taught science, geography, history, English, and Latin at St. Peter’s, a preparatory school in Weston where he also attended when he was a kid.
But comedy was his passion. Cleese joined the Cambridge Footlights and had his first success when he wrote and appeared as a cast member in A Clump of Plinths. He then completely left the legal life to embark on a career in the comedy industry.