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Have you ever wondered who holds the most degrees? Or who is recognised with the most doctorates held by one person? Well, in the academic world, some individuals take their desire for knowledge to unparalleled heights. They pursue different professional and academic courses and earn an extraordinary number of degrees. These lifelong learners, often referred to as perpetual students, have multiple degrees in various fields and show their dedication and passion for education. These individuals are driven by a passion for learning, leading them to achieve feats that most of us can only imagine. In this blog, you will read about people with the most degrees and who hold the record for the highest number of academic degrees.
Table of Contents
- 1 Most Degrees Held by One Person: An Overview
- 1.1 1. Dr Sagi Satyanarayana: The Man with 111 Degrees
- 1.2 2. Dr Stephanie Attwater: A Record-Breaking Female Scholar
- 1.3 3. Michael Nicholson: A Lifetime of Learning
- 1.4 4. Robert W. McGee: The Academic Polymath
- 1.5 5. Shrikant Jichkar: India’s Most Educated Civil Servant
- 1.6 6. Benjamin Bolger: The Perpetual Student of Design
- 1.7 7. Luciano Baietti: The Italian Scholar
- 1.8 8. Bruce Berry: The Academic Explorer
- 1.9 9. Jacob Appel: A Renaissance Man
- 1.10 10. Dr. Robelyn Garcia: The Academic Athlete
- 1.11 The Lifelong Students: Milton De Jesús and Johnny Lechner
- 2 FAQs
Most Degrees Held by One Person: An Overview
A perpetual student is someone who continues to pursue academic degrees far beyond the norm. There are two main types of perpetual students:
- Polymaths: Individuals who accumulate degrees across various fields, often publishing or working in multiple disciplines.
- Long-term Enrollees: Students who stay enrolled in academic institutions for many years, often engaging in other activities while slowly accumulating degrees.
In the table presented below, we have compiled a list of people with the highest number of academic degrees. Apart from this, you will also find their number of degrees, fields, and countries.
| Name | Number of Degrees | Degrees | Field | Country |
| Dr. Sagi Satyanarayana | 111 | 15 D.Sc, 25 D.Litt, 71 PhDs | Medicine, Philosophy, Vedic Sciences | India |
| Dr. Stephanie Attwater | 32 | 3 PhDs, MRSc, BSc, Post-Graduate Diplomas | Various Sciences and Humanities | Canada |
| Michael Nicholson | 30 | 22 Master’s Degrees, 1 Doctorate | Multiple Disciplines | United States |
| Robert W. McGee | 23 | 13 Doctorates | Accounting, Economics, Law | United States |
| Shrikant Jichkar | 20 | Medicine, Law, Arts | Various Disciplines | India |
| Benjamin Bolger | 16 | 13 Master’s Degrees, Doctor of Design | Design, Social Sciences, Humanities | United States |
| Luciano Baietti | 15 | Physical Education, Law, Philosophy | Multiple Disciplines | Italy |
| Bruce Berry | 11 | Multiple Master’s Degrees, 1 PhD | Engineering, Education | United Kingdom |
| Jacob Appel | 10 | Doctor of Medicine, Juris Doctor | Medicine, Law | United States |
| Robelyn Garcia | 9 | Various Academic Fields | Education, Sports Science | United States |
Also Read – 11+ Famous Personalities from India Who Studied Abroad
1. Dr Sagi Satyanarayana: The Man with 111 Degrees
Dr Sagi Satyanarayana is from Hyderabad, Telangana. He holds the world record for the most academic degrees ever earned by a single person. With a staggering 111 doctorate degrees, he has also authored over 180 books and holds three Guinness World Records for his academic achievements. This surely makes him a tough contestant for the award of the most doctorates held by one person. Nevertheless, he currently serves as the Vice-Chancellor of two universities in Gujarat, India.
| Degree | Number Earned | Field of Study |
| D.Sc (Doctor of Science) | 15 | Various Sciences |
| D.Litt (Doctor of Letters) | 25 | Literature, Philosophy |
| PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy) | 71 | Psychology, Medical Sciences, Vedic Sciences |
2. Dr Stephanie Attwater: A Record-Breaking Female Scholar
Dr Stephanie Attwater is from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. She has earned a total of 32 degrees, making her the most credentialed woman in the world. Her academic pursuits began as a means to recover from a severe brain injury and have since turned into a lifelong commitment to learning.
| Degree | Number Earned | Field of Study |
| PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy) | 3 | Various Disciplines |
| MRSc (Master of Rehabilitation Science) | 1 | Rehabilitation Science |
| BSc (Bachelor of Science) | 1 | Science |
| Post-Graduate Diplomas | Multiple | Multiple Disciplines |
3. Michael Nicholson: A Lifetime of Learning
Michael Nicholson is a part-time parking attendant from the United States. He has earned 30 degrees throughout his life. Nicholson’s diverse academic portfolio covers a wide range of subjects, making him one of the most famous personalities to hold most of the degrees. He went to educational institutes for 55 years till the age of 75 years!
| Degree | Number Earned | Field of Study |
| Doctorate | 1 | Education |
| Master’s Degrees | 22 | Various Disciplines |
Also Read – 11+ Famous Personalities from Bangladesh
4. Robert W. McGee: The Academic Polymath
Robert W. McGee is a Professor of Accounting at Fayetteville State University with an impressive collection of 23 degrees, including 13 doctorates. Surprising, right? This makes him another eligible in the list of the most doctorates held by one person. His academic achievements span several fields, reflecting his broad intellectual interests.
| Degree | Number Earned | Field of Study |
| Doctorates | 13 | Accounting, Economics, Law |
| Master’s and Other Degrees | 10 | Various Disciplines |
5. Shrikant Jichkar: India’s Most Educated Civil Servant
Shrikant Jichkar was a polymath and a respected Indian civil servant with 20 degrees to his name. At the age of 26, he was also elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (1980-85), making him the youngest MLA ever. However, he died due to an accident at the age of 46, leaving a foundation under his name functional.
| Degree | Number Earned | Field of Study |
| Medicine | Multiple | Medicine, Surgery |
| Law | Multiple | Law, Constitution |
| Arts | Multiple | History, Politics |
Also Read –7 Famous Personalities Who Failed Before Success
6. Benjamin Bolger: The Perpetual Student of Design
Benjamin Bolger is an American scholar. He has earned 16 degrees, including 13 master’s degrees from Yale University, the University of Oxford, Dartmouth College and a Doctor of Design from Harvard University. Benjamin might be our answer to most doctorates held by one person is academic journey is characterized by his focus on design and social sciences.
| Degree | Number Earned | Field of Study |
| Master’s Degrees | 13 | Design, Social Sciences, Humanities |
| Doctor of Design | 1 | Design |
7. Luciano Baietti: The Italian Scholar
Luciano Baietti from Italy has earned 15 degrees across various fields, making him one of the most accomplished perpetual students in Europe. Baietti’s academic achievements have been officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most graduated living person in the world.
| Degree | Number Earned | Field of Study |
| Physical Education | Multiple | Physical Education |
| Law | Multiple | Law |
| Philosophy | Multiple | Philosophy, Sociology |
8. Bruce Berry: The Academic Explorer
Bruce Berry is a British scholar. He has earned 11 degrees during his lifetime, including multiple master’s degrees and a PhD from Leeds Metropolitan University. Berry worked in various fields, including technical document translation and education, before retiring as a school crossing guard. However, he died when he was pursuing his second PhD.
| Degree | Number Earned | Field of Study |
| Master’s Degrees | Multiple | Engineering, Education |
| PhD | 1 | Education |
Also Read – 7 Famous Personalities Who Were Not Good at Studies
9. Jacob Appel: A Renaissance Man
Jacob Appel, an American physician and attorney, has earned 10 degrees, including a Doctor of Medicine and a Juris Doctor. Although he might not be on the list of the most doctorates held by one person, his academic background spans multiple disciplines, making him a modern-day Renaissance man. Appel serves on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, where he continues to contribute to the fields of medicine and law.
| Degree | Number Earned | Field of Study |
| Doctor of Medicine | 1 | Medicine |
| Juris Doctor | 1 | Law |
| Other Degrees | 8 | Various Academic Fields |
10. Dr. Robelyn Garcia: The Academic Athlete
Robelyn Garcia is a former professional women’s basketball player. She has earned 9 degrees and currently serves as an academic at Harvard University and Arizona State University. Garcia’s transition from professional sports to academia adds to her versatility and commitment to education.
| Degree | Number Earned | Field of Study |
| Various Degrees | 9 | Education, Sports Science |
The Lifelong Students: Milton De Jesús and Johnny Lechner
While not record holders in the number of degrees, Milton De Jesús and Johnny Lechner are two of the famous people known for their long tenure as students. Milton De Jesús has been a student at the University of Puerto Rico since 1963, while Johnny Lechner attended the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater for over 13 years, remaining a senior for most of that time.
FAQs
Dr Sagi Satyanarayana holds the record for the most degrees in the world with 111 degrees.
Luciano Baietti holds the Guinness Record as the most graduated living person.
Dr Sagi Satyanarayana
Related Reads
This was all about who holds the most degrees. If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page!