Harvard University Notable Alumni: Famous Personalities Who Studied at Harvard

Harvard University is one of the most well-known and respected universities in the world. Founded in 1636, it has a long history of academic excellence and leadership. Over the years, Harvard University notable alumni have gone on to become influential leaders across politics, business, science, technology, entertainment, and public service, shaping industries and societies worldwide.

Many Harvard alumni have shaped the modern world through their ideas, innovations, and leadership. In this blog, we explore some of the top Harvard University notable alumni and understand how their education helped them succeed in their careers.

List of Top 50 Harvard University Notable Alumni

Harvard University has produced an extraordinary array of influential figures whose contributions span politics, technology, business, science, arts, law, and beyond, who have shaped history across centuries. Below is a list of the top 50 famous Harvard graduates who have made a strong impact on society through their work and achievements across various fields.

No.	Alumni Name	Degree & Year	Area of Study	Major Achievement
1	Barack Obama	JD, 1991	Law	44th President of the United States
2	Bill Gates	Applied Mathematics (Attended)	Technology	Co-founder of Microsoft
3	Mark Zuckerberg	Computer Science (Attended)	Technology	Founder of Facebook (Meta)
4	John F. Kennedy	BA, 1940	Government	35th President of the USA
5	George W. Bush	MBA, 1975	Business	43rd President of the USA
6	Theodore Roosevelt	BA, 1880	Government	26th President of the USA
7	Franklin D. Roosevelt	BA, 1903	Government	32nd President of the USA
8	Michael Bloomberg	MBA, 1966	Business	Businessman, Former NYC Mayor
9	Henry Kissinger	PhD, 1954	Government	Former US Secretary of State
10	Ban Ki-moon	MPA, 1984	Public Administration	Former UN Secretary-General
11	Ratan Tata	AMP, 1975	Business	Indian Industrialist & Philanthropist
12	Steve Ballmer	BA, 1977	Economics & Math	Former CEO of Microsoft
13	Sheryl Sandberg	BA, 1991	Economics	Former COO of Meta
14	Sundar Pichai	MBA (Partial)	Business	CEO of Google (Alphabet)
15	Meg Whitman	MBA, 1979	Business	Former CEO of eBay
16	Andrew Jassy	MBA, 1997	Business	CEO of Amazon
17	Salman Khan	MBA, 2003	Business	Founder of Khan Academy
18	Dustin Moskovitz	Economics (Attended)	Technology	Co-founder of Facebook
19	Charles T. Munger	JD, 1948	Law	Vice Chairman, Berkshire Hathaway
20	Neil deGrasse Tyson	BA, 1980	Physics	Astrophysicist & Science Communicator
21	Yo-Yo Ma	BA, 1976	Music	World-renowned Cellist
22	Natalie Portman	BA, 2003	Psychology	Academy Award-winning Actress
23	Matt Damon	English (Attended)	Literature	Actor & Screenwriter
24	Conan O’Brien	BA, 1985	History	Television Host & Comedian
25	Tommy Lee Jones	BA, 1969	English	Actor
26	Al Gore	BA, 1969	Government	Former US Vice President
27	Sonia Sotomayor	BA, 1976	History	US Supreme Court Justice
28	Elena Kagan	JD, 1986	Law	US Supreme Court Justice
29	John Roberts	JD, 1979	Law	Chief Justice of the USA
30	Elizabeth Warren	JD, 1976	Law	US Senator
31	Benazir Bhutto	BA, 1973	Government	Former PM of Pakistan
32	Rahul Gandhi	Attended	Public Policy	Indian Politician
33	W.E.B. Du Bois	PhD, 1895	Sociology	Civil Rights Activist
34	Ralph Waldo Emerson	BA, 1821	Literature	Poet & Essayist
35	T. S. Eliot	MA, 1910	English	Nobel Prize-winning Poet
36	Margaret Atwood	MA, 1962	English	Author
37	Steven Pinker	PhD, 1979	Psychology	Psychologist & Author
38	Cornel West	PhD, 1980	Philosophy	Philosopher & Activist
39	Maya Lin	BA, 1981	Architecture	Designer of Vietnam Memorial
40	Jeremy Lin	BA, 2010	Economics	Professional Basketball Player
41	Leonard Bernstein	BA, 1939	Music	Composer & Conductor
42	Atul Gawande	MD, MPH	Medicine	Surgeon & Author
43	Fareed Zakaria	PhD, 1993	Government	Journalist & Political Analyst
44	Soledad O’Brien	BA, 2000	Literature	Broadcast Journalist
45	Rashida Jones	BA, 1997	Drama	Actress & Writer
46	David Rockefeller	BA, 1936	Economics	Banker & Philanthropist
47	Henry Louis Gates Jr.	BA, 1973	History	Scholar & Cultural Critic
48	Amy Cuddy	PhD, 2005	Psychology	Social Psychologist
49	Yoichiro Nambu	PhD, 1952	Physics	Nobel Prize-winning Physicist
50	Eric S. Lander	PhD, 1981	Mathematics	Genomics Scientist

Famous Indian Notable Alumni of Harvard University

Harvard University has taught many famous Indians who have become successful in business, politics, science, and social work. These notable Indian alumni of Harvard University have used what they learned to lead big organizations, start new ideas, and make a difference in the world.

• Ratan Tata
• Rahul Gandhi
• Manik Suri
• Kumar Mahadeva
• Salman Khan (Founder of Khan Academy)

Also Read: Guide to Harvard Admission from India: Eligibility Requirements, Admission Process and Tips

Early Harvard Alumni: Pioneers in Thought and Leadership

Harvard’s earliest notable graduates laid foundational ideas in literature, philosophy, and civil rights that continue to resonate today. Here are some earliest notable Harvard alumni:

• Ralph Waldo Emerson (BA, 1821, Literature): A leading figure in transcendentalism, Emerson’s essays, like “Self-Reliance,” inspired generations of thinkers and writers.
• W.E.B. Du Bois (PhD, 1895, Sociology): A pioneering sociologist and civil rights activist, he co-founded the NAACP and authored “The Souls of Black Folk,” shaping discussions on race and equality.

These early alumni demonstrate Harvard’s role in cultivating intellectual movements that addressed societal challenges.

20th Century Harvard Alumni: Presidents, Innovators, and Global Leaders

The mid-20th century produced leaders who navigated wars, economic shifts, and social progress. Here are some notable 20th-century Harvard Alumni:

• Theodore Roosevelt (BA, 1880, Government): The 26th U.S. President, known for trust-busting, conservation efforts, and progressive reforms.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt (BA, 1903, Government): The 32nd U.S. President, who led America through the Great Depression and World War II with the New Deal.
• John F. Kennedy (BA, 1940, Government): The 35th U.S. President, celebrated for inspiring the nation, advancing civil rights, and launching the space race.
• Henry Kissinger (PhD, 1954, Government): Former U.S. Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize winner, influential in Cold War diplomacy.
• Neil deGrasse Tyson (BA, 1980, Physics): Renowned astrophysicist and science communicator who popularized astronomy through media and books.
• Yo-Yo Ma (BA, 1976, Music): World-class cellist and cultural ambassador, blending classical music with global collaborations.
• Leonard Bernstein (BA, 1939, Music): Legendary composer and conductor, known for “West Side Story” and his educational outreach.

Harvard’s emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking empowered these alumni to excel in public service, science, and the arts.

Modern Harvard Alumni: Tech Titans, Business Leaders, and Contemporary Influencers

Recent decades highlight Harvard’s impact on technology, business, and entertainment. Here are some modern notable Harvard Alumni:

• Bill Gates (Attended, Applied Mathematics): Co-founder of Microsoft and a leading philanthropist via the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, focusing on global health and education.
• Barack Obama (JD, 1991, Law): 44th U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, the first African American to hold the office and former Harvard Law Review president.
• Mark Zuckerberg (Attended, Computer Science): Founder of Facebook (now Meta), transforming social connectivity worldwide.
• Sheryl Sandberg (BA, 1991, Economics): Former COO of Meta and author of “Lean In,” advocating for women in leadership.
• Natalie Portman (BA, 2003, Psychology): Academy Award-winning actress who balanced Hollywood success with rigorous academics.
• Matt Damon (Attended, English): Oscar-winning actor and screenwriter, co-creator of “Good Will Hunting,” inspired by Harvard experiences.
• Sundar Pichai (MBA partial, Business): CEO of Alphabet (Google), driving advancements in AI and technology.
• Andrew Jassy (MBA, 1997, Business): CEO of Amazon, leading one of the world’s largest companies.

These alumni illustrate Harvard’s strength in preparing leaders for the digital age and global challenges.

Also Read: Harvard University Scholarships for Indian Students

How to Become a Harvard Alumnus?

Becoming a Harvard University notable alumnus starts with gaining admission to one of Harvard’s programs. Harvard seeks exceptional candidates with strong academics, leadership, and unique perspectives. Key requirements include:

• High GPA (typically well above 3.9 for competitive applicants).
• Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT for undergraduates; GRE/GMAT for graduates, where required).
• English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS for international students).
• Compelling essays, recommendations, and extracurricular achievements.

Harvard’s acceptance rate remains highly competitive. For the Class of 2029, Harvard College received 47,893 applications and admitted 2,003 students, yielding an acceptance rate of approximately 4.2%.

Only those who complete a degree are official alumni, though dropouts like Gates and Zuckerberg are often associated with Harvard due to their impact.

Harvard University’s notable alumni have made significant contributions to the world in many fields. From presidents and business leaders to innovators and artists, their journeys reflect the university’s focus on excellence, leadership, and impact. Studying at Harvard offers students a strong academic environment, but it is their dedication and vision that truly shape their success.

FAQs on Harvard University Notable Alumni

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So, this was all about Harvard University notable alumni. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.