Harvard University’s notable alumni are far more than you can imagine. Harvard is not only a top Ivy League institution, but also an incubator of global influence. Within the hallowed, red-brick halls of Cambridge, MA, Harvard has produced 8 presidents, over 160 Nobel Prize winners, and numerous billionaires. However, they were all once just normal students hurrying to attend classes on the Harvard campus. Our list of Harvard notable alumni is bound to surprise you, whether you want to know who stays up late writing code in Kirkland House or who makes movies while getting high scores.
Top 30 Notable Harvard Alumni: At a Glance
Talk about a power list. When you dig into the roster of Harvard University notable alumni, you are basically looking at the architects of the modern world. It is not just about the eight U.S. Presidents (yes, that includes Obama, JFK, and FDR) or the Silicon Valley disruptors like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. The influence is actually much wider. You have Hollywood stars like Natalie Portman studying in the same libraries as future scientists like Neil deGrasse Tyson. It is a rare mix of political, cultural, and business heavyweights that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
Before we dive into the stories behind the legends, let’s have a quick view of the top 30 Harvard famous students:
| No. | Name | Grad Year / Affiliation | Degree / Concentration | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barack Obama | 1991 | J.D. (Law School) | 44th U.S. President |
| 2 | Mark Zuckerberg | 2004 (Dropout) | Psychology / CS | Founder of Facebook (Meta) |
| 3 | Natalie Portman | 2003 | B.A. Psychology | Academy Award-winning Actress |
| 4 | Bill Gates | 1975 (Dropout) | Applied Math | Co-founder of Microsoft |
| 5 | John F. Kennedy | 1940 | B.A. Government | 35th U.S. President |
| 6 | Michelle Obama | 1988 | J.D. (Law School) | Former First Lady, Author |
| 7 | Matt Damon | 1992 (Dropout) | English | Oscar-winning Actor/Screenwriter |
| 8 | Conan O’Brien | 1985 | B.A. History & Lit | TV Host, Comedian |
| 9 | Neil deGrasse Tyson | 1980 | B.A. Physics | Astrophysicist, Science Communicator |
| 10 | Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1903 | B.A. History | 32nd U.S. President |
| 11 | Sheryl Sandberg | 1991 / 1995 | B.A. Econ / MBA | Former COO of Meta, Author |
| 12 | Jeremy Lin | 2010 | B.A. Economics | NBA Player (“Linsanity”) |
| 13 | George W. Bush | 1975 | MBA (Business School) | 43rd U.S. President |
| 14 | Yo-Yo Ma | 1976 | B.A. Humanities | World-Renowned Cellist |
| 15 | Jamie Dimon | 1982 | MBA (Business School) | CEO of JPMorgan Chase |
| 16 | Al Gore | 1969 | B.A. Government | Former U.S. Vice President |
| 17 | Natalie Portman | 2003 | B.A. Psychology | Actress (Black Swan, Star Wars) |
| 18 | Theodore Roosevelt | 1880 | B.A. | 26th U.S. President |
| 19 | Helen Keller | 1904 | B.A. (Radcliffe) | Author, Disability Rights Advocate |
| 20 | Steve Ballmer | 1977 | B.A. Applied Math | Former Microsoft CEO |
| 21 | Amanda Gorman | 2020 | B.A. Sociology | Inaugural Poet, Activist |
| 22 | Rashida Jones | 1997 | B.A. Religion | Actress (The Office, Parks & Rec) |
| 23 | Lloyd Blankfein | 1975 / 1978 | B.A. / J.D. | Former CEO of Goldman Sachs |
| 24 | Tom Morello | 1986 | B.A. Social Studies | Guitarist (Rage Against the Machine) |
| 25 | Colin Jost | 2004 | B.A. History & Lit | SNL Anchor, Comedian |
| 26 | Michael Bloomberg | 1966 | MBA (Business School) | Founder of Bloomberg LP, Ex-NYC Mayor |
| 27 | John Roberts | 1976 / 1979 | B.A. / J.D. | Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court |
| 28 | Leonard Bernstein | 1939 | B.A. Music | Legendary Composer & Conductor |
| 29 | T.S. Eliot | 1910 | B.A. / M.A. | Nobel Prize-winning Poet |
| 30 | Margaret Atwood | 1962 | M.A. (Radcliffe) | Author (The Handmaid’s Tale) |
Harvard Notable Alumni: Detailed Profiles
Looking for more fun facts and little stories about these famous Harvard graduates, former students, or research and academic staff? We’ve got you covered. From the first African-American president in U.S. history to Hollywood stars, we have compiled a categorised list. Just jump to the part you’re interested in!
The World Leaders (Politics & Law)
There is a reason Cambridge is often whispered about as the ‘Campus of Presidents.’ It’s not just a nickname. Walking the halls of Harvard Law School or the undergraduate dorms, you are literally tracing the steps of eight U.S. Commanders-in-Chief. From the historic corridors of Winthrop House to the global political stage, the following Harvard University notable alumni turned their crimson degrees into world-changing power.
1. Barack Obama
Graduation Year: 1991
Degree: Juris Doctor (J.D.), Harvard Law School
Best Known As: 44th President of the United States
Harvard Detail: First Black president of the Harvard Law Review
The most famous Harvard University notable alumni is Barack Obama. When he entered Harvard Law School, he was 27 years old, having been a community organizer in Chicago for several years. He worked hard at Harvard, always stayed up all night in the library, and achieved astonishing results, becoming the first African-American president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review in 1990 – even reported in The New York Times. He showcased his leadership at university by uniting radicals and conservatives during an era of intense political confrontation, laying the foundation for his future career.
2. Michelle Obama
- Graduation Year: 1988
- Degree: Juris Doctor (J.D.), Harvard Law School
- Best Known As: Former First Lady, Author of Becoming
- Harvard Detail: Actively advocated for minority faculty hiring; worked at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.
Michelle Obama is not only the former First Lady, but also an outstanding Harvard alumni. Michelle came from a working-calss family and entered Harvard Law School after graduated from Princeton. She entered Harvard Legal Aid Bureau at that time, offering legal services for the poor who can not pay to afford one, which also explained her future path on public services. She even led a protest in front of the iconic Austin Hall, demanding that the school hire more Minority Faculty.
3. John F. Kennedy (JFK)
- Graduation Year: 1940
- Degree: B.A. in Government (Cum Laude)
- Best Known As: 35th U.S. President
- Harvard Detail: Lived in Winthrop House; author of Why England Slept.
Kennedy’s time during Harvard is not only combating with illness, but also his transition from a rich kid to a politician. Lived in the historic Winthrop House, he overcomed the torture of illness, and turned he place into alsmost half a social center. He also attend the famous The Spee Club in Harvard, which epresents that he is at the top of Harvard’s social pyramid. However, socialising is not about all, JFK also completed a brilliant Senior Thesis name Why England Slept, discusing the Appeasement Policy before WWII and later was published.
4. Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)
- Graduation Year: 1903
- Degree: B.A. in History
- Best Known As: 32nd U.S. President
- Harvard Detail: President/Editor-in-Chief of The Harvard Crimson.
Unlike previous famous harvard alumni, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s talent lied in polictics and media rather than study. He always get a C grades, which was called the “Gentleman’s C“, but he found his stage at extracurricular activities. As the president of The Harvard Crimson (which once JFK failed to be), he showed his leadership talent and once made the university to improve fire safety in dormitories by media. It is said that the refusal of the Porcellian Club was a heavy blow for him, which ignited his later fighting spirit of “speaking up for the forgotten“.
5. Theodore Roosevelt
Graduation Year: 1880
Degree: B.A. (Magna Cum Laude)
Best Known As: 26th U.S. President
Harvard Detail: Member of Porcellian Club; Phi Beta Kappa member.
Theodore Roosevelt is one of the most energetic Harvard famous alumni. He not only graduated with Magna Cum Laude and admitted to Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society, but also was the runner-up in the school boxing competition. As “The Renaissance Man” in Harvard’s history, he break the stereotype that Harvard students are “only good at study”. Although as a member of Porcellian Club, he did not spend all his time of socialising, but dedicated to become his dorm into a small museum filled with animal specimens, with his ambition to became a Naturalist.
6. George W. Bush
- Graduation Year: 1975
- Degree: MBA (Harvard Business School)
- Best Known As: 43rd U.S. President
- Harvard Detail: Only President with an MBA; HBS Rugby Team member.
Different from other presidents went to harvard and studied law or politics, George W. Bush was the only US President in history to hold an MBA degree. When study in Harvard Business School, he represented “The Culture Clash” between a “Texan” and the “East Coast Elite” culture. Always chewing Tobacco and wearing a pilot jacket, he stood out from those well-dressed Wall Street reserve. He was also a member of the HBS Rugby Team, which is in line with his image of being confrontational and tough, and also his uniqe style in the White House.
7. Al Gore
- Graduation Year: 1969
- Degree: B.A. in Government (Cum Laude)
- Best Known As: 45th U.S. Vice President
- Harvard Detail: Roommate was Tommy Lee Jones; lived in Dunster House.
Gore’s time at Harvard coincided with the tumultuous period of the late 1960s with the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. His last year at Harvard is also the most intense year of the Harvard student movement (the famous occupation of University Hall incident). Althoug with anti-war sentiment, Gore still joined the army for his father’s policital career and national obligations. His thesis title was The Impact of Television on the Conduct of the Presidency, signifying his understanding of media technology. It is also interesting that his roomate at Harvard is the later Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones.
8. John Roberts
- Graduation Year: 1976 (College), 1979 (Law School)
- Degree: B.A. & J.D. (Summa Cum Laude)
- Best Known As: Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
- Harvard Detail: A “Double Crimson”; Managing Editor of the Harvard Law Review.
The present Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court John Roberts is also a famous harvard alumni. As a Double Crimson, he spent his undergraduate time at Leverett House and obtained Summar Cum Laude at both undergraduate and Law School. He won the William Scott Ferguson Prize with an article about about Marxism and liberalism he wrote in sophomore year, and he was also the managing editor of Harvard Law Review. His seven years in Harvad explained perfectly what it means to pursue the ultimate in academia.
The Tech Visionaries & Titans (Business)
Silicon Valley legends love to romanticize the ‘dropout’ narrative, but the truth about Harvard’s financial titans is a bit more nuanced. Sure, some of the most famous Harvard dropouts launched empires from a messy dorm room in Kirkland House. Yet, equally influential are the disciplined strategists who ground through an MBA at Harvard Business School. Whether by leaving early or staying for the degree, these innovators redefined modern wealth.
9. Mark Zuckerberg
- Graduation Year: Class of 2006 (Dropout in 2004)
- Degree: Psychology & Computer Science (Honorary Degree 2017)
- Best Known As: Founder & CEO of Meta (Facebook)
- Harvard Detail: Launched “Thefacebook” from Kirkland House, Suite H33.
Mark Zuckerberg is not only the father of Facebook, but also one of the most famous Harvard alumni who dropped out halfway. Zuckerberg was not merely a computer science geek at Harvard; he majored in psychology, which explained why he could create the most human-oriented social platform. In February 2004, sophomore student Mark Zuckerberg typed the code of “Thefacebook” at his dormitory (Kirkland House, Suite H33), and then dropped out of school. Fewer people knew that he once almost got expelled from Harvard’s Administrative Board because of a prank website Facemash (rate students’ appearance levels), that casued Harvard’s netwrok to crash.
10. Bill Gates
Time & Degree: Class of 1977 (Dropout)
Achievement: Co-founder of Microsoft.
Harvard Detail: Lived in Currier House; famously solved a complex math problem that had stumped professors, yet dropped out to start Microsoft.
As the archetype of the “Harvard Dropout,” Bill Gates didn’t leave because he couldn’t keep up; he left because he was moving too fast. Living in Currier House (far from the main campus), Gates’s social circle is small, enabling him to spend more time on poker and programming. As a genius in Applied Mathematics, he solved solved a “Pancake Sorting Problem” that had plagued the academic community for many years and jointly published an academic paper with Professor Harry Lewis. In 1975, when he realized that the personal computer revolution was about to break out, he resolutely left the campus.
11. Sheryl Sandberg
- Graduation Year: 1991 (B.A.), 1995 (MBA)
- Degree: Economics (Summa Cum Laude)
- Best Known As: Former COO of Meta, Author of Lean In
- Harvard Detail: Winner of the John H. Williams Prize; mentored by Larry Summers.
Different from the “Dropout to Start Business” type of Zuckerberg and Gates, Sheryl Sandberg is “The System Master“. She is a typical student with outstanding academic performance, and has won Summa Cum Laude and the John H. Williams Prize (first place in Economics). Sandberg was the biggest beneficiary of Mentorship at Harvard, by taking a course of Larry Summers (later president of Harvard University) and serving as his research assistant. From establishing a women society (Women in Economics and Government) and writing the Lean In, every step at Harvard was preparing for becoming a top female leader.
12. Steve Ballmer
- Graduation Year: 1977
- Degree: B.A. in Applied Mathematics & Economics
- Best Known As: Former CEO of Microsoft, Owner of LA Clippers
- Harvard Detail: Manager of the Harvard Football Team; member of the Fox Club.
Another notable Harvard alumnus, Steve Ballmer, tells us that sometimes success depends on who you live next door to and how many people you know. Steve Ballmer lived next door to Bill Gates at Currier House, but unlike Gates, Ballmer is the social hub at Harvard. As a member of the top-class Fox Club and the manager of the Harvard Football Team, Ballmer also demonstrated astonishing organisational skills. Always be regarded as a “Sales Talent”, Billmore was said to get a higher score than Gates in the Putnam Competition (hardest math competition in the US).
13. Jamie Dimon
- Graduation Year: 1982
- Degree: MBA (Harvard Business School)
- Best Known As: Chairman & CEO of JPMorgan Chase
- Harvard Detail: Baker Scholar (Top 5%); met his wife Judy at HBS.
As you can imagine, the most powerful person on Wall Street today is also a famous Harvard graduate. Jamie Dimon’s domineering style was formed as early as his time at Harvard Business School (HBS). He stood out in the stressful Case Method class at HBS and won the Baker Scholar title (awarded to the top 5% of students). After getting his degree and meeting his Wife at Harvard, he decided to refuse the offer from Goldman Sachs and followed his tutor to Sandy Weill after graduation.
14. Lloyd Blankfein
Graduation Year: 1975 (A.B.), 1978 (J.D.)
Degree: History / Law
Best Known As: Former CEO of Goldman Sachs
Harvard Detail: Attended on Financial Aid; lived in Winthrop House.
One of the most famous Harvard University alumni who typically illustrates the “American Dream” is Lloyd Blankfein. As the son of a postman in Brooklyn, he grew up living in public housing, and finished his graduate and Law School time at Harvard with financial aid. Although lived in the elite Winthrop House at Harvard, he once confessed that he felt deeply like an outsider. Ironically, he applied Goldman Sachs when graduated from law school but got refused. However, it was exactly such kind of grit honed in an elite environment that has supported him to eventually become the head of Goldman Sachs.
15. Michael Bloomberg
- Graduation Year: 1966
- Degree: MBA (Harvard Business School)
- Best Known As: Founder of Bloomberg L.P., Former NYC Mayor
- Harvard Detail: Self-described “C” student; worked as a parking lot attendant.
Michael Bloomberg is not a model student in the traditional sense, but he was indeed one of the hardest-working Harvard University famous alumni. He once admitted in his memoirs that he was just a “C” student at Harvard, and even worked at a nearby parking lot to pay for tuition. What Harvard taught him is not rote learning but a sharp sense of data, making him believe that information worths more than capital. It was precisely this MBA mindset that combined technology and business that led him to later invent the revolutionary Bloomberg Terminal, proving that having access to information is more valuable than having an all-A transcript.
The Hollywood Intellects (Arts & Entertainment)
It is easy to stereotype celebrities, but the famous actors from Harvard on this list prove that intelligence is the ultimate star power. For them, Cambridge wasn’t just a pit stop; it was a training ground. Many sharpened their wit at the legendary Harvard Lampoon or turned literal homework assignments into Oscar-winning screenplays. Here is how a rigorous Liberal Arts education shaped some of Hollywood’s brightest minds.
16. Natalie Portman
- Graduation Year: 2003
- Degree: B.A. in Psychology
- Best Known As: Academy Award-winning Actress (Black Swan)
- Harvard Detail: Lived in Lowell House; research assistant to Alan Dershowitz.
One of the most surprising famous people who went to Harvard is Natalie Portman. But for her, Harvard is not a place to be gilded but a refuge. She once made that famous declaration in an interview: “I’d rather be smart than a movie star“, and she did prove it by missing the world premiere of “Star Wars” to prepare for final exams. She was shortlisted for the Intel Science Award in high school and studied neuroimaging at Harvard. Fewer people know that she once served as the research assistant of Alan Dershowitz, a legendary professor at the law school, and published papers on neuroimaging in scientific journals under her original name, Natalie Hershlag. At Harvard, Natalie Portman was not Queen of Amidala, but a top student with excellent academic performance in the psychology.
17. Matt Damon
- Graduation Year: Class of 1992 (Dropout)
- Degree: English (Honorary Arts Medal 2013)
- Best Known As: Oscar-winning Actor & Screenwriter
- Harvard Detail: Lived in Lowell House; wrote Good Will Hunting for a class.
Matta Damon might be the most famous “unfinished project” at Harvard University’s history. Also lived at Lowell House like Portman, he was just 12 credits away from graduation, but had to drop out because of filming the movie “Geronimo”. His legacy for Harvard is more precious than a piece of graduation paper, but the first draft of the script for the Oscar-winning film “Good Will Hunting“, which is originally a a final assignment he wrote for the playwriting course. As a former member of the elite The Delphic Club, Damon perfectly blend his Harvard campus life and working-class brackgroun into his project.
18. Conan O'Brien
- Graduation Year: 1985
- Degree: B.A. in History & Literature (Magna Cum Laude)
- Best Known As: Late-night Talk Show Host
- Harvard Detail: President of The Harvard Lampoon (twice).
Before becoming a talk show superstar, Conan O’Brien was the most famous humorist on the Harvard campus. He not only graduated from History & Literature with Magna Cum Laude, but also made a miracle by serving as the president of The Harvard Lampoon for two consecutive terms. In this castle-like magazine office, he honed that brilliant and absurd sense of humour. His graduation thesis was a research on the literary giants William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor, with a profound topic “Literary Progeria”.
19. Rashida Jones
- Graduation Year: 1997
- Degree: B.A. in Religion and Philosophy
- Best Known As: Actress (The Office), Writer, Producer
- Harvard Detail: Member of Hasty Pudding Theatricals; lived in Eliot House.
Rashida Jones is the daughter of the renowned music producer Quincy Jones, but her position as one of Harvard’s famous students is due to her own exploration of music, drama and philosophy at Harvard. Her university life illustrated what a “Polymath” was. Although majored in Religion and Philosophy, her presence can be seen in every corner of campus art. Lived at Eliot House, she was not only a composer for the renowned Hasty Pudding Theatricals, but also participated in the theatrical performances of the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club. For students who worry about how to find a job with a “useless degree”, Jones proved that “Liberal Arts” education can lay the most solid foundation for diverse career paths.
20. Colin Jost
- Graduation Year: 2004
- Degree: B.A. in History & Literature (Cum Laude)
- Best Known As: Head Writer of Saturday Night Live (SNL)
- Harvard Detail: President of The Harvard Lampoon; lived in Leverett House.
Among the famous Harvard grads, Colin Jost created a new “Harvard comedy track”. Lived at Levereet, Jost was also the president of The Harvard Lampoon (as the successor of Conan O’Brien ), where SNL discovered him. Jost was more than just a gag writer during Harvard; he was a trivia king. Jost competed on the game show The Weakest Link as a junior and even won over $5,000 in prize money. He is the typical Harvard comedy scene, with a style of humour built on a foundation of vast knowledge.
21. Tom Morello
- Graduation Year: 1986
- Degree: B.A. in Social Studies (Cum Laude)
- Best Known As: Guitarist for Rage Against the Machine
- Harvard Detail: Lived in Currier House; practiced guitar 4 hours a day.
You can never imagine that the radical guitar solos of Rage Against the Machine come from a straight-A Harvard graduate majoring in Social Studies. Yes, that is Tom Morello. While living in Currier House, Morello was the epitome of self-discipline, practising the guitar in his dorm room for 4 hours daily, no matter how demanding the study was. He once joined the Anti-Apartheid campaign on campus, which later became the core of the political rebellion in his future music. He is the living proof that rock music could be academic.
22. Yo-Yo Ma
- Graduation Year: 1976
- Degree: B.A. in Humanities
- Best Known As: World-Renowned Cellist
- Harvard Detail: Lived in Currier House; limited his music coursework.
When he stepped onto the Harvard campus, Yo-Yo Ma was already a world-renowned cello prodigy. However, he went to Harvard not for the music school, but to “see the world outside.” Ma also lived in Currier House (like Tom Morello), a place full of unconventional people. He purposely limited his music coursework, but chose to study humanities, Germany, and Social Studies. As a freshman, he once played cello in the back row of the symphony orchestra performing on campus, maintaining an extremely low profile. For Yo-Yo Ma, the Liberal Arts Education of Harvard University endowed him with humanistic depth beyond music, transforming him from a player into a true musician.
23. Leonard Bernstein
- Graduation Year: 1939
- Degree: B.A. in Music (Cum Laude)
- Best Known As: Composer (West Side Story), Conductor
- Harvard Detail: Lived in Eliot House; wrote thesis on “Race Elements in American Music”.
The legend of Leonard Bernstein, the most excellent conductor of the 20th century, began at Harvard’s Eliot House. The piano practice room at Eliot House is well-maintained, and the residence retains a rich artistic atmosphere. Bernstein’s tutor at Harvard was the celebrated composer Walter Piston. He did not confine himself to just music theory; his senior thesis deeply discussed “The Absorption of Race Elements into American Music“, demonstrating extraordinary theoretical depth. To this day, students in Eliot House can still hear echoes of the young maestro in the practice room.
Science, Icons & Modern Voices
Harvard’s influence doesn’t stop at the boardroom door or the Senate floor. The university’s DNA is surprisingly diverse, producing everything from theoretical physicists who reshaped our understanding of reality to NBA players who shattered cultural ceilings. This final group of Harvard University notable alumni, spanning poets, scientists, and athletes, proves that a Crimson education is exactly what you decide to make of it.
24. J. Robert Oppenheimer
- Graduation Year: 1925
- Degree: B.A. in Chemistry (Summa Cum Laude)
- Best Known As: “Father of the Atomic Bomb”
- Harvard Detail: Graduated in just 3 years; worked under Percy Bridgman.
Before becoming the “Father of the Atomic Bomb“, J. Robert Oppenheimer was a solitary genius on the Harvard campus. He finished his studies at Harvard with Summa Cum Laude in just three years. In his tutor Percy Bridgman‘s (Nobel Prize winner in Physics) laboratory, he realised that he was not good at experimental physics, but more inclined to theoretical physics. He wasn’t just a bookworm; he also contributed poetry to The Harvard Crimson, revealing his artistic side. As depicted in the film, his days at Harvard were filled with intellectual ecstasy and social isolation, and a profound sense of detachment always accompanied his brilliance.
25. Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Graduation Year: 1980
- Degree: B.A. in Physics
- Best Known As: Astrophysicist, Host of Cosmos
- Harvard Detail: Lived in Currier House; member of the Wrestling Team.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of the unique Harvard alumni who overturns the stereotype that astrophysicists should be frail, bookish figures. His undergraduate residence was also Curier House, where once Gates, Ballmer, and Yo-Yo Ma lived. He did not spend all his time at Harvard on the mysteries of the universe, but also served as the tough captain of the Harvard Wrestling Team. This dual background in both the sciences and athletics endowed him with the powerful presence that would later define him as a superstar science communicator. Your identity at Harvard University will never be confined to a single label.
26. Jeremy Lin
- Graduation Year: 2010
- Degree: B.A. in Economics
- Best Known As: NBA Player (“Linsanity”)
- Harvard Detail: Lived in Mather House; no athletic scholarship.
Before “Linsanity” swept the globe, Jeremy Lin was just an ordinary Harvard student who majored in Economics anddd lived in brutalist architecture Mather House. Due to the Ivy League regulations, there is no Athletic Scholarship, so Lin got the offer to Harvard soley on academic merit. Juggling demanding economics coursework and grueling varsity team training, he still got 3.1 GPA on graduation. He was the first Harvard player in nearly half a century to reach the NBA, proving that academic and athletic excellence can coexist on this campus.
27. Helen Keller
- Graduation Year: 1904
- Degree: B.A. (Cum Laude) from Radcliffe College
- Best Known As: Author, Activist
- Harvard Detail: First deaf-blind person to earn a B.A.; lived in Coolidge Hall.
Helen Keller’s story stands as a testament to human willpower, making her one of Harvard’s most legendary alumni. She graduated from Radcliffe College (Harvard’s women’s college) in 1904, becoming the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Without the assist of modern equipment and Braille textbooks, she relied on her teacher Anne Sullivan spelling each world into her palm on class, and finally graduated with Cum Laude. Her graduation was not only a personal triumph but forever changed Harvard’s definition of “possible.”
28. Amanda Gorman
- Graduation Year: 2020
- Degree: B.A. in Sociology (Cum Laude)
- Best Known As: Inaugural Poet for President Biden
- Harvard Detail: Lived in Winthrop House; researched in Schlesinger Library.
When Amanda Gorman stunned the world with her poetry recitation at the presidential inauguration, she had graduated from Harvard University less than a year prior. At Harvard, she lived in Winthrop House (where JFK lived) and majored in Sciology. She was also a frequent visitor to the Schlesinger Library, where she studied the forgotten female vocies of history and drew inspiration for her work. As Harvard’s first National Youth Poet Laureate, she represents the youngest and most progressive face of thes venerabke institution.
29. T.S. Eliot
- Graduation Year: 1909 (B.A.), 1910 (M.A.)
- Degree: Philosophy
- Best Known As: Nobel Prize-winning Poet (The Waste Land)
- Harvard Detail: Editor of The Harvard Advocate; lived in Apley Court.
The profound obscurity of Nobel laureate T.S. Eliot’s poetry owes much to the rigorous training he received in Harvard’s Philosophy Department. Home to masters like William James and George Santayana at that time, Harvard’s Philosophy Department was in its golden age, which profoundly shaped Eliot’s poetry. As the editor of The Harvard Advocate, Eliot started his exploration of modernist expression while living in Apley Court. If you find The Waste Land obsurd, it’s beacuse written with a philosopher’s logic, a hallmark of Harvard’s humanities education.
30. Margaret Atwood
- Graduation Year: 1962
- Degree: M.A. (Radcliffe College)
- Best Known As: Author of The Handmaid’s Tale
- Harvard Detail: Studied Victorian Literature; critiqued the male-dominated academia.
You can capture Cambridge’s shadow between the lines if you’ve read The Handmaid’s Tale. When Margaret Atwood pursued her master’s degree at Radcliffe College, Harvard’s male-dominated academia culture was at its peak. While researching Victorian literature at Widener Library, she keenly observed the gendered power structures around her and once described various restrictions for female students in the library. Harvard’s rigorous acedemic atmosphere and its weighty Puritan history played as the fertile ground for the renowned dystopian world she later constructed.
Famous Harvard Alumni: Top 100
We are really just scratching the surface. The influence of this university runs so deep that if we listed every notable graduate, we would be here all day. However, for those digging deeper into the Harvard alumni list, the following names are essential. From the steps of the Supreme Court to the defensive lines of the NFL, here is the extended breakdown of who else calls Cambridge their alma mater.
1. Politics & World Leaders
It is almost a cliché at this point: if you want to run the country, you go to Harvard. But the list of Harvard politicians goes far beyond the Oval Office. We are talking about the Founding Fathers like John Adams, modern disruptors like Pete Buttigieg, and global heads of state who trained at the Kennedy School of Government. This is the ultimate “who’s who” of political power.
| Name | Degree / Affiliation | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|
| John Adams | B.A. 1755 | 2nd U.S. President, Founding Father |
| John Quincy Adams | B.A. 1787 | 6th U.S. President |
| Rutherford B. Hayes | Law 1845 | 19th U.S. President |
| Henry Kissinger | B.A., M.A., Ph.D. | Former U.S. Secretary of State, Nobel Laureate |
| Mitt Romney | Law & Business (MBA/JD) | U.S. Senator, 2012 Presidential Nominee |
| Pete Buttigieg | B.A. History & Lit | U.S. Secretary of Transportation |
| Ted Cruz | Law (J.D.) | U.S. Senator (Texas) |
| Chuck Schumer | B.A. & J.D. | U.S. Senate Majority Leader |
| Antony Blinken | B.A. | U.S. Secretary of State |
| Benazir Bhutto | B.A. 1973 | Former Prime Minister of Pakistan |
| Ban Ki-moon | MPA (Kennedy School) | Former UN Secretary-General |
| Felipe Calderón | MPA (Kennedy School) | Former President of Mexico |
| Ellen Johnson Sirleaf | MPA (Kennedy School) | Former President of Liberia, Nobel Laureate |
| Robert F. Kennedy | B.A. 1948 | Former U.S. Attorney General & Senator |
| Michael Dukakis | Law (J.D.) | Former Governor of MA, Pres. Nominee |
2. Law & Judiciary
Legally Blonde might be fiction, but the dominance of Harvard Law School alumni in the American judiciary is very real. For decades, there was a running joke that the Supreme Court was essentially a Harvard reunion. From conservative stalwarts to liberal icons like Ruth Bader Ginsburg (who started her legal journey here), these are the minds interpreting the Constitution.
| Name | Degree / Affiliation | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Attended Law (1956-58) | Supreme Court Justice (Transferred to Columbia) |
| Elena Kagan | Law (J.D.) | Supreme Court Justice, Former Harvard Law Dean |
| Neil Gorsuch | Law (J.D.) | Supreme Court Justice |
| Ketanji Brown Jackson | B.A. & J.D. | Supreme Court Justice |
| Antonin Scalia | Law (J.D.) | Former Supreme Court Justice |
| Merrick Garland | B.A. & J.D. | U.S. Attorney General |
| Anthony Kennedy | Law (J.D.) | Former Supreme Court Justice |
| David Souter | B.A. & J.D. | Former Supreme Court Justice |
| Harry Blackmun | B.A. & J.D. | Author of Roe v. Wade opinion |
| Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. | B.A. & Law | Legendary Supreme Court Justice |
3. Business & Finance
While the dropouts often grab the tech headlines, the graduates of Harvard Business School are the ones quietly moving the markets. This group includes the titans of Wall Street, hedge fund managers, and Fortune 500 CEOs who built enduring financial empires. They didn’t just learn about the economy in the classroom; they went out and shaped it.
| Name | Degree / Affiliation | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Ray Dalio | MBA | Founder of Bridgewater Associates |
| Stephen Schwarzman | MBA | CEO of Blackstone Group |
| Charlie Munger | Law (J.D.) | Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway |
| Meg Whitman | MBA | Former CEO of eBay and HP |
| Abigail Johnson | MBA | CEO of Fidelity Investments |
| Ken Griffin | B.A. Economics | Founder of Citadel |
| Sumner Redstone | B.A. & Law | Media Magnate (ViacomCBS) |
| Jim Cramer | B.A. & Law | Host of CNBC’s Mad Money |
| Henry Paulson | MBA | Former U.S. Treasury Secretary, Goldman CEO |
| John Paulson | MBA | Hedge Fund Manager (Big Short fame) |
| Gabe Newell | Dropout | Co-founder of Valve (Video Games) |
| Trip Hawkins | B.A. | Founder of Electronic Arts (EA) |
| Andy Jassy | B.A. & MBA | CEO of Amazon |
| Strauss Zelnick | MBA & J.D. | CEO of Take-Two Interactive (GTA) |
4. Entertainment, Arts & Music
You might be surprised to find Hank from Breaking Bad or the lead singer of Weezer on this list. But that’s the beauty of the Harvard arts scene. These famous actors and musicians didn’t rely solely on their talent; they backed it up with rigorous study in English, Philosophy, and Visual Studies, proving that you can be book-smart and still rock a stadium.
| Name | Degree / Affiliation | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Lemmon | B.A. 1947 | 2x Oscar-winning Actor |
| John Lithgow | B.A. 1967 | Emmy & Tony-winning Actor |
| Ashley Judd | MPA (Kennedy School) | Actress & Activist |
| Dean Norris | B.A. 1985 | Actor (Hank in Breaking Bad) |
| Mira Sorvino | B.A. East Asian Studies | Oscar-winning Actress |
| B.J. Novak | B.A. English/Spanish | Actor/Writer (The Office) |
| Stockard Channing | B.A. (Radcliffe) | Actress (Rizzo in Grease) |
| Elisabeth Shue | B.A. Pol. Sci. | Actress (The Boys, Karate Kid) |
| Damien Chazelle | B.A. Visual Studies | Director (La La Land, Whiplash) |
| Darren Aronofsky | B.A. Social Anthro | Director (Black Swan, The Whale) |
| Terrence Malick | B.A. Philosophy | Director (The Tree of Life) |
| Rivers Cuomo | B.A. English | Lead Singer of Weezer |
| Fred Gwynne | B.A. 1951 | Actor (Herman Munster) |
5. Literature, Media & Thought Leaders
Long before blogs and tweets, Harvard writers were shaping American thought from the shores of Walden Pond. This tradition of intellectual leadership continues today with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and biographers. Whether they were defining the Transcendentalist movement or breaking the Watergate scandal, these alumni used their words to change the world.
| Name | Degree / Affiliation | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Ralph Waldo Emerson | B.A. 1821 | Transcendentalist Poet & Philosopher |
| Henry David Thoreau | B.A. 1837 | Author of Walden |
| W.E.B. Du Bois | Ph.D. 1895 | Sociologist, Civil Rights Activist |
| Walter Isaacson | B.A. History & Lit | Biographer (Steve Jobs, Elon Musk) |
| Fareed Zakaria | Ph.D. Govt | CNN Host, Journalist |
| Nicholas Kristof | B.A. Govt | Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist |
| Walter Lippmann | B.A. 1910 | Father of Modern Journalism |
| Norman Mailer | B.A. Eng | Pulitzer Prize-winning Author |
| John Updike | B.A. Eng | Novelist (Rabbit series) |
| William S. Burroughs | B.A. 1936 | Beat Generation Writer (Naked Lunch) |
| Jill Lepore | Ph.D. American Civ | Historian, New Yorker Staff Writer |
| David Halberstam | B.A. 1955 | Pulitzer Prize Journalist |
6. Science & Sports
Where else can you find NFL quarterbacks sharing a list with Nobel Prize winners? The phrase “dumb jock” doesn’t apply here. Harvard athletes like Ryan Fitzpatrick brought cognitive brilliance to the football field, while pioneers like E.O. Wilson and B.F. Skinner rewrote the textbooks on biology and psychology. It’s the ultimate mix of brains and brawn.
| Name | Degree / Affiliation | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | B.A. Economics | NFL Quarterback (“Fitzmagic”) |
| Kyle Juszczyk | B.A. Economics | NFL Fullback (49ers) |
| Ben Bernanke | B.A. & M.A. | Former Fed Chair, Nobel Laureate (Econ) |
| Paul Samuelson | Ph.D. Econ | Nobel Prize Winner in Economics |
| B.F. Skinner | Ph.D. Psych | Behaviorist Psychologist |
| E.O. Wilson | Ph.D. Biology | “Father of Sociobiology” |
| James Watson | Ph.D. Zoology | Co-discoverer of DNA structure |
| Robert Coles | B.A. | Child Psychiatrist, Pulitzer Winner |
Finding Your Home in Cambridge
As we have seen with stories like Zuckerberg in Kirkland House or Gates in Currier, where you live plays a huge role in your university life. But let’s be honest: the on-campus housing lottery can be stressful, and old dorms aren’t for everyone. Sometimes, you just need a space that is truly yours, a place quiet enough to finish that thesis or comfortable enough to recharge after a long day in the library.
That is where uhomes.com steps in. We take the uncertainty out of renting by providing a trusted platform for student housing near Harvard University. Whether you are looking for a modern studio steps away from Harvard Square or a shared apartment that fits a tighter budget, our verified listings are designed to help you settle in quickly. You focus on your studies (or your startup); let us handle the housing. With hundreds of housing options, price-match guarantee, and 1-on-1 assistance, finding you home in Cambridge, MA is bound to be seamless!
Final Thoughts: Your Story Starts Here
It is easy to scroll through these names and feel a little small. That is a normal reaction. But keep in mind that before Natalie Portman was winning Oscars or Barack Obama was running the country, they were just tired students trying to find a decent cup of coffee in Cambridge. They were stressing over grades and getting lost on the T, just like everyone else.
Greatness doesn’t happen overnight. It starts with the boring stuff: showing up to class, pulling all-nighters, and finding a community where you belong. So, don’t worry about being the next name on this list yet. Just focus on your first semester. The rest will follow.
FAQ
Who is the most famous person from Harvard?
The most famous person from Harvard is arguably a tie between former U.S. President Barack Obama and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. While Obama represents political history, Zuckerberg defines the modern tech era. Other contenders for the title often include Bill Gates and JFK, depending on which generation you ask.
Who are the top Harvard Uuniversity notable alumni
The top Harvard University notable alumni include political giants like FDR and JFK, tech innovators like Bill Gates, and cultural icons like Natalie Portman. This elite group spans virtually every industry. If you are looking for a quick “Big Three,” it is usually cited as Obama (Law), Zuckerberg (Tech), and Matt Damon (Arts).
Who is a billionaire Harvard alumni?
A prominent billionaire Harvard alumni is former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who holds an MBA from the business school. He is joined by other ultra-wealthy graduates like former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Citadel founder Ken Griffin. Of course, dropouts like Gates and Zuckerberg also top the billionaire lists, technically making them alumni of the university’s community.
How many presidents went to Harvard？
Exactly eight U.S. presidents went to Harvard, holding the record for the most commanders-in-chief produced by any single American university. The list starts with founding fathers like John Adams and John Quincy Adams, moves to the Roosevelt cousins (Teddy and FDR), includes JFK, and concludes recently with George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Which Indian studied in Harvard?
Famous Indians who studied in Harvard include industrialist Ratan Tata (Advanced Management Program) and Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra (Class of ’77). The university also hosted Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen as both a student and a professor. Other notable figures include politician Rahul Bajaj and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
What are the Harvard university notable female alumni?
Some of the most distinguished Harvard University notable female alumni are former First Lady Michelle Obama, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, and actress Natalie Portman. The list also includes Helen Keller, who made history at Radcliffe, and Sheryl Sandberg, who dominated the tech world. These women have broken barriers in law, arts, and business.
Why is Harvard so prestigious?
Harvard is so prestigious because it is the oldest university in the U.S. (founded in 1636) and possesses the world’s largest academic endowment. This massive wealth allows for unparalleled research facilities and financial aid. Beyond money, its reputation is self-reinforcing: because it attracts the best students and professors, its degree becomes a global signal of excellence.
What GPA do you need to get into Harvard?
The GPA you need to get into Harvard is typically a weighted 4.18 or a near-perfect 4.0 unweighted. While there is no official cutoff, the competition is fierce. However, Harvard uses a holistic review process, meaning a high GPA gets your foot in the door, but your essays, extracurriculars, and personal story are what actually get you the acceptance letter.
