Becoming a Doctor of Philosophy is the highest honor that universities can grant to their students. Even though they didn't attend any classes or conducted any research themselves, celebrities often receive an honorary doctorate degree because of their work and influence in a certain area.
Some A-listers went to college before they made it big, while others chose to give up on their academic education in order to pursue a career in Hollywood. It definitely paid off for some, since they ended up with an astounding career and a few extra degrees they technically didn't have to work for.
10 Kerry Washington
The Scandal star was awarded with an honorary doctorate degree from George Washington University, her Alma Mater, in 2013. 15 years before, she had graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Performance Studies.
There's no doubt Kerry Washington is a professional in her field; Little Fires Everywhere is arguably the most successful TV show on Hulu. She and Reese Witherspoon make more than a million per episode!
9 John Legend
The "All of Me" singer received his PhD in music from the University of Pennsylvania in 2014. This is where he graduated from English back in 1999, before he became famous. While studying there, he served as the president of The Counterparts, the university's a cappella group.
In his 20-minute commencement speech, Legend talked at length about love and hate. He also took the opportunity to motivate the students present to give it their best shot when it comes to their professional endeavors.
8 Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is a living icon. Younger generations generally know her from Mamma Mia! and The Devil Wears Prada, her highest-earning movies. Since she is by many considered the best actor of her generation, it's no wonder she has been awarded with four honorary degrees from highly-esteemed universities, such as Yale and Harvard.
Meryl Streep definitely deserves the recognition: she won the Academy Award three times and has been nominated 18 more times on top of that.
7 Oprah Winfrey
In 2013, Harvard University gifted an honorary degree to Oprah and she was visibly touched by the gesture. The famous talk show host was both extremely talented and had an incredible work ethic. When she was in high school, she was voted the most popular girl, she won the beauty pageant, and ranked the second best in dramatic interpretation in the entire country.
Despite her influence, many fellow celebrities think that she is overrated. To those who doubt her, Oprah only had one thing to say during her speech: "While I may not have graduated from here, my personality is about as Harvard as they come."
6 Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson is one of those celebrities who sacrificed their academic paths for a chance at a career in Hollywood. The risky decision definitely paid off for Mr. Nicholson: his stellar performances in The Shining, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Batman made him one of the most celebrated actors of all time.
He received his degree from Brown in 2011. During the introductory speech, he was hailed "the most skilled actor of our time". Nicholson was the star of the day, even though he remained humble at all times.
5 J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling at least did her fair share of writing before she was awarded with her honorary degrees. She's got seven of them, from both sides of the pond.
When she was younger, she wanted to attend Oxford, but unfortunately, she wasn't accepted. She went to the University of Exeter where she earned her a BA in French and Classics.
4 Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul was just 12 years old when her father, a Baptist minister, took her under her wing and started managing her. While she never attended college, she did earn thirteen honorary degrees in her lifetime, thanks to her musical legacy.
Not only does she have all these PhDs, she was also dubbed 'the best singer of all time' by Rolling Stone, and she was also the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
3 Orlando Bloom
You don't need to change the industry you work in forever to be a contender for a honorary doctorate. Orlando Bloom, too, has received his from the University of Kent ten years ago.
These days, the Pirates of the Caribbean star is mostly known for his relationship with Katy Perry.
2 Ben Affleck
Affleck became a doctor of fine arts in 2013, a year after Argo came out. He directed and co-produced, and starred in the movie, which also brought him an Academy Award. He's also the founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative.
Affleck never received a college degree, so he was truly honored when Brown bestowed the honorary title on him. In his short speech, he quipped about being more educated than his friend Matt Damon and thanked his mother.
1 Kanye West
The self-proclaimed greatest artist of all time is more than just a rapper; Kanye is also a producer, a husband to one of the most influential women in our culture, and a proud doctor of fine arts. In 2015, he received his PhD from The Art Institute of Chicago.
His late mother, Donda West, was chair of the English department at the very same institution. While Kanye did in fact study there, he never finished his degree.