List of Top 7 Famous Americans Who Studied at Stanford University

Dec 2, 2025, 08:56 EDT

Stanford University has shaped many prominent Americans across politics, tech, and entertainment. This list details seven famous alumni, including a US President, a Supreme Court Justice, and founders of major companies, showcasing the university's impact on innovation and leadership.

Top 7 Famous Americans Who Studied at Stanford University
Top 7 Famous Americans Who Studied at Stanford University

Stanford University, one of the highest elite institutions in the world, is where those who have changed the course of modern American history, innovators, and leaders have received their education. The university has built a reputation for providing a challenging educational environment that is grounded in research and innovation as well as being an ideal location for entrepreneurship. Stanford alumni are well known in many different areas such as politics, technology, sports, and law; many of them are now household names, such as those who have achieved great things and continue to influence the world. 

The graduates of Stanford include the President of the United States and several Supreme Court Justices, as well as many of today’s biggest technological pioneers and most successful athletes, and these graduates are just a few of the many examples of excellence among the many graduates from the university. The list below includes seven famous Americans who attended Stanford University and became leading figures in their industries.

Check Out: List of Top 6 Famous Americans Who Studied at Oxford University

Top 7 Famous Americans Who Studied at Stanford University

Here are the top 7 famous Americans who studied at Stanford University along with the year at Stanford: 

Rank

Name

Famous For / Profession

Years at Stanford

1

Herbert Hoover

31st President of the United States

1891-1895

2

Sandra Day O’Connor

First Female U.S. Supreme Court Justice

1946-1952 (BA + JD)

3

Larry Page

Co-Founder of Google

1995-1998 (PhD program)

4

Reese Witherspoon

Academy Award-Winning Actress

1994-1995 (attended briefly)

5

Tiger Woods

Legendary American Golfer

1994-1996

6

Reed Hastings

Co-Founder and Former CEO of Netflix

1986-1988 (MS in CS)

7

Rachel Maddow

Journalist & TV Host

1990-1994 (BA in Public Policy)

1.  Herbert Hoover

Our only businessman president was Herbert Hoover. 'Nuff said. - WHYY

Herbert Hoover, being the 31st President of the United States, was a successful mining engineer and humanitarian prior to pursuing politics. Hoover was the first U.S. President to graduate from Stanford as a member of Stanford's inaugural class in 1895, obtaining a degree in geology. As a result of Hoover's presidency, it was the first time Stanford University has contributed to the basis of a president.

2. Sandra Day O'Connor

Sandra Day O'Connor and the Importance of Mental Toughness, Civility | Cato  at Liberty Blog

The first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice to be appointed was Sandra Day O'Connor. Sandra Day O'Connor graduated from Stanford as a law student. Appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981, O’Connor has become a pioneer for women in the legal profession, and as judicial jurisprudence continues to evolve, O’Connor worked hard to cultivate good judicial practices and has been instrumental as the swing vote in several landmark cases.

3.  Larry Page

Larry Page Passes Larry Ellison Becoming World's Second-Richest

Larry Page graduated with a Master's degree in computer science from Stanford. While working on his Master's thesis, Page and his colleague Sergey Brin designed one of the first search engine concepts for Google, a technology company that has since become one of the most influential companies in the history of technology. Page's thesis and research at Stanford provided the foundation of Google and shaped the company into what it has become today.

4. Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon Explained Why Her 40s Have Been Pretty Freaking Great |  SELF

Before her rise to prominence in Hollywood, Reese Witherspoon attended Stanford University for a short period of time to major in English literature but would later pursue acting as a full-time career. Witherspoon's brief education at Stanford University displays her passion for academics, in addition to being a successful actress.

5. Tiger Woods 

Tiger Woods | Biography, Majors, Masters, Leg Injury, & Family | Britannica

While at Stanford, Tiger Woods majored in economics while already being an elite golfer having won many amateur championships before turning professional golfer. Currently, Woods is widely known as one of the best golfers in the world.

Conclusion

Stanford University has had a significant impact on the development of many prominent Americans across all sectors, including politics, industry, art, and technology. These seven distinct individuals demonstrate how Stanford University's emphasis on excellence, innovation, and leadership continues to motivate and inspire the next generation of Stanford graduates.

Ayukta Zisha
Ayukta Zisha

Content Writer

    Ayukta Zisha is a Content Writer and Published Author with a Master’s degree in English Literature. She also holds a certification in Digital Marketing from IIT Delhi. Deeply passionate about art, aesthetics, and literature, Ayukta brings a unique creative flair to her writing. A dedicated bibliophile, she continues to explore and share her love for words through engaging and insightful content. You can reach out to her at ayukta.zisha@jagrannewmedia.com

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