Heat’s annual 30 Under 30 Rich List has dropped, and once again, it’s a mix of Love Islanders, pop stars, and Netflix darlings sitting on more money than most of us will ever see. But look closer, and a familiar theme pops up: A lot of these millionaires didn’t just have talent, they had tuition. Costly tuition.
So, here’s who on this year’s 30 under 30 list came from private schools, performing arts academies, or posh universities, and just how high they’ve climbed up the rich list ladder.
Phoebe Dynevor – £1.8 million
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(@phoebedynevor)Coming in joint 28th, Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor was already living a real-life version of her high-society character long before Netflix. She attended Cheadle Hulme School in Stockport, one of Manchester’s top private schools, where term fees now sit comfortably in the thousands.
Leo Woodall – £2.2 million
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Ranked 26th, Leo Woodall went from The White Lotus to One Day fame after training at Arts Educational Schools London (ArtsEd), one of the UK’s most expensive drama schools. It’s the sort of place where your classmates are just as likely to end up on Netflix as you are.
Yungblud – £2.9 million
At 24th on the list, Yungblud might have built a career on chaos and rebellion, but his early education was surprisingly refined. He started out at Ackworth School, a private Quaker boarding school, before enrolling at ArtsEd. He later dropped out, calling it “too paint-by-numbers”, a pretty pricey way to reject conformity.
Anya Taylor-Joy – £3 million
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Just one place above him at 23rd, The Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy spent her early years at Hill House International Junior School and Queen’s Gate School in Kensington, both private, both seriously posh. Fluent in Spanish and English, she had all the makings of a future global icon before she even hit her teens.
Ella Henderson – £4.7 million
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Tied at 16th, Ella Henderson swapped times tables for theatre early on. She began at St Martins Prep School in Grimsby before moving to Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, a private boarding school known for turning out stage stars. While most kids were stressing over SATs, Ella was already prepping for stardom.
Emma Mackey – £4.7 million
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Also joint 16th, Emma Mackey, the brainy Maeve from Sex Education, studied English Literature at the University of Leeds, one of the UK’s Russell Group universities. It’s not technically private, but it’s definitely posh.
Paul Mescal – £6 million
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At number 13, Irish actor Paul Mescal studied at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland’s most elite university. The same campus that produced Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett now counts a future Gladiator among its alumni. Not bad for a lad from Maynooth.
Florence Pugh – £9.8 million
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Ranked 11th, Florence Pugh might play down her fame, but her background is pure Oxford privilege. She attended Wychwood School and St Edward’s School, both private, both pricey. She’s since swapped school uniforms for Valentino gowns, which feels like a solid upgrade.
Sophie Turner – £21.9 million
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Sitting comfortably at number six, Sophie Turner’s path to Westeros began in Warwickshire’s private school bubble. She went to Warwick Prep School and The King’s High School for Girls, joining the Playbox Theatre Company at the age of three. By the time Game of Thrones came calling, she already had over a decade of experience.
Tom Holland – £35.7 million
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Coming in second place, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man story began with a very British education. He went to Donhead, a private prep school in Wimbledon which now costs £14,985 a year. His parents have said the early private school fees had an effect on the family’s finances, ironic, considering he’s now worth tens of millions.
Dua Lipa – £129 million
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Finally, topping the list at number one, Dua Lipa is officially the UK’s richest under-30 with a jaw-dropping £129 million. She spent her weekends at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London, a private performing arts powerhouse that’s basically a conveyor belt for future pop royalty. While most kids were doing PE, Dua was learning how to dominate a stage. Clearly, it worked.
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