SA Man Highlights Most Common Degrees Among South African Millionaires, Sparking Discussion

A viral video is making South Africans rethink their career choices after revealing which university degrees produce the highest share of millionaires in the country. Posted on Instagram on 23 October 2026, the clip breaks down data on high net worth individuals (HNWIs) in South Africa, ranking degrees from least to most represented among the country’s wealthiest earners. The speaker presents the figures using an on-screen chart, walking viewers through each field of study in ascending order.

According to data cited in the video, law degrees top the list, accounting for 27% of all high net worth individuals in South Africa. Finance comes in second at 19%, while accounting follows at 10%. Medicine and science, as well as computers and IT, each account for 8%, with engineering at 7% and actuarial science at the bottom of the ranked list at 5%. The speaker noted that the remaining 16% is spread across other fields of study, each with too small a share to feature individually. A report by Business Insider supported the ranking of the degrees and their hierarchies but varied on percentages.

According to BusinessTech data, law came out on top, accounting for 27% to 30% of South Africa’s wealthiest individuals. Finance and accounting followed closely, representing 19% to 28% of HNWIs. Actuarial science sat at the bottom of the list at 5%, with engineering at 7%, and computers and IT along with medicine and science both at 8%. The creator rounded it off with a jab at the cost of living: “So we all know what to study so we can afford petrol.” Not everyone was convinced the degree alone was enough. The comment section on the page quickly filled with a mix of humour and pushback.

@zamani_mpanza said: “Commercial Law 🔥🔥🔥” @sibabili2 wrote: “Finance mntanami (my child) 🙌🔥” @kwazzay admitted: “I knew he would say law and I got mad before he even said it 🤣🤣” @caitlinincapetown, who identified herself as an attorney, offered a sharp reality check: “Attorney here – financially I have to put water in my shampoo bottle to make it last” @move_with_minnie asked the question many were thinking: “Where are the jobs so we can be millionaires 😭😅” @thee_della simply wrote: “Law ??? 😂😂😂”

https://briefly.co.za/people/257553-degrees-produce-millionaires-degrees-produce-millionaire-source-huperlink/

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