Inside The World’s Most Exclusive Universities: Where “Old Money” Children Become Elite

So, you've stumbled upon a video that pulls back the veil on the world's most exclusive universities in an unflinchingly candid way, gazing into venerable corridors filled with the descendants of legacy families, whose fortunes have been intact for generations.
Whether it's the allure of Ivy League intellect seen in movies like “Good Will Hunting” - or the cerebral intensity versus pedigreed prestige of “The Social Network" - society’s interest in these storied places of higher learning is ever-present - and now, you're part of that audience.
But what makes these universities so sought-after and unreachable?
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The World’s Most Exclusive Schools: Where Wealthy Families Send Their Children: • The World’s Most Exclu...
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The Secret World of Trust Funds: How Wealthy Families Secure Their Children's Future: • The Secret World of Tr...
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
1:18 Chapter 1: Why “Old Money” Families Choose the World's Most Exclusive Universities
3:02 Chapter 2: How To Keep Your University “Exclusive”
4:41 Chapter 3: Top 8 Exclusive Universities for “Old Money” Families
5:00 #8 Princeton University
6:42 #7 École Normale Supérieure (ENS)
8:03 #6 University College London
9:49 #5 University of Tokyo
11:31 #4 The University of Cambridge
13:11 #3 E.T.H. Zurich
14:30 #2 University of Oxford
16:06 #1 Harvard University
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When it comes to “old money” families, education is not merely an academic endeavor-it's an intricate social experience, a formative period, and a training ground for the upper echelons of society.
Universities like Harvard and Oxford aren't just centers of academic excellence - they’re the forge in which a specific cultural and social ethos is shaped and passed down.
So, what makes these prestigious universities especially alluring to the world's wealthiest families?
It’s a complicated mix of factors - a cocktail that proves irresistible to the elite class.
At institutions like the University of Cambridge or Stanford, students aren't just receiving an education-they're getting primed for future leadership roles, learning to navigate the corridors of influence with skill and elegance.
From their first day these students interact with peers who are also heirs to immense wealth and power.
Bonds form in lecture halls and during social events - eventually turning into business alliances, political affiliations, and sometimes even matrimonial unions.
Take, for example, the iconic Kennedy family in the United States.
Many members attended Harvard University in Massachusetts - gaining not just an education but a whole network of influential contacts and friendships that would go on to serve them well in political life.
At these elite institutions, students acquire more than just bookish knowledge - they imbibe a sense of social responsibility, ethical duty, and analytical thinking-skills that later become cornerstones of their public and private lives.
As the old adage advises, "it's not just what you know, but who you know” - and these esteemed universities are the ultimate platform for cultivating such valuable networks.
Understanding the allure of these educational powerhouses for the world’s wealthy, it’s worth exploring how they sustain their exclusive status while attracting the crème de la crème of student talent.
Firstly, the admissions process is stringent.
Aspirants face numerous hurdles and tests designed not just to identify academic prowess - but also to gauge qualities like leadership, integrity, and resourcefulness.
For example, Cambridge values not just academic aptitude but also innovation - a quality mirrored in its diverse student body.
Oxford, meanwhile, places heavy emphasis on individual character and the potential to contribute to their storied history.
The tuition fees can be astronomical-Harvard’s annual cost - just for classes and nothing else - easily exceeds $50,000.
However, for these elite families, it's a long-term investment in their children's futures and the preservation of their family’s social standing.
Legacy additionally plays a role.
Yale and Princeton have histories that span centuries and have been alma maters to numerous presidents, prime ministers, and industry leaders.
The weight of that heritage is compelling for families that have long-standing traditions of attending such schools - and then there are the amenities.
Institutions like Stanford not only offer world-class education, but also boast sprawling campuses featuring state-of-the-art research labs, performing arts centers, and athletic facilities.
And international campuses like Sciences Po in France or E.T.H. Zurich in Switzerland often come with added allure, such as cosmopolitan settings and the promise of mastering other languages and cultures.

[@oldmoneyluxury]

COMMENT: If your bank account allowed it, which of these universities would you want to send your child to in order to walk the same hallowed halls as future Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Billionaires?

[@karmacheese]

None of them, they are all a bunch of twunts.

[@thegoldenstar7477]

Considering the level of current presidents/prime ministers, I'd say the quality and prestige of western schools has decreased significantly. I won't send my child there...

[@childeroland2569]

Zurich, Oxford, or Cambridge

[@myafrosheen]

Has to be Oxbridge or the Ivy Leagues

[@thetimemaster1475]

One of the ivies, Cambridge, or Oxford.

[@JoyjeetGupta]

To be honest, I don't watch this channel's videos just to enlarge my knowledge of loaded people but to learn English 😳 The writings here are so good!!!

[@leas7830]

That's true, language is very clear. I am non-native English speaker too.

[@oldmoneyluxury]

We’re glad to be helpful, one way or another 😊

[@henryh3800]

When considering Oxbridge, Cambridge is much more "Old Money" than Oxford. Magdalene Cambridge, alone, has 9 of the 19 Dukes. I recall when I first went up to Caius from Australia I was chatting to a young man who asked offhandedly, what I had done in the orientation week. I said "I went punting" which he misheard. He thought I said "I went hunting". Suddenly he was highly interested, and asked which hunt it was, and who was leading it. I had to disappoint him!

[@metastract]

Yes! It really is. If you talk to older British generations they automatically assume that Cambridge is more elite because it always has been. Oxford has simply pumped a lot of money into its branding and rankings in recent years.

[@erbiumfiber]

My very middle class American daughter went to Cambridge because, at the time (2007) tuition was only 9000 pounds (about 13,000 US) for international students while US tuition at places like Harvard was about $ 31,000. And, for her major, only 3 years of university. Just an enormous savings over US schools. Also, she wasn't fond of the whole sports obsession at many US schools and focus on all your extracurriculars for admission. Applying in the UK is extremely simple- one application for 5 or 6 universities. Quite simple, took her about one afternoon to do it. Don't think she met too many rich kids, mostly middle class kids like herself. But, very smart and interesting so she was pretty glad she went and I appreciated the huge savings. Oh and I worked with a "To-dai" grad (University of Tokyo) in Japan for six years when I worked for a Japanese company in Tokyo. He was off the charts smart. The entrance exams to get in require going to cram school from middle school onward. If you don't do well on the entrance exams, you aren't going to get in. Period. So all of the graduates are pretty smart- more like MIT than Harvard (MIT has no legacy admissions and never had minority quotas either).

[@jrcreator2257]

@@ooievaar6756I’m an expat in the NL learning Dutch, and I completely agree. I declined the 30% ruling in disgust at how the Dutch government can give such a huge benefit to outsiders over its people. I wanted to buy a 400m brownstone and break it up to add four more apartments to the market. The government will let me buy a giant and unnecessary house for myself, but I’m not allowed to put more apartments on the market for the Dutch people. With all of the rules favoring tenants, combined with rent caps and asinine taxes, it’s not like it’s a profitable venture. It’s simply something I’m capable of doing to help a little, yet the Dutch government says no. Asinine. I often talk to my wife about how ridiculous the taxes are. Ethnic Dutch created a system to support themselves, and now the government gives all of the money to outsiders. Losing 50%+ of your income and receiving virtually nothing for it at all. Healthcare is still €200-500mo. The care itself is terrifying. Public transit still costs money. Wtf are the taxes paying for?? It was cheaper for me to live in Manhattan. Paid the same amounts but very little in taxes comparatively. I’m ecstatic to see that Geert was elected. Much like Trump in the US, I’m hoping that he can form a coalition so that the cabinet can hopefully start removing anyone who doesn’t want to contribute to DUTCH culture. I believe that ALL ethnic Europeans need to stand together in these times, to save our respective cultures and peoples.

[@marciomatos1975]

@@ooievaar6756like yourself, we all from other European Union countries pay for Dutch students into our universities and Erasmus as well…so, we’re even, darling!

[@nikkil764]

Actually where I live, it’s more important where you go to high school than college. High school says where you live, background, social status. College is more random unless you are a legacy. If someone in New Orleans asks where you went to school, they mean high school. That tells them everything about who you are.

[@OldsmobileCutlassSupremeConver]

If a young person w no money, unless exceptional or gets their foot in any door. Especially in the teens. Without an introduction to the other side, no chance. None. My good childhood friend. W Who was a poor Immigrant. The family KILLED IT, in real estate as a family. I was a tag along for a bit, but was shaken off. I have done ok. A bit of wisdom, if you are young. Do Not,, Not Awnser the phone, and do not text old people, it doesn't help you.

[@tuvia4082]

Don't forget that regardless of ones education, they can still be an idiot. Great video, thanks.

[@tmn8547]

🎯🎯

[@lranieri1]

Fascinating! This video might be my favorite one yet. I admit I am mildly fascinated by Ivy league universities and wish I had privilege to attend one.

[@Pharaonin62]

My favourites are Havard, Cambridge and Oxford. Thank you for your documentation.

[@oldmoneyluxury]

Good picks! Thank you for watching.

[@felipesilvapinheiro56]

The list is awesome, however, we need to quote Yale as a important old money university. And just a observation, here in Brazil, we have a important university for the region. University of São Paulo. 8 brazilians presidents came from USP.

[@donnie2832]

I love the architecture of some of these schools

[@tmn8547]

I understand that students at these schools have a great number of connections thus leading to wonderful opportunities when they graduate. I wish all students had this chance.

[@PMSTACKER3000]

In the US, the "old money" schools are sometimes not universally known. Many people have probably never heard of Williams College or Hamilton College, but it is guaranteed that everyone in Greenwich or Darien, CT or Deerfield Academy has. In Canada, as I understand it, which HS one attends is most important. This is probably the case in many countries as the leading universities aren't necessarily elitist.

[@YoungALH]

What are some good HS there?

[@YoYo-gt5iq]

All of my kids will start at Community college. But I've told them if they get into ivy league I will do what I can to pay for it

[@thehapagirl92]

10:34 University of Tokyo has a 35% acceptance rate which is pretty high meaning it’s easy to get in. Princeton has a 4.4% acceptance rate

[@trohan6415]

I went to Princeton when I failed to get into Eton College....I did alright even so.

[@davidc4408]

Princeton rate is because Americans can apply to as many US universities

[@audegottoeaudegottoe363]

Have a wonderful October ! N à great New Year's ! / / thanks

[@itinerantrant]

The footage for University College London seems to all be of other London educational institutions.

[@martintaylor9962]

I didn't go to university and never needed to, So many people who went to university say companies don't care about your degree and they don't.

[@NoctLightCloud]

it's more about networking and skills than the gained knowlegde per se. You can literally learn software development from KZbin. Any language from the internet. Humanities via different sources. But what makes a univeristy degree special is that it shows that you cared enough to show up, attend, and sign in required stuff over and over again over a period of 3~5 years. That's why university degrees still hold value. If you have those qualities anyways without a degree, the company might ofc choose you, but the advantage of having a degree is that you have sth to immediately show the company that you have those qualities.

[@davidc4408]

Best international regarded UK universities of rich are at Oxbridge, Imperial, LSE and Edinburgh

[@sikhumbuzobulose6748]

Harvard and Oxford University are the ultimate status symbol for me as they are a gateway to lifetime connections and opportunities!

[@manuelillanes1635]

Did MIT did not make the cut?

[@reetupaswan8244]

Great video Sir. 😍🥰

[@oldmoneyluxury]

Thank you kindly!

[@katerinsh]

Stanford should be on this list too

[@veemann9644]

Where does Yale University and Duke University rank on this list?

[@maddscientist3170]

Yale ranks 8 now in the US for the Class of 2027 for the Ivys.... Duke is not in the "Top 10" , Stanford & MIT is not Ivy either even tho they high rank schools

[@danielkover7157]

Never mind my children. I'd like to be able go to one of these. Zurich or Oxford would be my choice.

[@Cay30]

I like how your list is quite international

[@oldmoneyluxury]

Thank you!

[@akacad]

You missed University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering in Bangalore, India. The list looks good otherwise.

[@marktweet7395]

Could join the rowing team!

[@dereksalas8195]

Stanford, not on this list, would be where I’d want my kid to go. I’d like them to continue the family legacy into the fourth generation.

[@NoctLightCloud]

Fourth generation? I wish your family the best for continuing that tradition then😃

[@akacad]

If i was a 3rd generation Stanford graduate, I would find a way to boast about it as well.😂 well done. Wish your kid all the best.

[@lauren9004]

Interesting

[@nicolosito]

A good list which could have been enlarged to include Stanford and Yale. It is interesting that no German Universities were included which reflects two things: first education in Germany is more egalitarian than it used to be and where you work and how you live has more to do with family background and connections than which university you attended and second, the decline in standards at even the best universities there. For example in the 1930's Oppenheimer chose to do his PhD at Göttingen University rather than Harvard or Cambridge which he also attended since Göttingen at that time was the leading university for physics in the whole world. No more.

[@johnnydawson7675]

No mention of Cal Tech...

[@StefanoLi]

Oxbridge + HYPSM + one school from continental Europe (eg. ENS, ETH) Just my 2 cents.

[@trohan6415]

You failed.....to add Eton College. Taylor of Old Bond Street even makes a shave cream dedicated to the same school our future King attended. Eton College is quite all that.

[@xyz987123abc]

Is Eton not more of a middle and high school despite its name?

[@irmiux-runner-lover396]

Is not a college is pre-college. England says university not College for after high school!

[@guardianangel100percent]

Koktail is exclisipe

[@RamonRodriguez-hq7vn]

I don't have the money at the moment, but my descendants will. I am picking Harvard, not because I am an American; but for two reasons. First it's rated number one globally, second it's close to home.

[@alejandrobustamante7964]

Try Oxford or Cambridge instead…and stay in Europe after graduating, be smart.

[@stevensproull9388]

Faber College deserves a honorable mention...

[@joevelte4252]

You have to pick the right frat there.

[@starguy2718]

Just remember to stay off double secret probation.

[@eluisse]

Columbia University is not included in this list despite being an excellent Ivy League. For my children Harvard and Columbia Are two choices.

[@royalusala8527]

Am sure if the list was top 10 or 15 then Columbia would be in there definitely

[@mckinseyand2022]

UC Berkeley and UCLA are much tougher to get into than Oxford and Cambridge.

[@jessjmanns]

No Yale? With all its allumni odd?

[@Molaleni]

This video assumes that all Draco Malfoys at these school are intelligent.

[@tonyconiglio6941]

The amount of money you have is basically irrelevant. You can't buy your child a place in these institutions with money alone unless you pay like $20 million.

[@glps6167]

The video failed to mention the Cambridge Five (Spy Ring)

[@Inmyownleague]

What were their names ???

[@droidgracie4121]

3:15 “The admission process is stringent”. Two words: “Affirmative Action”. For the sake of diversity, schools such as Harvard would rather let in minorities despite inferior qualifications over more deserving but “over represented” Asians.

[@tmn8547]

Could it be that those minorities were admitted due to good grades or only because of AA? Also, aren’t Asians minorities too? What about students admitted because of legacy?

[@stefan_gribi]

I would send my child to ETH Zurich or to Harvard.

[@caiusKeys]

MIT isn't an Ivy League school

[@maddscientist3170]

no but you can cross register with Harvard for the humanities...daughter got accepted at both, also declined CalTech, but wound up going to UPenn for undergrad /she was dual degree....more suited for what she wanted & was interested in

[@henryh3800]

Interesting handle and my almer mater. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonville_and_Caius_College,_Cambridge

[@caiusKeys]

@@maddscientist3170 Know that cuz did it

[@Richardsonprincess00]

Hiw about women's colleges added?

[@Richardsonprincess00]

*How & *it (end) Sorry for the typo

[@OldsmobileCutlassSupremeConver]

Probably Not WOAK Harvard I hear it's going to be really Tough for a Anyone w a Law degree from Harvard to get a real job.

[@Heru2088]

Great data, I will Send Heir’s to Cornel, and, Japan, and, Harvard

[@johnbethea4505]

I went to normal schools until i went to military schools in service. Coming from a family of warriors, i know what the real world is like. I have known many millionaires and/or intelligent people who have not finished high schools or have not gone to college. In the eating scene, the one guy didn't know how to hold his fork properly, poor etiquette.

[@forward_ever_ever2595]

Yes their usniversities & there are Universities. One set provides labourers whilst the other like in this provides leaders & innovators

[@johnbethea4505]

@@forward_ever_ever2595 future leaders are groomed from mostly early years..

[@keithgubbin2354]

Sir John Major KG did not attend university, let alone Cambridge!

[@wagmi614]

has prince williams on the thumbnail, doesn't even mention st andrews lol

[@AT-kx6fj]

Because William wasn't very bright, as we know, to study at Cambridge or Oxford!

[@wagmi614]

@@AT-kx6fj lol

[@tarawhite4419]

And then they go to hell

[@mikael807]

The irony is that Kate and William went to St Andrews University.

[@AT-kx6fj]

Because William wasn't very bright, as we know, to study at Cambridge or Oxford, and Kate Middleton stalked him to Saint Andrew!! She then signed up for every class and activity William took!

[@natasharostova5186]

and both went for entirely symbolic pretty much useless geography degrees😬

[@AT-kx6fj]

@@natasharostova5186 In the first year, they studied art history, but it was obvious that it was too difficult for them!!!

[@natasharostova5186]

Let's say Harvard is losing its mark. All woke schools are.

[@starguy2718]

Too many jump-cuts in the video, and a rushed narration from a nasally Brit. What's the big hurry? Got to catch a flight or something?

[@l.carlossimental6096]

Seriously, this is a silly video with its fake English accent moderator. The children of the elite White upper class are not going to socialize and network with students from middle class and working class backgrounds, especially minority students. Also, the cost of these “elite” universities filters out people from lower economic class, thus maintaining the White dominated class structure. Merit has nothing to do with this considering how many “legacy” students they admit. Save your money, your kid’s mental health and your kid’s self esteem and send your kid to a top notch public university instead.

[@davidc4408]

If you do not come from an upper class wealthy family, you create an upper class wealthy family. Never feel intimidated.

[@marciomatos1975]

Hard to believe how wokenism took over these places