Ivy League Educations Don't Pay off on the Silver Screen

A Harvard degree might guarantee you a six-figure salary in some professions, but a recent study suggests that in Hollywood, brains don't always translate into bucks.

Among famous actors, those who graduated from top Ivy League schools earn less money than their degree-less counterparts.

In fact, most of the big bucks in Hollywood are going to the least educated, says an article in the August issue of Glamour magazine.

Demi Moore, a high school dropout and Hollywood's highest paid actress, is getting $12.5 million for her upcoming movie "Striptease," the magazine reports. By contrast, Meryl Streep, who has a master of fine arts degree from Yale, earned between $4 and $5 million for "The Bridges of Madison County," Glamour says.

The magazine listed high school dropouts who have struck it rich in Hollywood, including Keanu Reeves and 1993 Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Whoopi Goldberg.

Glamour also named Bruce Willis, Tom Hanks, Sylvester Stallone and Tom Cruise as actors who receive more than $15 million per film but who have not received a college diploma.

Some intellectual celebrities who have struck it rich, however, include:

Yale graduate Jodie Foster, who was paid $6 million for "Nell" and who was roasted by the Hasty Pudding Theatricals as Woman of the Year in 1992.

Tommy Lee Jones '69, who earned his A.B. cum laude in English and now commands $5 million per film.

. Glenn close, who was Phi Beta Kappa atWilliam and Mary and who last year was paid $2million to star in Ron Howard's "The paper."

. Cambridge graduate Emma Thompson, who earned$1.5 million for "Junior."

"It was pretty depressing to find out that thepeople who are making the highest money inHollywood are the least educated, because we takeeverything they say so seriously," said CharlaKrupp, Glamour's entertainment editor.

"A lot of these people think of college as afour year delay," Krupp said. "Especially becauseyouth is so valued."

In the course of preparing their article, Kruppsaid Glamour reporter Catherine Seipp foundthat many more celebrity women received highereducations than their male counter parts.

Krupp was quick to add, however, that: "Justbecause someone didn't go to college doesn't meanthey're stupid.

. Glenn close, who was Phi Beta Kappa atWilliam and Mary and who last year was paid $2million to star in Ron Howard's "The paper."

. Cambridge graduate Emma Thompson, who earned$1.5 million for "Junior."

"It was pretty depressing to find out that thepeople who are making the highest money inHollywood are the least educated, because we takeeverything they say so seriously," said CharlaKrupp, Glamour's entertainment editor.

"A lot of these people think of college as afour year delay," Krupp said. "Especially becauseyouth is so valued."

In the course of preparing their article, Kruppsaid Glamour reporter Catherine Seipp foundthat many more celebrity women received highereducations than their male counter parts.

Krupp was quick to add, however, that: "Justbecause someone didn't go to college doesn't meanthey're stupid.