John Sperling is an American businessman who has a net worth of $1.2 billion dollars. That net worth makes John Sperling one of the richest people in Arizona. Born in the Ozarks, John Sperling grew up poor, and then joined the merchant marines. After leaving the marines, he wandered for a few years, before earning his undergraduate degree at Reed College.
He then went on to earn a Masters from UC-Berkeley, and a PhD in Economics from the University of Cambridge. Mr. Sperling launched the Apollo Group in 1973. Three years later, he launched Phoenix University, a higher learning institution for working adults, beginning with only eight students. By the early 80s, the school had expanded to California, and subsequently launched an online university eight years later. Since then, enrollment has exploded, and Phoenix University currently has over 420,000 undergraduate students, and 78,000 graduate students worldwide. The Apollo Group now overseas Phoenix University, Olympus High School, the Insight Schools, which are online high schools, Axia College, and Western International University.
| Net Worth: | $1.2 Billion |
| Date of Birth: | 1921 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nationality: | United States of America |