‘Million Dollar Listing’ star Fredrik Eklund says Gen Z doesn’t need a college degree to make it in real estate: ‘You’ve gotta be out on the streets’

Core Insights - The real estate industry offers significant opportunities for success without the necessity of a four-year degree, as exemplified by Fredrik Eklund's career [1][2] - Eklund emphasizes the importance of practical skills such as communication and negotiation over formal education in achieving success in real estate [3][4] Group 1: Fredrik Eklund's Background and Achievements - Fredrik Eklund leads a real estate team that has closed $15 billion in property sales, with $3.77 billion in sales recorded in 2023 alone across multiple states [1][2] - Eklund moved to the U.S. from Stockholm without a real estate degree, initially selling paninis before establishing a successful career in real estate [2] - His clientele includes high-profile individuals such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lopez, showcasing his prominence in the luxury real estate market [2] Group 2: Education and Skills in Real Estate - Eklund suggests that a four-year college degree is not essential for entering the real estate field, as he completed an accelerated course at NYU lasting only two to three weeks [2] - While formal education can provide some foundational knowledge, Eklund argues that critical skills like negotiation and market knowledge are best learned through real-world experience [3][4] - The real estate profession is described as data-driven, requiring extensive knowledge of properties, market conditions, and effective communication skills [4]