Scott ThompsonIt's a shake-up that's still reverberating through the business world: Thompson, 54, of Yahoo has lost his chief executive's position at Yahoo while also reportedly telling the board he's been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Thompson apologized to employeeIt's a shake-up that's still reverberating through the business world: Thompson, 54, of Yahoo has lost his chief executive's position at Yahoo while also reportedly telling the board he's been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Thompson apologized to employees of the troubled Internet company last week and has been replaced at Yahoo, on an interim basis, by Ross Levinsohn, who was formerly Yahoo's executive vice president of the Americas region.Yodel Anecdotal/Yahoo! Inc.Frank AbagnaleMade famous by the novel about his life, Catch Me If You Can – later a film starring Leonardio DiCaprio – Frank Abagnale forged a law degree from Harvard, passed the Louisiana State bar, and worked for awhile in a state attorney general’s office. He laterMade famous by the novel about his life, Catch Me If You Can – later a film starring Leonardio DiCaprio – Frank Abagnale forged a law degree from Harvard, passed the Louisiana State bar, and worked for awhile in a state attorney general’s office. He later forged a degree from Columbia University and taught school. The fibs were clearly a pattern: He had also impersonated a pediatrician and pilot earlier on. He served three prison terms.Dreamworks SKGDavid EdmondsonThe former chief executive of RadioShack Corporation claimed that he held diplomas in psychology and theology from Pacific Coast Baptist in San Diego, California – but there was no evidence, as it turned out, that Edmondson ever graduated from the collegeThe former chief executive of RadioShack Corporation claimed that he held diplomas in psychology and theology from Pacific Coast Baptist in San Diego, California – but there was no evidence, as it turned out, that Edmondson ever graduated from the college. He was finally terminated from his CEO position – or, as Forbes put it, “Busted for faking his college degree.”Rob KalinConsidered a visionary but also eccentric, Rob Kalin co-founded the profitable e-commerce startup Etsy. He’s since stepped down twice from the chief executive role. He dropped out of high school with a D-minus average but gained admission to a studio progConsidered a visionary but also eccentric, Rob Kalin co-founded the profitable e-commerce startup Etsy. He’s since stepped down twice from the chief executive role. He dropped out of high school with a D-minus average but gained admission to a studio program at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts on the strength of a portfolio, according to degreescout.com. He later forged graduate credentials so that he could attend design classes at MIT. Kalin does have a legitimate degree in Classics, apparently, from NYU.Etsy.comMarilee JonesThe former admissions dean at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) claimed she was a “scientist with degrees in biology from Rennsalear Polytechnic Institute and the Albany Medical College,” and that she held a doctorate. She resigned from her jobThe former admissions dean at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) claimed she was a “scientist with degrees in biology from Rennsalear Polytechnic Institute and the Albany Medical College,” and that she held a doctorate. She resigned from her job in April 2007 after officials learned of her fabrications – which she eventually admitted. “I did not have the courage to correct my resume when I applied for my current job or at any time since,” she said then.CBSNewsRonald ZarrellaTalk about bluffing and puffing your way through your academic credentials. Zarrella, former CEO of Bausch & Lomb, asserted for 10 years in his biography that he held an MBA from New York University’s business school. In reality, he had begun the programTalk about bluffing and puffing your way through your academic credentials. Zarrella, former CEO of Bausch & Lomb, asserted for 10 years in his biography that he held an MBA from New York University’s business school. In reality, he had begun the program – but never actually finished it. He was forced to return a $1.1 million bonus from Bausch & Lomb that could've grown to much more than that.REUTERS/Sue OgrockiGeorge O'LearyFormer Notre Dame head football coach O’Leary said he held a master’s degree from NYU-Stony Brook University, though such a school does not actually exist (they’re two separate institutions). His resume also said his undergraduate alma mater, University oFormer Notre Dame head football coach O’Leary said he held a master’s degree from NYU-Stony Brook University, though such a school does not actually exist (they’re two separate institutions). His resume also said his undergraduate alma mater, University of New Hampshire, gave him three letters in football, but he never played a single game (he did graduate in 1968). O’Leary resigned from the Fighting Irish after admitting to “resume padding” and eventually landed at the University of Central Florida as head football coach.Chris Gent/WikimediaJeff PapowsThe former CEO and president of Lotus Corporation, Papows was found by The Wall Street Journal in 1999 to have exaggerated his military record (he was a lieutenant, it turns out, not a captain) and to have faked his educational credentials (he did not havThe former CEO and president of Lotus Corporation, Papows was found by The Wall Street Journal in 1999 to have exaggerated his military record (he was a lieutenant, it turns out, not a captain) and to have faked his educational credentials (he did not have a PhD from Pepperdine University, as he claimed). He eventually resigned from Lotus and told staff in a memo, "I would like to once again lead an independent organization."REUTERS/Luc Novovitch
