Sure, but because he dropped out of school it would be a huge stretch to say Bill Gates is an "academic". It's not a stretch to say he's an "intellectual" thoug

Sure, but because he dropped out of school it would be a huge stretch to say Bill Gates is an "academic". It's not a stretch to say he's an "intellectual" though, probably? I guess to GP, you have to be an academic to be part of the "intellectual class." In any case, the comment's point would be way clearer if the poster had expressed it without so much snark.