I was a self-taught programmer,
then I finished programming courses in a CPE 3rd degree "Programmer" with specialty in Software.
It was so easy, with already being self-taught I basically just went in, took the diploma and ran to McDonold's for some pies.
I started with making games in a highly performance-sensitive environment, then was the diploma then I became 14 yo and started real-man projects. I worked for browserling at some point, because it is awesome and now what I do - shall yet remain unrevealed.
Something big is coming.