Does UX require a degree?

I've been hearing a lot about the importance of UX, or user experience, in design and development. It seems to be a crucial factor in making products and services more intuitive and enjoyable for users. But I'm wondering, does UX really require a degree? Can someone with a passion for improving user interfaces and a natural talent for understanding people's needs succeed in this field without formal education? Or is a degree in a related field, like human-computer interaction or design, essential for breaking into the UX industry?