20 Youngest Self Made Billionaires in 2025
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The faces of extreme wealth are getting younger. In 2025, a new generation of entrepreneurs has reshaped industries from AI and crypto to design software and social media—building companies that changed how people work, communicate, and invest. These men and women are not heirs; they’re builders who turned bold ideas into fortunes before hitting middle age. This list of the youngest self-made billionaires in 2025 showcases the innovators who show where wealth, power, and influence are headed next.
At a Glance
- The youngest self-made billionaire in 2025 is Alexandr Wang (28, $3.2B, Scale AI).
- Lucy Guo (30, $1.3B, Scale AI/Passes) is the youngest self-made woman on the list.
- Tech dominates: AI, fintech, crypto, and social platforms account for most fortunes.
- Canva’s Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht (both late 30s, $7.6B each) show global reach in design software.
Methodology
- Data sourced from Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, World’s Billionaires List 2025, and Forbes “Youngest Billionaires” features.
- Ages and net worths reflect mid-to-late 2025 reporting; figures fluctuate with markets and valuations.
- Only self-made fortunes included; heirs and inherited wealth excluded.
Alexandr Wang
At just 28 years old, Alexandr Wang is the cofounder and CEO of Scale AI, with a net worth of $3.2 billion (Forbes). Wang built Scale in 2016 to supply clean training data for artificial intelligence, a service that became critical as AI adoption exploded. Today, his company serves OpenAI, U.S. defense agencies, and global corporations, making him the youngest self-made billionaire in 2025.
- Founded Scale AI at 19 while studying at MIT
- Provides AI data infrastructure to top labs and enterprises
- Youngest self-made billionaire listed by Forbes in 2025
Ed Craven
Australian entrepreneur Ed Craven, 29, has a net worth of $2.8 billion (Forbes). He cofounded Stake.com, a crypto betting platform that grew into one of the biggest online gambling sites in the world. Craven reinvested in digital entertainment, backing Kick, a livestreaming service competing with Twitch, which cemented his role in gaming and creator culture.
- Cofounder of Stake.com, one of the largest crypto gambling platforms
- Investor in Kick, a creator-first streaming platform
- Wealth rooted in online gaming and digital assets
Lucy Guo
Lucy Guo, aged 30, became the youngest self-made woman billionaire in 2025 with a net worth of $1.3 billion (Forbes). Her early stake in Scale AI and her new venture, Passes, a subscription platform for creators, built her fortune. Guo also invests in early-stage startups, carving out a unique spot as one of tech’s few female billionaires.
- Cofounded Scale AI before launching Passes
- Recognized as the youngest self-made female billionaire in 2025
- Active angel investor in Silicon Valley startups
Vitalik Buterin
Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin, 31, holds a net worth of about $1.0 billion (Forbes). He wrote Ethereum’s white paper at 19, and his wealth today fluctuates with the price of ETH. Buterin is widely respected for his technical insight and commitment to decentralized, open systems.
- Cofounder of Ethereum, launched in 2015
- Personal wealth largely in ETH token holdings
- Advocates for public goods and blockchain ethics
Palmer Luckey
Palmer Luckey, 32, has a net worth of $3.6 billion (Forbes). He sold Oculus VR to Meta in 2014, then reinvented himself by founding Anduril, a defense tech firm specializing in AI and autonomous systems. Anduril’s government contracts and rapid growth have made him one of the wealthiest tech founders under 35.
- Founded Anduril Industries, valued above $14B in 2025
- Innovator in both VR and defense technology
Ben Francis
At 33, Ben Francis is the founder of Gymshark and has a net worth of $1.3 billion (Forbes). Starting out in his garage with little more than sewing machines, he grew Gymshark into a billion-dollar fitness apparel brand. His use of influencers and social media was ahead of its time and remains central to the brand’s success.
- Founded Gymshark in 2012 at age 19
- Majority shareholder of the UK’s fastest-growing apparel brand
- Expanded from grassroots to a global direct-to-consumer model
John Collison
Stripe cofounder John Collison, 35, has a net worth of $10.1 billion (Forbes). As president of Stripe, he helped transform online payments, powering startups and Fortune 500s alike. Stripe is valued at $65B, making both Collison brothers among the richest young entrepreneurs in fintech.
- Cofounded Stripe in 2010
- Stripe processes payments for millions worldwide
- Expanded into lending, fraud detection, and tax automation
Evan Spiegel
Evan Spiegel, 35, is CEO and cofounder of Snap, and his net worth is $2.6 billion. Despite competition from TikTok and Instagram, Snapchat continues to dominate Gen Z’s attention. Spiegel’s vision of Snapchat as a camera company built on AR has kept him in billionaire status.
- Launched Snapchat in 2011 as a Stanford project
- AR filters and lenses drive Snap’s engagement
- Maintains significant control of Snap Inc.
Patrick Collison
Patrick Collison, 36, shares a $10.1 billion (Forbes) fortune with his brother John. As CEO, he has led Stripe into international expansion and financial services beyond payments. Patrick is also a public intellectual, often speaking about innovation policy and economic growth.
- Cofounded Stripe with John in 2010
- Oversees long-term fintech strategy
- Major advocate for science and technology progress
Bobby Murphy
Bobby Murphy, 37, is Snap’s cofounder and CTO, with a net worth of $2.0 billion (Forbes). He is the architect behind Snap’s technical systems, from its original backend to its AR features. Murphy’s equity and continued role at Snap make him one of the youngest billionaires in tech.
- Built Snapchat’s backend and core AR technology
- Oversees Snap’s engineering teams
- Holds a large personal stake in Snap
Daniela Amodei
At 37, Daniela Amodei cofounded Anthropic and holds a net worth of $1.2 billion (Forbes). As president, she manages operations, fundraising, and partnerships. Under her leadership, Anthropic’s Claude AI models have become major enterprise tools.
- Cofounded Anthropic in 2021
- Guided company to $60B valuation in 2025
- Advocate for responsible AI development
Nikhil Kamath
Nikhil Kamath, 38, is India’s youngest billionaire with a net worth of $3.45 billion (Forbes). He cofounded Zerodha, the country’s largest stock brokerage, offering zero-commission trading. His wealth stands out because Zerodha is highly profitable compared to other fintechs.
- Zerodha dominates India’s brokerage industry
- Co-runs True Beacon, a wealth management firm
- Focuses on startup mentorship and philanthropy
Vlad Tenev
At 38, Vlad Tenev has a net worth of $5.8 billion (Forbes). He co-founded Robinhood, making stock trading accessible to millions with a zero-commission model. Robinhood has since expanded into crypto and retirement products, broadening its reach.
- Cofounded Robinhood in 2013
- Took company public in 2021
- Leading voice in democratizing finance
Melanie Perkins
Melanie Perkins, 38, is CEO of Canva with a net worth of $7.6 billion (Forbes). She scaled Canva into a design software used in classrooms, startups, and enterprises worldwide. Perkins is widely recognized as one of the richest female founders in tech.
- Cofounded Canva in 2013 in Sydney
- Scaled freemium design software globally
- Expanded into AI-assisted design and enterprise
Cliff Obrecht
At 39, Cliff Obrecht shares a $7.6 billion (Forbes). fortune with his wife and Canva cofounder Melanie Perkins. As COO, he has overseen operations, culture, and global expansion. Together, they built one of the world’s most valuable private startups.
- Co-runs Canva alongside Perkins
- Drives scaling and partnerships
- Keeps focus on company culture and mission
Josh Kushner
Josh Kushner, 40, has a net worth of $5.2 billion (Forbes). He founded Thrive Capital, which invested early in Stripe, Robinhood, and OpenAI. Kushner’s venture bets and GP stakes have made him one of the richest young investors.
- Founded Thrive Capital in 2009
- Invested in leading fintech and AI firms
- Combines venture with social impact work
Baiju Bhatt
Baiju Bhatt, 40, co-founded Robinhood and has a net worth of $6.9 billion (Forbes). He helped design Robinhood’s simple, viral app and remains a major shareholder. Bhatt is among the wealthiest Indian-American entrepreneurs in 2025.
- Cofounded Robinhood with Vlad Tenev
- Designed brand and user experience
- Holds a significant founder stake
Pavel Durov
Pavel Durov, 40, is worth $17.1 billion (Forbes) as founder of Telegram. Known for his strong privacy stance, Durov built Telegram into one of the most-used messaging apps globally. Telegram Premium and business features introduced in recent years boosted his fortune.
- Founded Telegram in 2013
- Promotes privacy and free expression
- Monetized with premium subscriptions
Drew Houston
Drew Houston, 42, has a net worth of $2.4 billion (Forbes). He co-founded Dropbox, pioneering consumer cloud storage. Today, Dropbox focuses on enterprise collaboration and AI features, keeping Houston on billionaire lists.
- Launched Dropbox in 2007 at MIT
- Pioneered cloud storage for everyday users
- Expanded into enterprise productivity
Austin Russell
Austin Russell, 30, has a net worth of $1.1 billion (Forbes). He dropped out of Stanford to found Luminar, a company building lidar systems for autonomous vehicles. Despite stock volatility, Russell remains one of the world’s youngest billionaires in tech.
- Founded Luminar in 2012
- Supplies lidar to automakers like Volvo
- Youngest billionaire globally in 2021 at 25
Final Word
The youngest self-made billionaires in 2025 prove that age is no barrier to creating transformative companies. From Alexandr Wang at 28 to Drew Houston at 42, these founders built fortunes by betting on fast-growing industries like AI, crypto, fintech, and design software. Their stories show how innovation, equity, and scale can make billionaires in record time.
