Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Passes
Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Passes
San Francisco tech entrepreneur Lucy Guo has officially been named the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire, according to Forbes.
The 30-year-old co-founder of Scale AI surpasses music superstar Taylor Swift, 35, who held the title since 2023.
Guo’s rise comes as Scale AI, a 9-year-old data-labeling startup, prepares to close a major tender offer that allows early investors and employees to cash out. The deal, expected to be finalized by June 1, values the company at $25 billion, an 80% increase from its $13.8 billion valuation in May 2024.
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Taylor Swift performs at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on July 28, 2023. San Francisco tech entrepreneur Lucy Guo has officially surpassed Swift as the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire, according to Forbes.
Jessica Christian/S.F. Chronicle
Guo, a San Francisco native and college dropout, launched the company at age 21 alongside Alexandr Wang, now CEO and himself the world’s youngest self-made billionaire with a net worth of $3.6 billion.
Although Guo left the company in 2018 following a disagreement with Wang, she retained a nearly 5% stake, now worth close to $1.2 billion.
“I don’t really think about it much, it’s a bit wild. Too bad it’s all on paper haha,” Guo told Forbes via text.
Following her departure from Scale, Guo went on to found Passes, a subscription platform for creators. She is now one of just six self-made female billionaires under 40, and the only one to earn the bulk of her fortune from a company she no longer runs.
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According to Forbes, these are the world’s youngest self-made female billionaires, women who built their fortunes through their own businesses or careers. The list excludes those who inherited wealth, received it through divorce settlements or relied on family fame.
Lucy Guo, Devon Townsend and Jabari Young speak during the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit at Detroit Opera House on Oct. 3, 2022, in Detroit. Guo, co-founder of San Francisco’s Scale AI, surpassed Taylor Swift as the youngest self-made female billionaire, according to Forbes.
Taylor Hill/Getty Images
Age: 30Net worth: $1.25 billionCountry: United States
Source of wealth: AI
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Age: 35Net worth: $1.6 billionCountry: United States
Source of wealth: music
Age: 37Net worth: $1.2 billionCountry: United States
Source of wealth: AI
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Age: 37Net worth: $5.7 billionCountry: Australia
Source of wealth: software
Age: 37Net worth: $1.4 billionCountry: Barbados
Source of wealth: cosmetics, music
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Age: 37Net worth: $1.1 billionCountry: China
Source of wealth: jewelry
