At just 30 years old, tech entrepreneur Lucy Guo has claimed the title of the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire, surpassing pop icon Taylor Swift, according to Forbes. Guo’s meteoric rise is fueled by her nearly 5% stake in Scale AI, the San Francisco-based AI data-labeling startup she co-founded in 2016 at age 21 with Alexandr Wang. A tender offer valuing Scale AI at $25 billion—an 80% jump from its $13.8 billion valuation in May 2024—has propelled Guo’s net worth to an estimated $1.3 billion, unseating Swift, 35, who held the title since 2023 with a $1.6 billion fortune.
Guo, a Carnegie Mellon dropout and Thiel Fellow, left Scale AI in 2018 after a reported disagreement with Wang but retained her equity, a decision that has proven exceptionally lucrative. Since then, she’s forged ahead with new ventures, co-founding Backend Capital, a venture capital firm, and launching Passes in 2022, a creator monetization platform akin to Patreon, which has raised $50 million and signed stars like Olivia Dunne and Shaquille O’Neal. Despite a controversial lawsuit against Passes alleging underage content issues—which Guo and the company firmly deny—her achievements mark her as a standout in tech.
Raised in Fremont, California, by Chinese immigrant parents, Guo taught herself coding in middle school and embodies the Silicon Valley dream. Her disciplined lifestyle, from daily Barry’s Bootcamp workouts to 12-hour workdays, reflects her relentless drive. Posts on X celebrate her as a “masterclass in playing the long game,” highlighting her strategic retention of Scale AI shares. Guo joins an elite group of six self-made women billionaires under 40, uniquely deriving most of her wealth from a company she no longer works at.
As AI continues to reshape industries, Guo’s journey underscores the transformative power of innovation and resilience. Her ascent signals a new era for women in tech, inspiring entrepreneurs worldwide. Stay tuned for more on this dynamic leader’s next moves.
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