Meet Lucy Guo, a tech pioneer who, at just 30 years old, holds the title of the world’s youngest self‑made billionaire. With a net worth of approximately $1.3 billion, she’s reshaping what it means to be young, smart, and fearless in the startup world. Let’s dive into her story—how she got here, what drives her, and why her journey stands out.
A Childhood of Hustle
Lucy’s entrepreneurial spirit sparked early. Raised by immigrant parents in Fremont, California, she didn’t just have childhood dreams—she built mini-businesses:
- Selling Pokémon cards and colored pencils as a second grader
- Coding bots for Neopets and selling virtual assets
- Learning tech on her own and hustling with a Home Depot debit card before middle school
Education & Bold Choices
Accepted into Carnegie Mellon University to study Computer Science, Lucy made a daring move—she dropped out after winning the prestigious Thiel Fellowship, a $100,000 grant for young innovators. This unexpected path gave her the freedom to pursue bigger dreams
The Scale AI Story
In 2016, Lucy co‑founded Scale AI, a company specializing in data labeling and AI infrastructure. Her former internship experiences at Snapchat and Quora helped her shape the company’s vision and growth strategy
Here’s how things unfolded:
- Early equity in Scale AI gave Lucy a solid stake in its explosive success
- In mid‑2025, a major milestone arrived: Meta’s acquisition of a 49% stake in Scale AI valued the company at $25 billion, propelling Lucy’s net worth to that $1.3 billion mark
Entrepreneurial Ventures Beyond Scale AI
Lucy didn’t stop there. She’s a serial founder and investor:
- Launched Backend Capital, a VC firm funding early-stage engineering startups
- Founded Passes, a creator economy platform (raising $40 million), focused on safe, subscription-based content—though it’s faced recent legal challenges
What Makes Her Story Special
- She’s driven by curiosity, not inheritance.
- Her rise involved bold educational and career choices.
- She’s a trailblazer in AI, investing in the future while building it.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
| Name | Lucy Guo |
| Age | 30 years old (as of 2025) |
| Net Worth | ~$1.3 billion |
| Known For | Co‑founding Scale AI |
| Meta Buyout | Meta bought 49% of Scale AI (~$25B valuation) |
FAQs
Q: Who is the world’s youngest self-made billionaire?
A: It’s Lucy Guo, co-founder of Scale AI, with a net worth of about $1.3 billion.
Q: How did she earn her wealth?
A: Through early equity in Scale AI, which was bought into by Meta at a $25 billion valuation.
Q: Did she graduate from college?
A: No—she dropped out of Carnegie Mellon after winning a Thiel Fellowship.
Q: What other businesses has she founded?
A: She founded Backend Capital (a venture firm) and Passes, a creator economy platform.
Q: What makes her story inspirational?
A: Lucy’s path shows that bold choices, early hustle, and a willingness to innovate can lead to extraordinary success—even without the typical routes.
Lucy Guo’s journey is a powerful reminder that innovation, grit, and vision can rewrite the rules. From selling Pokémon cards as a kid to becoming the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, she shows us that sometimes, the road less traveled can lead to extraordinary destinations.
