Lucy Guo, a 30-year-old tech entrepreneur, has made headlines by dethroning pop superstar Taylor Swift as the youngest self-made female billionaire, according to Forbes. Guo's impressive rise to wealth is rooted in her involvement with Scale AI, a company she co-founded in 2016, which specializes in labeling data for artificial intelligence systems.
Guo's journey began in Fremont, California, where she was raised by Chinese immigrant parents who both worked as electrical engineers. From an early age, Guo demonstrated a keen interest in technology and entrepreneurship, starting to earn money online through gaming platforms like Neopets and RuneScape by second grade. Her early ventures included selling Pokémon cards and creating websites filled with ads to generate income.
After excelling in her studies, Guo enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University, majoring in computer science and human-computer interaction. However, she dropped out in 2014 after receiving the prestigious Thiel Fellowship, which offers talented young students $100,000 to pursue innovative projects outside of traditional education.
Following her departure from Carnegie Mellon, Guo interned at major tech companies, including Facebook and Snapchat, where she became the first female designer. It was during her time at Quora that she met Alexandr Wang, with whom she co-founded Scale AI when she was just 21 years old. The company has since gained significant recognition and is currently valued at around $25 billion, although it has faced scrutiny regarding its profitability.
Guo stepped away from Scale AI in 2018, yet she retained an estimated 5% equity stake in the company, which has seen substantial growth in value. According to Forbes, her net worth is currently estimated at $1.25 billion, placing her among only six self-made women billionaires under the age of 40 globally.
In addition to her work with Scale AI, Guo has continued to build her entrepreneurial portfolio. She co-founded Backend Capital, a venture capital firm aimed at supporting emerging engineering talent, and launched Passes in 2022, a platform designed to help content creators monetize their work. This platform has quickly gained traction, raising $40 million in a Series A funding round by 2024.
Despite her recent success, Guo remains grounded about her billionaire status. "I don’t really think about it much, it’s a bit wild. Too bad it’s all on paper haha," she shared with Forbes after learning of her new title.
While Guo's achievements are noteworthy, it is essential to consider the context of her rise. Taylor Swift, now 35, remains a formidable figure in the entertainment industry with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion, largely attributed to her successful music career and extensive touring. Swift's wealth includes $600 million from touring and royalties, $600 million from her music catalog, and $125 million in real estate holdings.
Guo's ascent as a billionaire has sparked discussions about the definition of "self-made" wealth. Critics point out that both Guo and Swift benefited from supportive family backgrounds, which provided them with opportunities that are not accessible to everyone. Swift's father was a VP at Merrill Lynch, while Guo's parents were able to send her to a prestigious university.
As the billionaire rankings continue to evolve, Guo's story highlights the rapidly changing landscape of wealth creation in the tech industry. Her success serves as an inspiration for many aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women in technology, who face unique challenges in a male-dominated field.
In the grand scheme of things, Guo's journey reflects a broader trend of young innovators making their mark in the world. While she may have taken the title from Swift, both women exemplify the diverse paths to success in today's economy.
As of April 2025, Guo stands as a testament to the potential of young entrepreneurs. With her ongoing ventures and commitment to empowering others, she is poised to continue making waves in the tech industry and beyond.
