Who is James Asquith? Meet the multimillionaire CEO and youngest man to visit every country in the world
GLOBE TROTTER James Asquith is the founder of the Airbnb rival platform Holiday Swap, and the founder and CEO of Global Airlines.
In addition to being one of the youngest people to visit all 196 sovereign nations, he's also one of the nation's youngest millionaires - here's what we know about him.
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Who is James Asquith?
James Asquith is a 35-year-old entrepreneur, world record holder, author, and influencer with 1.1million followers as of May 2025 on Instagram.
He flew to his first country outside of the UK - Lithuania - in 2001, and then visited a further 195 nations between 2008 and 2011, setting his world record as the youngest man to visit every sovereign country at the age of 24.
James graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from The London School of Economics and Political Science in 2011, then worked investment banker in London for seven years before founding his two business ventures: Holiday Swap and Global Airlines.
Although not much else is known about his early life, he and his wife Robyn tied the knot on June 8, 2024, and the pair are expecting their first child in September 2025.
With a net worth of £183million, he's the 25th wealthiest person on the 2025 Rich List.
James has held his Guinness World Record title since 2011 - although his crown may soon be handed over to 23-year-old Luca Pferdmenges, who claims to have completed the same task in April 2025.
What is Holiday Swap?
Rivalling the likes of Airbnb, Holiday Swap is a home exchange platform aiming to make accommodation abroad more affordable, with a similar user experience to a dating app.
'You have a picture of a property and you swipe,' James told Business Insider. 'A lot of people who've used it said 'I feel like I'm on Tinder'.'
If you get a match, you'll be able to start a chat and their property will be added as a pin on your in-app map.
'Another way of looking at Holiday Swap is a social media travel tool, which gives real savings and new experiences to all of us, by taking out one of the largest costs of travel," he added.
According to the Holiday Swap website, users have the option of listing spaces of any size - from a bedroom in a shared flat (with housemate permission of course), to a sprawling mansion.
"Who you swap with is entirely up to you," the website states.
While it's free to sign up for, users can also opt for a $10-per-month premium subscription that waives booking fees - and with the help of that structure, Holiday Swap was valued at £300million in 2022.
What is Global Airlines?
Founded by James in 2021, Global Airlines is a start-up with a goal of reviving "the golden age of flying" - think double-decker aircrafts, luxurious food and drink options, more comfortable seats, and even an on-board Sky Pub.
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Global Airlines currently owns at least five Airbus A380 aircrafts, which they are in the process of refurbishing.
Its inaugural flight from Glasgow to New York JFK took place on May 15, 2025, and the airline plans to launch regular routes between London Gatwick and the US in the future.
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