Latest news with #LucyGuo
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Meet Lucy Guo: The youngest self-made woman billionaire in the world who has officially DETHRONED Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is no longer the youngest self-made woman billionaire in the world thanks to Lucy Guo, who has officially taken the title in Forbes' 10th Anniversary list of America's Richest Self-Made Women. Lucy, 30, is the founder and CEO of Passes, a platform where creators can build a community and directly connect with their fans, offering them things like live streams, one-on-one messaging, and exclusive podcasts. Founded in 2022, the company managed to raise an eye-watering $50 million from investors from over just two years, and its owner is sitting pretty with a cool net worth of $1.3billion. But who is Taylor's dethroner, Lucy Guo? Los Angeles-based Lucy is a college dropout, having quit her degree in computer science and human-computer interactions at Carnegie Mellon University. Before launching Passes, she co-founded the artificial intelligence company Scale AI with Alexander Wang in 2016. Lucy left the business two years later in 2018 holding onto much of her stake, and that same year she made the Forbes' 30 Under 30 list. Shedding light into her bougie life, Lucy shared that she has two properties in her portfolio: one in Los Angeles, California and one in Miami, Florida. 'I have a swanky apartment in Miami and a house in LA which is five minutes away from my office,' she told Fortune in 2023. She also revealed her she commutes to the office 'on an electric skateboard or my assistant drives me.' Lucy is always so swamped with work that she often eats her lunch at her desk. She doesn't buy groceries either, having previously admitted to the publication that she never cook and lives off Uber Eats instead. While Lucy does enjoy some downtime, extended time off from her company is not ever on the cards. 'I've never really had a real vacation,' she told Fortune. 'Even when I'm on vacation I'm working at least eight hours per day.' Outside of work, Lucy is a fitness fanatic and can often be found keeping fit at Barry's Bootcamp, a boutique, high-intensity workout class which she attends twice a day. In April, she celebrated reaching a mind-blowing 3000 classes and credited her 'discipline' over prioritizing sleep as the secret to her achievement. When she's not being put through her paces in the Red Room, Lucy is enjoying music festivals and techno raves. She recently attended this year's Coachella Festival, which took place in April, and also spent two weeks learning to DJ. Lucy turned 30 in October and threw a huge party, which she called Lucypalooza, to celebrate. In a candid post shared on Instagram at the time, she did however admit feeling fearful of the milestone because she is not yet married with children. 'I've always been so scared of this age,' she penned. 'Immigrant Chinese culture instilled in me that I should have kids by 25 and if I weren't married by 30, I would be single forever. 'But every single year keeps getting better. I'm more confident, excited, and motivated than ever before. I have the best friends that anyone could ask for. 'I couldn't be more grateful for the amount of love I have in my life. 'And because Asians don't raisin, every year I'm getting richer AND hotter.' Forbes has today unveiled its 10th Anniversary List of America's Richest Self-Made Women, ranking the country's 100 wealthiest women who have built their own fortunes across industries from manufacturing to tech, entertainment, and finance. Diane Hendricks, cofounder of the ABC Supply tops the list as the country's richest self-made woman for the eighth consecutive year with a real time net worth of $22.3 billion. Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey is 13th on the list with an impressive net worth of $3.1 billion, followed by Kim Kardashian who is 19th on the list with $1.7billion Country superstar Taylor, 35, ranks at 21st with her net worth of $1.6 billion.
Business Mayor
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Self Made Success: The World's Richest Women Under 40
They didn't wait a lifetime to build empires. While much of the world's female billionaire wealth still stems from inheritance, a bold new generation of self-made women is rewriting the rules—and doing so before 40. From Rihanna's inclusive beauty empire to Lucy Guo's AI innovations, the world's richest self-made women are forging fortunes in industries as diverse as entertainment, technology, beauty, and luxury jewelry. Their ascent stands in stark contrast to the legacy wealth of traditional empires, signaling a dynamic shift in the landscape of female fortune. Curious to meet the leaders of this new wave? These women aren't merely amassing wealth—they're selling out stadiums, breaking ceilings and records, and redefining what it means to be among the richest women in the world. Global pop icon Katy Perry, known for hits like 'Roar', 'Dark Horse, and Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)' sold the rights to her music catalog for a reported $225 million in 2023, significantly boosting her fortune. After seven seasons as a high-earning judge on American Idol, she announced her departure in 2024 and hinted at new studio work. Net Worth: $350 million Born: 1984, United States Age: 39 Industry: Entertainment Source of Wealth: Self-made, Music Impact: One of the best-selling female artists, with 48 million albums sold. Interesting Fact: Sold music catalog for $225 million in 2023. Christina Cacioppo, co-founder and CEO of Vanta, launched the automated security and compliance company in 2017 after roles at Union Square Ventures and Dropbox. Vanta reached $100 million in annual recurring revenue in 2024 and a $1.6 billion valuation by private investors in 2022. Net Worth: $385 million Born: 1988, United States Age: 36 Industry: Technology, Software Source of Wealth: Self-made, Vanta Impact: Vanta automates security for 7,000+ companies. Interesting Fact: Ran an eBay Beanie Baby business at age 11. Whitney Wolfe Herd founded Bumble, the women-first dating app launched in 2014. Its 2021 IPO briefly made her a billionaire, and despite stock fluctuations, she retains an 18% stake. After stepping down as CEO in 2024, she returned in 2025. Her earlier role as a Tinder co-founder adds to her tech legacy. Read More India's gem and jewelry exports fall in November 2024 Net Worth: $400 million Born: 1989, United States Age: 35 Industry: Technology, Dating Apps Source of Wealth: Self-made, Bumble Impact: Bumble has 50 million active users globally. Interesting Fact: Youngest female CEO to take a company public in 2021. Neha Narkhede co-founded data-streaming software company Confluent, building on her engineering work developing the open source messaging system Apache Kafka at LinkedIn. Confluent's 2021 IPO valued it at $9.1 billion, with her 6% stake driving her wealth. In 2023, Narkhede co-founded and now leads Oscilar, a fraud detection startup self-funded with $20 million alongside her husband. Net Worth: $680 million Born: 1985, India Age: 39 Industry: Technology, Cloud Computing Source of Wealth: Self-made, Confluent Impact: Confluent serves 1,000+ enterprises; Apache Kafka powers 80% of Fortune 500. Interesting Fact: Self-funded Oscilar with $20 million. Despite 'self-made' debates, one thing is certain: Kylie Jenner transformed her reality TV fame into a multimillion-dollar business empire. Launching Kylie Cosmetics in 2015 with her modeling earnings, she leveraged her massive Instagram audience to promote her lip kits. In 2020, she sold 51% of the brand to Coty for $600 million, retaining a 44% stake. Expanding into fashion with Khy and canned cocktails with Sprinter, Jenner's $710 million fortune reflects the power of celebrity and digital influence in shaping consumer brands. Net Worth: $710 million Born: 1997, United States Age: 27 Industry: Cosmetics, Fashion Source of Wealth: Self-made, Kylie Cosmetics Impact: Kylie Cosmetics sold $330 million in products in 2023. Interesting Fact: Youngest on Forbes' self-made list (since 2019). Born in 1990 in China, Shuo Wang is the co-founder and chief revenue officer of Deel, a global HR software company. After moving to the U.S. at 16, she studied robotics at MIT and co-founded air purification startup Aeris, later acquired by iRobot for approximately $100 million. Deel, founded in 2019, surpassed $500 million in annual revenue by 2024, cementing Wang's status as a rising tech entrepreneur. Net Worth: $850 million Born: 1990, China Age: 35 Industry: Technology, HR Software Source of Wealth: Self-made, Deel Impact: Supports remote hiring for 20,000+ companies. Interesting Fact: Moved from China to the U.S. at 16 to pursue tech ventures. Born in the United States, Daniela Amodei is the co-founder and president of Anthropic, a leading artificial intelligence company launched in 2021 with her brother Dario and former OpenAI researchers. Previously an executive at OpenAI and a founding recruiter at Stripe, Amodei's journey—from English literature major to AI pioneer—highlights her adaptability. With Anthropic valued at over $61 billion in 2025 by private investors and partnerships with Amazon and Alphabet (Google's parent company), she is shaping the future of safe, large-scale AI systems. Net Worth: $1.2 billion Born: 1987, United States Age: 37 Industry: Technology, AI Source of Wealth: Self-made, Anthropic Impact: Anthropic's safe AI systems power enterprise solutions globally. Interesting Fact: Transitioned from English literature to AI leadership. Born in 1994, Lucy Guo is a tech prodigy and one of only six self-made female billionaires under 40. She co-founded artificial intelligence firm Scale AI in 2016 with Alexandr Wang, leaving two years later but retaining a nearly 6% stake. A former Thiel Fellow and Carnegie Mellon dropout, Guo has since launched Passes, a fast-growing platform for digital creators that raised over $50 million from investors like Skimm's Emma Grede. Net Worth: $1.3 billion Born: 1994, United States Age: 30 Industry: Technology, AI Source of Wealth: Self-made, Scale AI Impact: Scale AI powers AI models for 300+ companies. Interesting Fact: Youngest self-made female billionaire in tech. Lu Yiwen, also known as Wendy Lu, is the co-founder and CEO of Darry Ring, a jewelry brand renowned for its 'One Love, One Lifetime' philosophy—allowing only one engagement ring per lifetime, verified by identity. Starting with a single store in Shenzhen in 2010, her vision transformed Darry Ring into a global symbol of modern romance, earning her a place among the youngest self-made female billionaires. Net Worth: $1.4 billion Born: 1987, China Age: 38 Industry: Jewelry Source of Wealth: Self-made, Darry Ring Impact: Darry Ring's philosophy reshaped commitment jewelry globally. Interesting Fact: Built a global brand from a single Shenzhen store in 2010. Born in 1988 in Barbados, Rihanna transformed global stardom into a $1.4 billion empire. While chart-topping hits like 'Umbrella' launched her fame, her business acumen secured her billionaire status. Her 50% stake in Fenty Beauty, co-owned with LVMH, drives the bulk of her wealth, with her Savage X Fenty lingerie brand adding to her fortune. Her 2023 Super Bowl halftime show amplified her cultural influence. Net Worth: $1.4 billion Born: 1988, Barbados Age: 37 Industry: Cosmetics, Entertainment Source of Wealth: Self-made, Fenty Beauty, Music Impact: Fenty Beauty serves 50+ skin tones, redefining inclusivity in cosmetics. Interesting Fact: Her 2023 Super Bowl halftime show drew 121 million viewers, the most-watched ever. American pop icon Taylor Swift became a billionaire in 2023, propelled by her record-breaking Eras Tour and strategic re-recording of early albums to reclaim ownership and creative control. Earning nearly $600 million from touring and royalties, complemented by a real estate portfolio spanning Rhode Island to Tennessee, Swift's rise exemplifies artistic independence and business acumen—a masterclass in transforming creative vision into enduring wealth. Net Worth: $1.6 billion Born: 1989, United States Age: 35 Industry: Entertainment Source of Wealth: Self-made, Music Impact: The Eras Tour grossed over $2 billion, a historic milestone for any artist. Interesting Fact: First musician to become a billionaire primarily through songwriting and touring. Born in 1987 in Australia, Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva, launched the user-friendly design platform in 2013 alongside her husband, Cliff Obrecht. A 2024 valuation of $40 billion elevated her wealth, with her 18% stake fueling her fortune. The couple pledged most of their stake to the Canva Foundation for charitable causes. Net Worth: $5.8 billion Born: 1987, Australia Age: 37 Industry: Technology, Design Software Source of Wealth: Self-made, Canva Impact: Canva empowers over 220 million monthly active users with accessible design tools. Interesting Fact: Learned kitesurfing to connect with angel investor Bill Tai, a kiteboarding enthusiast. The world's richest self-made women under 40 are not merely accumulating wealth; they are reshaping industries, challenging norms, and inspiring a new era of entrepreneurship. As of May 2025, only six self-made female billionaires under 40 grace the global stage:1. Melanie Perkins: $5.8 billion, Technology, Australia2. Taylor Swift: $1.6 billion, Entertainment, United States3. Rihanna: $1.4 billion, Beauty, United States3. Lu Yiwen: $1.4 billion, Jewelry, China4. Lucy Guo: $1.3 billion, Technology, United States 5. Daniela Amodei: $1.2 billion, Technology, United States These billionaires are joined by a cadre of visionary women who, while not yet billionaires, are redefining wealth and influence in their own way: 6. Shuo Wang: $850 million, Technology, United States7. Kylie Jenner: $710 million, Cosmetics, United States8. Neha Narkhede: $680 million, Technology, United States9. Whitney Wolfe Herd: $400 million, Technology, United States10. Christina Cacioppo: $385 million, Technology, United States 11. Katy Perry: $350 million, Entertainment, United States Together, this new guard—spanning technology, entertainment, beauty, luxury jewelry and beyond—reflects a seismic shift in how wealth is created and wielded. Methodology: The rankings of these self-made women under 40 are based on net worth estimates sourced from Forbes and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index as of May 2025. READ SOURCE businessmayor May 15, 2025
Economic Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Taylor Swift just lost her crown: This college dropout becomes the youngest self-made woman billionaire under 40; who is she?
Lucy Guo, a 30-year-old tech entrepreneur, now holds the title of the world's youngest self-made female billionaire. Forbes reports this change. Guo co-founded Scale AI. Her stake in the company made her fortune. Taylor Swift achieved billionaire status in October 2023. Swift's wealth came from music and touring. Guo also launched Backend Capital and Passes. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How Lucy Guo Made Her Fortune Guo's New Ventures Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A College Dropout Becomes a Billionaire Taylor Swift's Billionaire Journey FAQs American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift , has officially lost her status as the world's youngest self-made female billionaire , as per a report. The title is now officially held by Lucy Guo , a 30-year-old tech entrepreneur , according to had co-founded Scale AI at the age of 21, and today, the company is valued at $25 billion, a remarkable 80% increase from its valuation of $13.8 billion just a year ago, as per the in 2018, following a feud with her co-founder Alexandr Wang, Guo exited Scale AI, according to Forbes. But she retained about 5% stake in the company, and that move now has paid off, making her fortune an estimated $1.25 billion, reported she was asked about the accomplishment, Guo replied saying, 'I don't really think about it much. It's a bit wild,' as quoted in the Wang, who is 28-years-old now, is still the CEO of Scale, as per the report. Guo, meanwhile, launched two companies of her own; Backend Capital, a venture capital firm, and Passes, a platform for creators who have already inked deals with big names such as Shaquille O'Neal, Olivia Dunne, and DJ Kygo, reported to the report, Guo is a college dropout, who is one of just six self-made women billionaires under 40 years-old, and the only one to hit that milestone after leaving the company that made her Swift achieved billionaire status in October 2023, but unlike Guo, the Grammy-winning artist made the list mostly through her music and touring and not brand deals or business ventures, reported named Lucy Guo as the official youngest self-made female co-founded Scale AI, which is now valued at $25 billion, and she retains a 5% stake in the company, as per Forbes.
San Francisco Chronicle
23-04-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Exclusive: Lucy Guo on surpassing Taylor Swift, building a billion-dollar fortune and growing up in the Bay Area
Lucy Guo, co-founder of Scale AI, recently earned a new distinction: the world's youngest self-made female billionaire, edging out music superstar Taylor Swift. At just 30, the Bay Area tech entrepreneur's ascent mirrors Scale AI's explosive rise. The 9-year-old data-labeling company is now valued at $25 billion, with a major tender offer expected to close by June. Though Guo left Scale in 2018 and settled in Los Angeles in 2024, her nearly 5% stake has grown to more than $1.2 billion. Since then, she's launched Passes, a subscription platform for social media influencers, making her one of only six self-made female billionaires under 40 — and the only one who no longer runs the company that built her fortune. Raised in Fremont by Chinese immigrants who were both electrical engineers, Guo began hustling online before she could drive – selling Pokemon cards, coding bots for online games and running ad-heavy streaming sites. By second grade, she says she was already making money via PayPal. After a brief stint at Carnegie Mellon, she dropped out of college to join the Thiel Fellowship, a program that pays young people to launch startups. Internships at Facebook, Snapchat and Quora followed. In a candid conversation with the Chronicle, Guo reflects on ambition, risk, identity and what it really means to be 'self-made.' This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q: How does it feel to be named the world's youngest self-made woman billionaire? A: Honestly, I don't think about it that much. I'm so honored, but I'm more excited about the impact we're making by turning creators into entrepreneurs. I'm laser-focused on building Passes and creating a best-in-class product at the intersection of tech and the creator economy. Q: You grew up in the Bay Area. What was your early life like here? A: My parents are Chinese immigrants who worked incredibly hard, and their work ethic definitely rubbed off on me. My upbringing was very much in line with typical Asian American parenting, where we're taught to study hard to earn lots of money. Instead of paying attention in class and studying, I was on the internet learning how to make money. I learned how to code and started creating bots on Neopets and Runescape to resell. I then learned Photoshop and combined those skills to start building websites. Q: What first drew you into the world of AI? A: My parents were upset that I was on the computer all day and not studying. Around senior year of high school, I started getting more exposed to 'hacker' and entrepreneurship culture. My first real exposure to the professional tech world was the Thiel Fellowship. Of course, I was studying computer science and human-computer interactions at Carnegie Mellon right before this. However, pursuing the startup life full-time was the ultimate turning point that led me to meet like-minded people who share the same curiosity for innovation and the latest technology, such as AI. Q: Looking back on your time at Scale AI, do you have any regrets or lessons that shaped what you did next? A: I learned so much. The company was built at a time when AI started taking off. It taught me that timing truly matters when building a startup. For example, we were able to capitalize on the self-driving cars market. At Passes, our creators come first, and nearly all creators have an in-house creator success manager they can text or call when they need something. We have recently introduced programs to support creators earlier in their careers to catapult their earnings and audience. It's inevitable that the direction and roadmap of the company will evolve, which was a lesson I've learned over and over again throughout my time there, since I saw it grow from nothing to what it is now. At Passes, I've been more intentional about how we build and what kind of culture we maintain, and not creating tech debt early on. I understand how important the long-term sustainability of a company is, and that starts with happy and engaged stakeholders. Our partners, employees, creators, and fans are always treated with empathy and respect. A: Around the time of the pandemic, I became friends with a lot of creators and saw that there's a need in the market in terms of monetization. Most creators were making the majority of their income from brand deals, which are inconsistent and can evaporate in an instant. I saw this as an opportunity to build an all-in-one platform that makes it simple for creators to monetize their brand, while turning their fans into superfans and to build large, sustainable businesses. Q: What does being 'self-made' mean to you, and how do you define that for yourself? A: 'Self-made' is a complicated, layered term because nobody truly succeeds alone. At the end of the day, my upbringing — growing up in the Bay Area, access to education, my Asian American roots, etcetera — all brought me to where I am today. Especially in today's world, being self-made means using what you have, taking risks and charting your own path. A little luck never hurts either! Q: What's something you sacrificed to get here that most people don't see? A: Sleep, for one! I'm all about working hard, playing hard. Over the years, I've learned that discipline is an amazing thing. That means waking up at the crack of dawn for morning Barry's classes. Balancing discipline with fun is also just as important — I'm learning how to DJ right now. I also had some large monetary opportunities that I passed on because I knew I wanted to build something bigger. Q: What's the best thing about wealth, beyond the obvious perks people usually associate with it? A: The freedom to make decisions based on impact rather than necessity. I can now invest in founders and ideas I believe in without worrying about immediate returns. I'm particularly interested in investing in women-founded companies and want to see more women in tech. Q: How are your DJ skills coming along? Do you find time for music or other creative outlets? A: My DJ skills are definitely a work in progress, but I'm having fun with it. It's a nice release after a busy day in the office. We have an amazing headquarters (in Hollywood) with a performance stage, podcast studio and theater, so I've set up a DJ set in the office too. Having creative outlets makes me a better thinker and clears up my mental space. Q: What advice would you give to a young woman sitting on a big idea but unsure of where to begin? A: Just start. Don't wait for permission or for everything to be perfect. Find your people and surround yourself with others who believe in you and your vision. Building companies is hard, and you need a support system of mentors and peers who will lift you up when things get tough. I've also faced plenty of scrutiny as a young Asian woman in tech, but I use that scrutiny as fuel and motivation. You have to accept that the world isn't fair — just work harder and prove them all wrong. Q: You just replaced Taylor Swift, one of the most powerful cultural figures of our time, on the Forbes list. How does it feel to be compared to a pop star like her? A: I'm going to be honest — meeting Taylor Swift at Coachella last year was the only time I've ever felt starstruck. She's an absolute icon. It's so cool that the list is showcasing more diversity in terms of how women are building wealth — from music and art to tech. It's funny because this plays into what I'm hoping to see for the creators on Passes, allowing creators to become powerful cultural figures and building generational wealth. It's also inspiring to see more women making their mark in tech, finance and other traditionally male-dominated fields. Q: Are you a fan of her music? Any favorite songs? A: Let's just say I went to her Eras tour twice when she was in L.A. I'm a huge fan of her music. Back in high school, I always daydreamed that someone would serenade me with 'Love Story.' A: I initially left San Francisco to go travel the world. The Bay Area was my home for two decades, and it was time for a new adventure. I tried out L.A., New York and Miami. But L.A. is now home. One of my favorite go-to spots in San Francisco is Delancey Street Restaurant, which supports the rehabilitation of Delancey Street Foundation residents who are rebuilding their lives. I also frequented many all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue restaurants.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Taylor Swift just lost her crown: This college dropout becomes the youngest self-made woman billionaire under 40; who is she?
American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift , has officially lost her status as the world's youngest self-made female billionaire , as per a report. The title is now officially held by Lucy Guo , a 30-year-old tech entrepreneur , according to Forbes. How Lucy Guo Made Her Fortune Guo had co-founded Scale AI at the age of 21, and today, the company is valued at $25 billion, a remarkable 80% increase from its valuation of $13.8 billion just a year ago, as per the report. However, in 2018, following a feud with her co-founder Alexandr Wang, Guo exited Scale AI, according to Forbes. But she retained about 5% stake in the company, and that move now has paid off, making her fortune an estimated $1.25 billion, reported Forbes. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by When she was asked about the accomplishment, Guo replied saying, 'I don't really think about it much. It's a bit wild,' as quoted in the report. Guo's New Ventures While Wang, who is 28-years-old now, is still the CEO of Scale, as per the report. Guo, meanwhile, launched two companies of her own; Backend Capital, a venture capital firm, and Passes, a platform for creators who have already inked deals with big names such as Shaquille O'Neal, Olivia Dunne, and DJ Kygo, reported Forbes. Live Events A College Dropout Becomes a Billionaire According to the report, Guo is a college dropout, who is one of just six self-made women billionaires under 40 years-old, and the only one to hit that milestone after leaving the company that made her rich. Taylor Swift's Billionaire Journey While, Swift achieved billionaire status in October 2023, but unlike Guo, the Grammy-winning artist made the list mostly through her music and touring and not brand deals or business ventures, reported Forbes. FAQs Who is the current youngest self-made female billionaire? Forbes named Lucy Guo as the official youngest self-made female billionaire. How did Lucy Guo make her fortune? Guo co-founded Scale AI, which is now valued at $25 billion, and she retains a 5% stake in the company, as per Forbes.
