While many Gen Zers are struggling to land entry-level jobs thanks to AI, the same technology is also fueling a new wave of young billionaires. This year, the number of self-made billionaires under 30 hit an all-time high, as entrepreneurial young people have turned growing up with smartphones into billion-dollar startups.
In 2025, there were more self-made billionaires in their 20s than ever before—about 13 people higher than from a previous record of 7—according to an analysis from Forbes.
And most have experienced a wealth surge as of late; about 11 of the 13 newly initiated ultra-wealthy became billionaires within the last three months, including the likes of Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan, the cofounder of vibe coding startup Loveable, Fabian Hedin, and AI entrepreneur Arvid Lunnemark.
The majority of these young and ultra-wealthy founders made their wealth by jumping on the AI industry while it’s hot. For example, 25-year-old Sualeh Asif found success as the cofounder of company Anysphere—the team behind popular $29.3 billion AI editing tool Cursor.
Adarsh Hiremath and Surya Midha, both just 22, cofounded Mercor: an AI-powered recruiting startup helping connect talent with Silicon Valley’s biggest AI labs.
