When you think of billionaires in their early 30s, you might imagine a pop star or a crypto bro. But Lucy Guo, the co-founder of Scale AI and now the powerhouse behind Passes, has just knocked Taylor Swift off the throne.
At just 30 years old, Lucy Guo has officially become the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire, with a jaw-dropping net worth of $1.25 billion, according to Forbes.
Yes, you read that right.
Hacker Kid Lucy Guo, Who Said “No Thanks” to College
Lucy’s story isn’t your usual billionaire origin tale.
She grew up in Fremont, California, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, both engineers. But Lucy wasn’t just any kid. She started coding in middle school and made money flipping Neopets game items. (Talk about starting young!)
She later got into Carnegie Mellon University for computer science but ditched it after winning a Thiel Fellowship—a $100K grant to skip college and build something big. That decision? Life-changing.
Scale AI: The Billion-Dollar Brainchild
In 2016, Lucy co-founded Scale AI with Alexandr Wang. The company quickly became a critical player in the AI world—providing training data for giants like OpenAI, Meta, and Microsoft.
Even though Lucy left Scale AI in 2018, the company’s sky-high valuation of $14 billion made sure her stake was worth a LOT.
That stake? It laid the foundation for her billionaire status.
Passes, Her Creator-Economy Power Move
Fast forward to 2022—Lucy launches Passes, a platform that helps digital creators get paid without relying on brand deals.
Think of it like Patreon meets Shopify for influencers. Creators can livestream, offer exclusive content, and build their own fanbase—all on their terms.
By 2024, Passes had raised $40 million, with celebs like Paris Hilton and Jake Paul backing it. Today, it supports 900+ creators and over half a million fans. Some of those creators are now making $1M+ per year.
Billionaire, But Still Budget-Minded
Despite her massive fortune, Lucy lives like someone still building her startup.
She’s known for being frugal—still checking prices at the grocery store and thinking twice before big purchases. It’s not because she has to. It’s because she wants to build long-term wealth.
She once told Forbes, “If you really want to become wealthy, you should save aggressively and invest.” Smart. Simple. Real.
Controversy of Lucy Guo? She Doesn’t Hide From It
In early 2025, Passes was in hot water over some troubling claims related to underage content. Lucy responded fast—banning under-18 creators and introducing stricter policies.
She’s been upfront and transparent, and that’s exactly why her supporters stick with her. She’s not just building platforms. She’s building trust.
What’s Next from Lucy Guo?
Lucy’s next move? Bringing AI deeper into Passes—from smart pricing tools to donation options that help creators fundraise for causes they care about.
Her vision is clear: Help creators become entrepreneurs—and build wealth on their terms.
Conclusion
Lucy Guo is more than a billionaire. She’s a blueprint for modern success.
She broke the mold, bet on herself, and is now empowering an entire generation of creators to do the same. And the fact that she just outpaced Taylor Swift? That’s just the cherry on top.