40 Under 40: The Richest Self-Made Billionaires Under 40

Key Concepts

• Self-Made Billionaires Under 40: Individuals who have amassed a fortune of at least $1 billion by their own efforts, before the age of 40.
• Forbes 40 Under 40: An annual list published by Forbes magazine recognizing accomplished individuals under the age of 40 in various fields.
• AI-Driven Wealth Creation: The increasing trend of new billionaires deriving their wealth from artificial intelligence ventures.
• Net Worth Fluctuations: The dynamic nature of billionaire wealth, influenced by market conditions and individual company performance.
• Blind Box Model: A retail strategy, popularized by PopMart, where the contents of a package are unknown to the customer at the time of purchase.

The Shifting Landscape of Young Billionaires: Forbes’ Latest Ranking

This report details Forbes’ latest ranking of self-made billionaires under the age of 40, highlighting trends in wealth creation, industry dominance, and national representation. The title of “richest self-made billionaire under 40” has recently changed hands, moving from Mark Zuckerberg after an 11-year reign (ending in May 2024) to Patrick and John Collison of Stripe, and subsequently to Edwin Chen of Serge AI as of Fall 2024.

Current Rankings and Wealth Distribution

As of December 2025, Forbes identified 71 self-made billionaires aged 39 or younger. This number mirrors the peak seen in 2021 (also 71), a period fueled by the stock market boom, before declining to 34 in 2023 following the market correction. The combined net worth of these 71 individuals is $218 billion, significantly less than the $444 billion held by the 2021 cohort.

Top Three Billionaires (as of Fall 2024):

1. Edwin Chen (38, Serge AI): Estimated net worth of $18 billion. Serge AI, founded in 2020, provides data labeling services for AI training, generating $1.2 billion in revenue in 2024 from clients like Google and Anthropic. Notably, Chen claims to have bootstrapped the company – growing it without external funding – and owns approximately 75% of the firm.
2. Wong Ning (38, PopMart International Group): Estimated net worth of $15.7 billion. Wong founded PopMart in 2010, a Chinese toy company specializing in “blind box” collectibles, and took it public in Hong Kong in 2020. The company boasts a $33 billion market capitalization, with its Laboo doll line driving a stock increase of over 100% in the past year.
3. Patrick & John Collison: Previously held the top spot after Zuckerberg aged out, but have since been surpassed by Edwin Chen.

Industry and Geographic Breakdown

The vast majority of these young billionaires made their fortunes in technology (48) or finance and investments (12). Geographically, the distribution is concentrated in:

• United States (32)
• China (8)
• India (6)
• Australia (3)
• Sweden (3)
• Canada (3)

Only eight of the 71 billionaires are women.

Notable Exclusions and Emerging Trends

Despite significant wealth, individuals like Taylor Swift ($1.66 billion) and Rihanna ($1 billion) did not qualify for the top 40 due to the higher wealth threshold. Similarly, Lana Lopez Lara (29, Kalshi), the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire ($1.3 billion), and the 22-year-old co-founders of AI recruiting startup Merkor, also fell outside the top 40.

A significant trend is the rise of AI-driven wealth. Nearly half (27) of the new self-made billionaires under 40 since March 2024 have made their fortunes in the artificial intelligence sector. This highlights the growing economic impact of AI technologies.

Lessons from Successes and Failures

The report draws parallels to previous generations of young billionaires, such as Sergey Brin, Michael Dell, and Mark Zuckerberg, who achieved lasting success. However, it also cautions against complacency, citing examples of those who experienced setbacks, including Austin Russell (Luminar Technologies), who was ousted following an ethics inquiry, and Sam Bankman-Fried (FTX), currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for fraud. This underscores the importance of ethical conduct and sustainable business practices.

The "Blind Box" Phenomenon

The success of PopMart International Group and its founder, Wong Ning, demonstrates the power of the “blind box” retail model. This strategy, where the contents of a package are unknown, creates a sense of excitement and collectibility, driving consumer demand and significant revenue growth.

Conclusion

The Forbes list of self-made billionaires under 40 reveals a dynamic landscape of wealth creation, increasingly driven by technological innovation, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. While the total wealth held by this group is currently lower than in 2021, the number of young billionaires remains high, indicating continued entrepreneurial activity. The report serves as a reminder that success is not guaranteed, and that ethical conduct and sustainable business practices are crucial for long-term prosperity.