Philenews

Record Number of Self-Made Billionaires Under 40 in 2025

Published December 30, 2025, 07:15
Record Number of Self-Made Billionaires Under 40 in 2025

In 2025, the number of self-made billionaires under 40 reached a record high of 71, matching the previous record set in 2021. This surge is largely attributed to the frenzy surrounding artificial intelligence, with almost half of the new billionaires having made their fortunes in this sector. Edwin Chen, 38, founder of Surge AI, is the current youngest self-made billionaire, with a net worth of $18 billion. He previously held the title the Collison brothers of Stripe, and before them, Mark Zuckerberg for 11 years. The technology sector dominates the list, with 48 billionaires, followed by finance and investments with 12. The majority are American (32), while China (8), India (6), Australia, Sweden, and Canada each have 3. There are also 8 women on the list. Although the number of billionaires is a record, their total net worth ($218 billion) is lower than in 2021 ($444 billion). This is because Mark Zuckerberg's net worth in 2021 was much higher than that of this year's No. 1, Edwin Chen. Names like Taylor Swift and Rihanna, despite their significant wealth, are not included on the list.