Young Entrepreneurs Who Became Billionaires Before 30
Introduction
Becoming a billionaire is an extraordinary achievement, but doing it before the age of 30 is even more remarkable. While most people spend their 20s figuring out their careers, a select few young entrepreneurs have already built empires, disrupted industries, and amassed fortunes worth billions.
In this article, we’ll explore young entrepreneurs who became billionaires before 30, their journeys, struggles, and how they turned big ideas into massive wealth.
1. Mark Zuckerberg – Co-Founder of Facebook
Became a billionaire at: 23
Net worth in 2025: $248 Billion
Industry: Social Media, Tech
Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook from his Harvard dorm room in 2004. By 2007, at just 23, he became a billionaire as Facebook exploded in popularity. Despite legal challenges and competition, Zuckerberg’s vision made Facebook (now Meta) the world’s largest social media company.
Early Struggles: Zuckerberg faced lawsuits over ownership claims and criticism over privacy concerns, but his determination made him one of the richest and most influential entrepreneurs in history.
2. Dustin Moskovitz – Co-Founder of Facebook
Became a billionaire at: 26
Net worth in 2025: $12 Billion+
Industry: Tech, Software
Dustin Moskovitz was Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard roommate and Facebook’s co-founder. He left Facebook in 2008 to start Asana, a work productivity software company.
Early Struggles: Unlike Zuckerberg, Moskovitz stayed out of the spotlight, but his contributions to Facebook’s early growth made him one of the youngest billionaires.
3. Evan Spiegel – Co-Founder of Snapchat
Became a billionaire at: 25
Net worth in 2025: $2.5 Billion+
Industry: Social Media, Tech
Evan Spiegel co-founded Snapchat in 2011 while studying at Stanford. By 2015, at age 25, he became a billionaire. Snapchat’s unique disappearing-photo feature and popularity among younger audiences helped the app grow into a global platform.
Early Struggles: Spiegel faced criticism for Snapchat’s lack of profitability in the early years, but his ability to keep innovating made him one of the youngest self-made billionaires.
4. Bobby Murphy – Co-Founder of Snapchat
Became a billionaire at: 25
Net worth in 2025: $2.2 Billion+
Industry: Social Media, Tech
Bobby Murphy, Snapchat’s co-founder and CTO, became a billionaire at the same age as Spiegel. He was the technical brain behind Snapchat’s coding and development.
Early Struggles: Snapchat initially struggled with competition from Facebook and Instagram, but Murphy’s continuous improvements to the platform helped it survive and grow.
5. Sam Bankman-Fried – FTX Founder (Before Collapse)
Became a billionaire at: 29
Net worth (peak): $26 Billion
Industry: Cryptocurrency
Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the crypto exchange FTX, became a billionaire at 29. At his peak, his wealth soared to $26 billion, making him one of the richest young entrepreneurs.
Early Struggles: Despite his rapid success, FTX collapsed in 2022 due to fraud and mismanagement, wiping out his fortune. His story is both a rise and a cautionary tale for young entrepreneurs.
6. John Collison – Co-Founder of Stripe
Became a billionaire at: 27
Net worth in 2025: $6 Billion+
Industry: FinTech, Payments
John Collison, originally from Ireland, co-founded Stripe with his brother Patrick. The company became a major global online payment processor. At 27, John entered the billionaire club.
Early Struggles: The Collison brothers faced challenges competing against PayPal and traditional banks but won by focusing on simple, developer-friendly tools.
7. Patrick Collison – Co-Founder of Stripe
Became a billionaire at: 28
Net worth in 2025: $9 Billion+
Industry: FinTech, Payments
Patrick Collison, John’s brother, also became a billionaire in his 20s. Stripe grew rapidly thanks to online shopping and the digital economy.
Early Struggles: Like John, Patrick faced skepticism from investors, but their persistence turned Stripe into one of the most valuable private tech companies.
8. Kylie Jenner – Founder of Kylie Cosmetics
Became a billionaire at: 21
Net worth in 2025: $1 Billion+
Industry: Beauty, Cosmetics
Kylie Jenner, a member of the Kardashian-Jenner family, built Kylie Cosmetics into a billion-dollar beauty brand by the age of 21, making her the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at the time (though some debated “self-made”).
Early Struggles: Despite having fame, Kylie faced challenges building credibility in the beauty industry. Still, her brand’s success proved the power of social media marketing.
9. Ritesh Agarwal – Founder of OYO Rooms
Became a billionaire at: 26
Net worth in 2025: $1.1 Billion+
Industry: Hospitality, Hotels
Ritesh Agarwal from India founded OYO Rooms, one of the largest hotel networks in the world. By 26, he entered the billionaire list.
Early Struggles: Ritesh came from a small town and dropped out of college. He faced criticism for OYO’s business model and financial struggles, but his determination led the company to global expansion.
10. Gustav Magnar Witzøe – SalMar Heir & Investor
Became a billionaire at: 19
Net worth in 2025: $3 Billion+
Industry: Fish Farming, Investments
Norwegian billionaire Gustav Witzøe inherited half of SalMar ASA, one of the world’s largest salmon producers, at just 19. He also invests in property and technology startups.
Early Struggles: While much of his wealth came through inheritance, Gustav focused on growing his business interests beyond fish farming.
Tech Dominates: Most young billionaires made their wealth in technology.
Social Media Power: Zuckerberg, Spiegel, and Jenner show how online influence converts to billions.
Risk & Reward: Bankman-Fried’s collapse is a lesson that rapid success can vanish without sustainability.
Global Presence: From the U.S. to India and Norway, billionaires are emerging worldwide.
Age is Just a Number: These entrepreneurs prove that determination, innovation, and timing matter more than age.
Conclusion
The stories of these young billionaires highlight the possibilities of entrepreneurship in the modern world. Some, like Mark Zuckerberg, created platforms that connect billions of people. Others, like Kylie Jenner and Ritesh Agarwal, used branding and innovation to disrupt industries.
While not every entrepreneur will become a billionaire by 30, their stories prove that with vision, hard work, and courage to take risks, extraordinary success is possible—even at a young age.
