This article is republished from アジア財経観察
According to the latest report by Forbes, Lucy Guo, the 30-year-old co-founder of AI startup Scale AI, is set to surpass American singer Taylor Swift (“Tay Tay”) to become the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire. This achievement not only highlights her exceptional business acumen but also secures her a remarkable place on the global wealth map.
Lucy Guo’s journey with Scale AI began in the early days of the company. Armed with sharp business instincts and technical talent, she worked with her team to build one of the leading companies in the artificial intelligence industry. However, due to differences in vision with her co-founder Alexandr Wang, she chose to leave the company while retaining close to 5% of its shares. In hindsight, this decision proved to be highly foresighted. Scale AI is expected to complete a major stock transfer deal by June 2025, which will boost its valuation from $13.8 billion in 2024 to $25 billion. Consequently, Guo’s shares are projected to surge in value to approximately $1.2 billion. When asked whether she would sell part of her stake during this transaction, she declined to comment, demonstrating a calm and steady business demeanor.
Despite the dramatic increase in her net worth due to the rising value of her shares, Lucy Guo remains remarkably grounded and humble about her billionaire status. In an interview with Forbes, she said, “I honestly haven’t thought much about it. It’s kind of surreal. Unfortunately, it’s all just numbers on paper right now.” Behind this composed attitude lies her deep understanding of business fundamentals and her persistent drive toward future ventures.
After leaving Scale AI, Guo didn’t slow down her entrepreneurial pursuits. She first founded Backend Capital, a small venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage companies, demonstrating her sharp ability to spot emerging business opportunities. In 2022, she shifted her focus and launched her own company, Passes — a subscription platform for creators. Passes aims to strengthen the connection between content creators, celebrities, and their fans through innovative features like paid chats and videos, injecting new vitality into the creator economy.
According to reports, Passes has already established collaborations with several high-profile figures, including American gymnast Olivia Dunne and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal. The platform’s visibility and influence are rising rapidly. As the business continues to expand, the value of Guo’s equity in Passes is also becoming increasingly significant. Forbes estimates that, factoring in her holdings in Passes and other assets, her total net worth has reached $1.25 billion.
Among the world’s six self-made female billionaires under the age of 40, Lucy Guo stands out as particularly unique. She is not only the youngest but also the only one who, after exiting her founding company, still achieved billionaire status through her retained shares. Others in this elite group include 35-year-old Taylor Swift, 37-year-old former OpenAI executive Daniela Amodei, 37-year-old Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins, 37-year-old Rihanna, and Lu Yiwen from China, who runs a jewelry brand.
These young female entrepreneurs are each reshaping the global business landscape in their own way. Lucy Guo’s wealth story is not just a testament to her personal efforts but also a perfect combination of seizing the opportunities of the times and showcasing extraordinary personal talent.
