AI Co-founder Lucy Guo, becomes World’s Youngest Self-Made Billionaire

Lucy Guo, co-founder of Scale AI, has emerged as the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire at age 30—despite leaving the company years ago.

Guo’s rise follows a tender offer by Scale AI that values the company at $25 billion. That’s an 80% increase from last May’s $13.8 billion valuation.

The offer, expected to wrap up by June 1, allows early employees and investors to sell their shares.

Guo, who cofounded Scale AI in 2016 with Alexandr Wang, retains a nearly 5% stake in the firm—now worth close to $1.2 billion.

Forbes pegs her total net worth at $1.25 billion, including assets from her latest startup, Passes.

She unseats pop star Taylor Swift, 35, as the youngest woman to reach billionaire status without inheritance.

Guo responded via text: “I don’t really think about it much, it’s a bit wild.

Guo left Scale AI in 2018 following disagreements with Wang, who remains CEO.

Despite the exit, she wisely kept her shares.

She now joins an elite group of just six self-made women billionaires under 40—and stands alone as the only one to hit the milestone after parting with the company that made her rich.

Born to Chinese immigrants, Guo grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and began coding in middle school.

She studied computer science at Carnegie Mellon University before dropping out to join the Thiel Fellowship, which funds young founders.

Before Scale, she worked at Quora and Snapchat as a product designer.

Scale AI started with low-wage data labeling for AI training and later expanded to clients like the U.S. government and OpenAI.

After Scale, Guo launched Backend Capital, backing startups like Ramp, now valued at $13 billion.

In 2022, she founded Passes, a platform similar to OnlyFans and Patreon. The service helps celebrities monetize content through fan interactions.

Passes has signed figures like gymnast Olivia Dunne, Shaquille O’Neal, and DJ Kygo. It has raised $50 million across three rounds, reaching a valuation of $150 million.

However, controversy struck last month. Passes faces a lawsuit over allegations of hosting child sexual abuse material.

The platform quickly banned underage users and removed related content. A spokesperson insisted, “Passes refutes any claims it condoned such material.”

Despite the legal heat, Guo stays focused—and fit.

She’s completed 3,000 sessions at Barry’s Bootcamp and recently posted celebratory photos on Instagram.

She also juggles business with fun, attending festivals like Coachella and Ultra in Miami.

During last weekend’s Coachella, Passes hosted a major event. “Quite literally thousands of RSVPs,” Guo texted from Los Angeles, where she now resides.

Meanwhile, her former cofounder, Alexandr Wang, has also seen his fortune grow.

His estimated net worth now stands at $3.6 billion. Scale AI declined to comment on the tender offer or valuation.

From college dropout to billionaire, Lucy Guo’s journey is proof that sometimes, walking away is just the beginning.

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