AI Entrepreneur Lucy Guo Becomes Youngest Self-Made Woman Billionaire

San Francisco, CA – Lucy Guo, co-founder of Scale AI, has unseated pop star Taylor Swift as the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire, according to Forbes. The announcement was made on April 17, 2025, after Scale AI’s valuation soared to $25 billion, marking an 80% increase in just one year.

Guo, aged 30, built her fortune on her initial stake in Scale AI, where she served in operations and product design after co-founding the company at the age of 21. Swift, who held the title for just over a year, now ranks second with a net worth of $1.6 billion, largely from her successful music career.

After leaving Scale AI in 2018, Guo maintained a nearly 5% stake in the company, which is worth approximately $1.2 billion today. In response to her newfound billionaire status, Guo humorously stated, “I don’t really think about it much, it’s a bit wild. Too bad it’s all on paper haha.”

Scale AI began by providing data-labeling services for projects such as self-driving cars. Since then, it has attracted high-profile clients including the U.S. government and OpenAI. Guo’s journey began in the San Francisco Bay Area as she started coding in middle school and later became a Thiel Fellow, which supports entrepreneurial students.

Beyond her work at Scale AI, Guo also launched her own venture, Passes, a platform for creators that has gained significant traction, partnering with celebrities like gymnast Olivia Dunne and basketball star Shaquille O’Neal. Passes recently achieved a valuation of $150 million, with Guo raising $50 million from various investors.

Despite her success, Guo’s company faced legal challenges last month when it was accused of hosting inappropriate content. A spokesperson for Passes rejected the claims, emphasizing that they had purged underage content from the platform.

While Guo celebrates her achievements, Taylor Swift continues to dominate the music scene, grossing over $2 billion from her Eras Tour, making it the highest-grossing tour in history. The competition between these two successful women highlights the shifting landscape of wealth and influence in modern culture.

For those following Guo’s journey, she remains active in the tech industry while maintaining a personal connection to her roots in the entertainment world, further blurring the lines between technology and celebrity.