Alexandr Wang, the American tech entrepreneur, has earned the distinction of being the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at just 28 years old, with an estimated net worth of $3.6 billion.

According to a recent Forbes report, there are 21 billionaires under the age of 30 globally. However, the vast majority of them inherited their wealth. Wang stands out as one of the few who built his fortune independently through innovation and entrepreneurship.


Building Wealth Through AI Innovation

Born in New Mexico in 1997, Wang’s fascination with technology took root early. By age 17, he secured an engineering role at Silicon Valley’s Addepar. He later enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology but left to launch Scale AI, a startup specializing in AI data annotation that helps companies convert raw data into usable machine learning inputs for applications such as autonomous vehicles.

Founded in 2016, Scale AI quickly gained traction, valued at $7 billion by 2021, and recently at $13.8 billion. Its client roster includes household names such as OpenAI, Etsy, Pinterest, and automotive giants like General Motors, Samsung, and Toyota.

A Strategic Partnership with Meta

Last month, Meta acquired a 49% stake in Scale AI for $14.8 billion, leaving Wang with an estimated 14% share of the company and cementing his billionaire status. Wang also now serves as Meta’s Chief AI Officer.

With this achievement, Wang ranks as the 1,085th richest person globally and remains the youngest self-made billionaire.


Close Competitors in Youthful Billionaire Ranks

Trailing closely is Australia’s Ed Craven, co-founder of Stake.com and Kick streaming platform, aged 29. Craven’s Stake.com generated $4.7 billion in revenue last year, and his net worth is estimated at around $2.8 billion.