Who is Lucy Guo, the woman techie who has beat Taylor Swift as world’s youngest self-made billionaire and the controversy that follows her

The world now has a new youngest self-made woman billionaire and she is a techie. Carnegie Mellon University dropout Lucy Guo has claimed the title of the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, surpassing pop icon Taylor Swift, according to a recent Forbes report. Guo’s meteoric rise in the tech industry has positioned her as a trailblazer, highlighting the growing influence of women in entrepreneurship.Taylor Swift, previously recognized as the youngest self-made billionaire, has been dethroned by 30-year-old Lucy Guo. Swift, known for her chart-topping hits like Love Story and her business acumen in the music industry, held the title due to her massive earnings from music, tours, and endorsements. However, Guo’s innovative contributions to the tech world have now eclipsed Swift’s financial milestone.TLucy Guo’s ascent to billionaire status is largely attributed to her 5% stake in Scale AI, a data annotation firm she co-founded in 2016 with business partner Alexandr Wang. The company specializes in providing labeled data to train artificial intelligence applications, serving major clients in industries like autonomous vehicles, healthcare, and e-commerce. Forbes estimates Guo’s net worth at $1.3 billion, driven by Scale AI’s soaring valuation.Guo is optimistic about the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship. In an interview with Forbes, she stated, “I think we’re about to see a lot more entrepreneurs be women and valuations grow at a tremendous rate. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else took the title next year, but it’s really exciting to see.” Her confidence reflects a broader trend of increasing diversity in the tech and business sectors.Despite her billionaire status, Guo maintains a surprisingly modest lifestyle. “I still live a very frugal lifestyle,” she shared with Forbes. “For lunch, I get ‘buy one get one free’ all the time or, like, the 50%-off deals. But the one day I decide I need a private jet, maybe I’ll sell some shares, but at the moment I’m very happy flying commercial.” This grounded approach sets her apart in a world often associated with extravagant spending.Addressing her new title, Guo expressed admiration for Taylor Swift, noting, “She has always struck me as someone that’s very pro-woman and wants other people to win. I am a huge fan of her; I think she’s an icon.” Guo’s comments highlight a mutual respect between the two, despite their competition for the billionaire title.Beyond Scale AI, Guo has ventured into other entrepreneurial pursuits, including co-founding Passes, a platform positioned as a rival to OnlyFans. Passes aims to empower content creators by offering a subscription-based model. However, the platform faced scrutiny earlier this year when a content creator filed a lawsuit alleging that Passes distributed sexually abusive material involving her while she was underage. The controversy has raised questions about the platform’s content moderation practices, though Guo has not publicly commented on the issue.Guo’s achievement marks a significant moment for women in tech and entrepreneurship. Her success with Scale AI and her forward-thinking approach to business underscore the potential for women to lead in high-growth industries. As Guo herself predicts, the coming years may see even more women breaking barriers and claiming top spots in the billionaire rankings.With her wealth, influence, and innovative mindset, Lucy Guo is poised to continue shaping the tech industry. Whether through Scale AI, Passes, or new ventures, her journey as a self-made billionaire is just beginning. As she told Forbes, the rapid pace of change in entrepreneurship means the title of youngest billionaire may soon pass to another visionary—potentially another woman pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.