For the first time in 15 years, there are no self-made billionaires under the age of 30, according to Forbes’ World’s Billionaires list. The 25 youngest billionaires are all 33 or younger, with a combined worth of $110 billion. While some have built notable companies like Snap, Gymshark, and Oculus VR, the majority have inherited their fortunes, marking the beginning of a long-anticipated generational wealth transfer.
Among the youngest billionaires is Brazil’s Livia Voigt, just 19 years old and worth $1.1 billion due to her stake in WEG, an electrical equipment producer cofounded by her late grandfather. Other young billionaires who have inherited their fortunes include the Mistry brothers from Ireland, the Del Vecchio siblings from Italy, and Sophie Luise Fielmann from Germany. The passing of family members has led to these young individuals inheriting substantial wealth.
The rise of young heirs to billionaire status is a result of the aging population and the expected transfer of trillions of dollars in wealth from the elderly to their descendants. Aging billionaires like Charles Koch and Phil Knight are preparing to pass on their inheritances, while the younger generation is stepping into leadership roles within their family businesses. The trend of young heirs joining the billionaire ranks is expected to continue in the coming years.
While many of the youngest billionaires on the list have inherited their wealth, there are still a few self-made entrepreneurs among them. Shunsaku Sagami from Japan, for example, became a billionaire through his merger and acquisitions brokerage using AI technology. However, the number of self-made young moguls has decreased, as many of the previous generation of young entrepreneurs, such as Snap’s Bobby Murphy and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, have grown up and are not being replaced.
Overall, the wealth of the 25 youngest billionaires has increased compared to the previous year, with some experiencing significant gains. The majority of these billionaires are from Europe, with others hailing from Brazil, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States. Their sources of wealth vary, ranging from tech startups to real estate empires to defense technology companies, reflecting the diversity of industries that produce wealth in the modern world.
The list of the 25 youngest billionaires includes individuals like Evan Spiegel from the U.S., John Collison from Ireland, and Andy Fang from the U.S., who have made their fortunes through ventures like Snapchat, Stripe, and DoorDash, respectively. Other notable names include Gustav Magnar Witzøe from Norway, the world’s fifth-richest person, and Remi Dassault from France, who inherited wealth from their family businesses. Regardless of how they obtained their wealth, these young billionaires represent the future of global economic power and influence.
