In a stunning turn of events, Taylor Swift has lost her title as the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire, now held by Lucy Guo, a 30-year-old entrepreneur who made her fortune in the artificial intelligence industry.
Lucy Guo, co-founder of Scale AI, unseated Swift in April 2025 after the company reached a valuation of $25 billion.
Guo, who still holds a significant stake in the company, saw her net worth rise to $1.3 billion, as per Forbes’ latest list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women. The deal, which is set to close soon, solidified Guo’s place atop the financial rankings.
Guo’s rise to wealth is tied to her relentless work ethic and business acumen. A self-professed workaholic, she has amassed her fortune from Scale AI, a company she founded in 2016 with Alexandr Wang.
Scale AI is known for providing data services to tech giants like OpenAI and Alphabet, making it a crucial player in the AI boom.
However, her journey to success hasn’t been without controversy. Guo was reportedly fired from Scale AI in a clash with Wang over the company’s future direction, although she maintained a 5% stake, which now makes her a billionaire.
Before her tech empire, Guo had a brief stint at Quora, where she met Wang, and also worked as Snapchat’s first female designer.
But it was her decision to drop out of Carnegie Mellon University to pursue entrepreneurial ventures that truly set her on the path to success, supported by a $100,000 scholarship from billionaire investor Peter Thiel.
Despite her rapid ascent in the tech world, Guo’s lifestyle often makes headlines for its extravagant nature. From a swanky apartment in Miami to a house in Los Angeles, she is known for her penchant for high-end living.
Guo admitted that she doesn’t cook and relies on Uber Eats for all her meals, and she is regularly seen at techno raves and fitness boot camps, a reflection of her vibrant, party-girl persona.
Her company, Passes, a content creation platform similar to OnlyFans and Patreon, has added to her wealth, securing $40 million in a Series A funding round.
However, Passes has recently come under legal scrutiny following a class-action lawsuit accusing the platform of hosting illegal content. Guo and Passes have strongly denied the allegations, with legal representatives dismissing the claims as baseless.
As of now, Guo holds the spot of the 26th wealthiest self-made woman in America, while Taylor Swift is listed at 21st, still holding her position as the richest female musician in the world with a net worth of $1.6 billion.
Swift’s immense success, especially with her Eras Tour, helped her break into the billionaire ranks in 2023, solidifying her place in the history books.
While Guo’s rise to billionaire status has been met with both admiration and controversy, it’s clear that the tech mogul is poised to continue making waves in the industry—whether through her ambitious business ventures or her unapologetic persona.
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