Taylor Swift, once celebrated as the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire thanks to her music empire, is no longer the titleholder. That distinction now belongs to 30-year-old Lucy Guo, according to Forbes on Thursday, April 17.
Guo, a San Francisco native, co-founded Scale AI at just 21. The artificial intelligence company has seen exponential growth, skyrocketing from a $13.8 billion valuation in May 2024 to a staggering $25 billion. Although she departed the company in 2018 after a disagreement with cofounder Alexandr Wang, Guo retained nearly 5% ownership — a stake now worth approximately $1.25 billion. “I don’t really dwell on it,” she told Forbes. “It’s kind of surreal.”
While Wang continues to lead Scale AI, Guo has launched two of her own projects since leaving: the venture capital firm Backend Capital and Passes, a creator platform that boasts high-profile names like Shaquille O’Neal, Olivia Dunne, and DJ Kygo. She’s now among only six self-made female billionaires under 40 — and the only one to achieve it after exiting the company that made her wealthy.
The announcement quickly made waves online. Social media reactions ranged from admiration to skepticism. “It’s inspiring to see success beyond celebrities — even though Taylor does amazing charity work,” one user posted. Another fan declared, “Scale AI was one of my favorite startups. Total fan moment .” Meanwhile, others took a more critical stance: “You’re not self-made if your wealth comes from shares in a company you left,” someone argued. Another added, “A billion-dollar valuation isn’t the same as a billion in the bank.”
Swift, now 35, has not publicly responded to the update. However, there appears to be no tension between the two women. Guo even shared a video in April 2024 of herself meeting Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce — the pop star’s longtime boyfriend — at a festival. “✅ Met Taylor Swift ✅ Danced with Rihanna all night ✅ Took over Coachella,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Swift reached billionaire status in October 2023, with Forbes noting her wealth stems primarily from music sales and live performances rather than endorsements or business ventures — a different path than Guo’s tech-fueled rise.
