10 Richest Self‑Made Billionaires Under 40: Edwin Chen Rs 1.49 lakh crore, Wang Ning Rs 1.30 lakh crore and India’s Nikhil Kamath Rs 27,400 crore

10 Richest Self‑Made Billionaires Under 40: Every so often, the world pauses to marvel at a new generation of wealth creators—individuals who are not just young by conventional standards but exceedingly rich by anyone’s measure. There was a time, not too long ago, when Mark Zuckerberg’s meteoric ascent defined this modern archetype: the college dropout turned billionaire maestro. In May 2024, Zuckerberg’s reign as the richest self-made billionaire under 40 came to an end after an astonishing eleven-year run. Today, that mantle belongs to others who have captured global attention in sectors from artificial intelligence to toymaking.

What makes this list particularly interesting is not just the size of their bank balances, but also the stories behind them. The latest tally from Forbes’ 2025 World’s Billionaires List counted 71 self‑made billionaires under the age of 40 — a figure that matches the all‑time high first seen during the pandemic boom of 2021. But while the headcount is familiar, the composition tells a story of shifting economic power, with artificial intelligence and digital platforms dominating the league.

Collectively, this group controls about $218 billion. However, it is significantly less than the $444 billion amassed by under‑40 self‑made billionaires in 2021. Back then, Zuckerberg alone accounted for nearly a quarter of the sum. Today’s distribution is more diversified, and in many ways, more reflective of broader trends. Nearly half made their fortunes in technology, closely followed by finance and investments. There are 32 Americans on the list, eight from China, six from India, and representation from countries as diverse as Australia, Sweden and Canada. Only eight are women, a figure that underscores both progress and the work still to be done.

What follows is a journey through the top ten wealthiest among these remarkable individuals, along with a spotlight on the Indians who made the cut.

With a net worth of $18 billion, Chen is in the first position, thanks to Surge AI, his 2020 startup that organises and labels data for AI training. The company, which counts Google and Anthropic as clients, earned $1.2 billion in revenue in 2024 alone. Chen embodies the new AI-driven wealth wave.

Wang Ning & Family (38, China) – Toys

Wang Nig is the man behind Pop Mart International Group. The brand is known for its collectible “blind box” toys, and Pop Mart's stock value went up more than 100% in a year when Labubu got famous. His net worth is $15.7 billion.

John Collison (35, Ireland) – Payment Software

Younger brother John, also worth $10.1 billion, shares the reins of Stripe. Together, the Collison brothers are prime examples of how sibling partnerships can dominate tech sectors.

Justin Sun (35, St Kitts and Nevis) – Cryptocurrency

Justin is a figure of intrigue in the blockchain space. Sun’s ventures in crypto have earned him $8.5 billion

Cliff Obrecht (39, Australia) – Software

Obrecht, co-founder of Canva, holds roughly $7.6 billion. His platform revolutionised design, making graphic creation accessible to millions worldwide.

Melanie Perkins (38, Australia) – Software

Perkins, Canva’s CEO, shares Obrecht’s fortune of $7.6 billion. Her story reflects the power of combining design thinking with software scalability.

Vlad Tenev (38, United States) – Stock Trading App

Tenev’s stock-trading platform, designed for retail investors, has earned him $6.6 billion, highlighting the new era of commission-free trading that democratises finance.

Cai Haoyu (38, China) – Mobile Games

With a $6 billion net worth, Cai thrives in the mobile gaming industry. His success underscores how entertainment-focused digital platforms can outpace traditional media in revenue.

Timur Turlov (38, Kazakhstan) – Stock Brokerage

Completing the top ten, Turlov’s expertise in modern brokerage has brought him $5.9 billion, proving that financial services, when innovatively executed, remain extremely lucrative.

India’s Rising Stars Under 40

India is represented by four entrepreneurs whose combined fortunes exceed $11 billion:

Ankur Jain (35, US) – $3.4 billion

Founder of Bilt Rewards, Jain lets renters earn loyalty points on housing payments. Previously, he co-founded Humin, sold to Tinder in 2016.

Co-founder of Zerodha, India’s groundbreaking brokerage startup, Nikhil transformed the country’s investment landscape.

These young billionaires reflect not just financial success but also innovation and industry disruption, from AI and fintech to gaming and housing solutions.