The world’s youngest billionaires in 2026 are almost all heirs in their early twenties — the youngest, at just 20, inherited stakes in family industrial and pharma empires. The rare exceptions are three 22-year-old cofounders of the AI startup Mercor, the youngest self-made billionaires ever.
The youngest billionaires in the world (2026)
Most of the youngest billionaires did not build their fortunes — they inherited them. On the Forbes 2026 list, eight of the ten youngest are heirs to family businesses, from Brazilian machinery to German pharmaceuticals. All figures are as of 2026 and change as fortunes and ages shift.
| Age | Name | Country | Net worth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Amelie Voigt Trejes | Brazil | ~$1.1B | WEG (heir) |
| 20 | Johannes von Baumbach | Germany | ~$6.6B | Boehringer Ingelheim (heir) |
| 21 | Clemente Del Vecchio | Italy | ~$6.8B | EssilorLuxottica (heir) |
| 21 | Lívia Voigt | Brazil | ~$1.4B | WEG (heir) |
| 22 | Kim Jung-youn | South Korea | ~$1.7B | Nexon (heir) |
| 22 | Surya Midha | USA | ~$2.2B | Mercor (self-made) |
| 22 | Brendan Foody | USA | ~$2.2B | Mercor (self-made) |
| 22 | Adarsh Hiremath | USA | ~$2.2B | Mercor (self-made) |
| 23 | Kevin David Lehmann | Germany | ~$4.9B | dm-drogerie markt (heir) |
| 23 | Felipe Voigt | Brazil | ~$1.1B | WEG (heir) |
Source: Forbes 2026 World’s Youngest Billionaires. Ages and the youngest title change every year.
Heirs, and a few founders
The pattern is clear: it is far easier to be a billionaire at 20 by inheritance than by building a company. The exceptions stand out. Forbes calls the three Mercor cofounders — all 22 — the youngest self-made billionaires ever, beating Mark Zuckerberg, who first made the list at 23. Their AI recruiting startup turned them into billionaires within a few years. In total, a record 35 billionaires were under 30 in 2026, worth a combined $92.4 billion (Forbes).
Key takeaways
- The youngest billionaires in 2026 are just 20 years old, and most are heirs.
- Eight of the ten youngest inherited their wealth.
- The three 22-year-old Mercor cofounders are the youngest self-made billionaires ever.
- A record 35 billionaires were under 30, worth $92.4 billion (Forbes).
Frequently asked questions
Who is the youngest billionaire in the world in 2026?
At 20, Brazil’s Amelie Voigt Trejes, an heir to the industrial-motor maker WEG, is Forbes’ youngest billionaire of 2026, tied in age with Germany’s Johannes von Baumbach, an heir to the drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim.
Who is the youngest self-made billionaire?
The three 22-year-old cofounders of the AI startup Mercor — Surya Midha, Brendan Foody and Adarsh Hiremath — each worth about $2.2 billion. Forbes calls them the youngest self-made billionaires ever recorded.
How many billionaires are under 30?
A record 35 billionaires were under the age of 30 in 2026, worth a combined $92.4 billion (Forbes). Most inherited their fortunes, but a record 12 of them were self-made.
Sources
- Forbes, The World’s Youngest Billionaires 2026 — retrieved 2026-07-05 — forbes.com
- Forbes, 2026 Billionaires facts and figures — retrieved 2026-07-05 — forbes.com
- VnExpress, The youngest billionaires of 2026 — retrieved 2026-07-05 — vnexpress.net
Last updated: July 4, 2026
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