The Rising Stars: Meet the Top Self-Made Billionaires Under 40 in 2023 (2024)

In a rapidly changing global economy, young entrepreneurs are making their mark by amassing incredible wealth at an unprecedented pace. Hurun Report recently unveiled its Hurun Global Under 40 Self-Made Billionaires for 2023, showcasing the brightest young minds who have conquered the business world by the age of 40. This year, the list includes 59 remarkable individuals, signaling a slight decrease from the previous year. The report provides valuable insights into the shifting landscape of wealth creation among the world's emerging entrepreneurs.

Key Figures from the 2023 Hurun Global U40 Self-Made Billionaires:

1. Mark Zuckerberg (USA) - The Persistent Leader

Despite losing a staggering $8 billion, Mark Zuckerberg, aged 39, continues to reign as the world's richest self-made billionaire under 40 with a fortune of $68 billion.

2. Zhang Yiming (China) - The TikTok Phenomenon

Zhang Yiming, the 40-year-old founder of TikTok and Douyin, saw his wealth drop by $17 billion but maintained the second spot with a fortune of $37 billion.

3. Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht (Australia) - The Canva Duo

Melanie Perkins, aged 35, and her husband Cliff Obrecht, aged 37, of the graphic design platform Canva, broke into the top 3 with a combined wealth of $12 billion.

4. Pavel Durov (Dubai) - The Telegram Pioneer

Dubai-based Pavel Durov, aged 39, doubled his wealth to $11 billion, securing the fourth position. His instant messaging app, Telegram, gained prominence amid privacy concerns with WhatsApp.

5. Dustin Moskovitz (USA) - The Facebook Co-Founder

Dustin Moskovitz, aged 39, a co-founder of Facebook, shares the fifth spot with a wealth of $9.6 billion. His fortune largely stems from his 2% stake in Meta, Facebook's parent company.

6. Dmitry and Igor Bukhman (Russia) - The Gaming Tycoons

Russia-born brothers Dmitry and Igor Bukhman, aged 37 and 40, respectively, of the London-based online gaming company Playrix, each doubled their wealth to $7.7 billion, securing the sixth position.

7. Chris Xu Yangtian (Singapore) - The Fast-Fashion Disruptor

Singapore-based Chris Xu Yangtian, aged 39, of the fast-fashion platform Shein, made his debut in the top 10 with a fortune of $7.5 billion, marking an impressive 19% increase.

8. Zhang Hongfu (China) - The Beverage Brand Magnate

The fastest riser of the year, Zhang Hongfu, aged 38, tripled his wealth to $4.2 billion. He is the mastermind behind the popular Chinese beverage brand MXBC.

9. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - Football Legends Turned Billionaires

Legendary footballers Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 38, and Lionel Messi, aged 35, made their billionaire debut, with each accumulating $1.2 billion. Their earnings come from club income, endorsem*nts, and business ventures.

10. Nikolay Storonsky (Dubai) - The Digital Banking Entrepreneur

Dubai-based Nikolay Storonsky, aged 38, of the UK digital bank Revolut, maintained his position in the top 10 with a wealth of $5 billion, a decrease of $1.6 billion from the previous year.

UK's Rising Billionaires:

The United Kingdom showcased its entrepreneurial prowess with four self-made billionaires under the age of 40, joining the global elite:

Benjamin Francis (Birmingham) - The Sportswear Maven

Ben Francis MBE , aged 30, hailing from Birmingham, established the sportswear brand Gymshark , securing a prominent position among the world's young billionaires.


Johnny Boufarhat (London) - The Virtual Event Innovator

London-based Johnny Boufarhat , aged 28, made a mark with his virtual event platform, Hopin , earning him billionaire status at an early age.


Hugh Grosvenor (London) - The Property Tycoon

Hugh Grosvenor, aged 32, is a London-based property owner who amassed significant wealth by investing in the UK's property market.


Agnete Kirk Thinggaard (London) - The LEGO Heir

Agnete Kirk Thinggaard, aged 39, represents the legacy of LEGO and its continued success as a global brand.


Trends and Insights:

• Entertainment, online gaming, media, and food delivery emerged as the primary sources of wealth for the young billionaires.
• Notably, 25% of the billionaires were immigrants, with Russia, China, and Ireland being the most common countries of origin.
• Most young entrepreneurs focus on selling software and services (83%), while only 17% deal in physical products.
• The average age of these billionaires is 37, with some achieving billionaire status before turning 30.
• The Bay Area in the USA remains the preferred location for young billionaires, with the USA being the dominant country of residence.
• These budding moguls have demonstrated that it takes them less than six years, on average, to accumulate their first billion dollars.

The Hurun Global U40 Self-Made Billionaires list not only celebrates the success of these young entrepreneurs but also offers valuable insights into the rapidly evolving landscape of wealth creation. As they continue to break barriers and redefine industries, it is intriguing to ponder how big these young billionaires can grow and how they will utilize their wealth in the years to come.