Young App Developers Who Became Millionaires (2024)

There were a combined 75 billion iOS and Android app downloads worldwide in 2015, driving the field of professional developers to reach 19 million just two years later. The majority of these apps are made for mobile use, and the most popular ones are those used for social networking, so it’s no wonder some of the most recognized names in app development are practically kids.

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Young App Developers Who Became Millionaires (1)

Some of these developers have become so successful, in fact, that they managed to make their first million even before they hit the legal drinking age.

Four exceptional young millionaire app developers stand out from the crowd (in no particular order):

  • Nick A’loisio
  • Brian Wong
  • Chad Mureta

Nick D’Aloisio

Young App Developers Who Became Millionaires (2)

Born in November 1995, Nick is an English computer programmer and internet entrepreneur. He is known for his app Summly, which is a summarization and artificial intelligence technology developed with SRI International.

In March 2011, Nick created an iOS application called Trimmit, which used an analytical tool to condense the text content into 1000, 500, or 140-character summary text. This application caught the attention of Apple, who then featured it as a new noteworthy application on the App store.

The huge potential of Trimmit then attracted the attention of a billionaire who provided Nick with $300,000 in venture capital funding. Using the feedback that Nick had got from Trimmit, he completely revamped the application and in December 2011, re-launched it as Summly.

One of the youngest self-made millionaires ever, Nick is also the world’s youngest venture capital-backed entrepreneur. In 2011, he initially raised $200,000 in seed funding from the Hong Kong billionaire Sir Li Ka-shing’s Horizon Ventures for his app. Later in 2012, he went on to raise a good $1.23 million from various A-list celebrity investors like Rupert Murdoch, Ashton Kutcher, and Stephen Fry.

As of March 2013, the app was sold to Yahoo! For $30 million. He was also awarded the “Innovator of the Year” title by Wall Street Journal. Until October 2015, Nick led the Yahoo News Digest operation launched at CES 2014, which went on to win the 201 Apple Design Award at WWDC for its technological and product excellence. Today, his latest venture Sphere Knowledge is raising funding for a stealthy new startup.

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Brian Wong

Young App Developers Who Became Millionaires (7)

Born in 1991, Brian Wong is a Canadian internet entrepreneur. In 2010, Brian along with his colleagues Courtney Guertin and Amadeus Demarzi, founded Kiip, a mobile app rewards platform that lets companies and brands give real-world rewards for in-game achievements.

Kiip is active on more than 1,100 apps and on 75 million devices. It sends 500 million moments of achievement-based reward notices to customers on a monthly basis through its network. By mid-2012, Kiip had raised more than $15 million venture capital from companies like Hummer Winbald, Relay Ventures, Verizon Ventures, True Ventures, CrossLink Capital, and many others.

The app company has built strategic partnerships with more than 40 brands including 1-800-Flowers, American Apparel, Amazon.com, Carl’s Jr., Best Buy, Disney, Pepsi, Victoria’s Secret, Playboy, and Vitamin Waters.

Kiip has expanded beyond the games platform and into the fitness apps like Nexercise, MapMyRun, Gym-Pact, LoloFit, and many others. Today, Kiip helps brands run more effective campaigns with “mobile advertising people like.”

2010 saw Brian as the second youngest company leader to receive funding from a venture capital firm, the first spot taken by Nick D’Aloisio. He has spoken at various popular conferences like TEDx, and SXSW.

Chad Mureta

Young App Developers Who Became Millionaires (8)

Then a real estate agent, Chad Mureta was returning from a basketball game when an accident got him hospitalized and led him to come up with the idea of the Fingerprint Security Pro app.

Chad noticed the doctors at the hospital looking through his phone and thought about security. During his spare time at the hospital, he began downloading apps, understanding what was making people download them and why they were successful.
He then sketched his idea on a piece of paper and sent it to a developer. With no background in technology or development, his only strengths lay in the business and creative side of things. Three months after conceiving the idea, he submitted it to the app store, and the first month of sales brought in $12,000 which recouped his initial investment.

Two months after launching his own company, one of his apps averaged $30,000 per month cash flow. The income of the company later reached $120,000 in one month. In the next two years, he created and sold three app companies, which rank in millions.

Chad credits all of his success to having a game plan. In an interview with WHO? He says, “80% of business is the psychology of the business owner and 20% is the skillset. If you have psychology, you can get the skillset.” Today, Chad heads up App Empire, whose products help people turn app ideas into businesses.

Here is a slideshow that highlights their achievements.

The App Market

The Android and the iOS market are getting bigger by the minute. New ideas for innovation are always welcome. The mobile app economy was worth $53 billion in 2012, and TechCrunch says it will be worth $6.3 trillion in 2021.

The infographic below depicts major developments in the app market.

Young App Developers Who Became Millionaires (9)

Conclusion

Prepare yourself for the mobile app wave by building your skills and getting certified.

If you are looking to enhance your software development skills further, we would highly recommend you to check Simplilearn's Full Stack Java Developer course. This course can help you hone the right skills and make you job-ready in no time.

If you have any queries, feel free to post them in the comments sections below. Our team will get back to you at the earliest.

Young App Developers Who Became Millionaires (2024)

FAQs

Can an app developer become a millionaire? ›

The answer is- Yes! But it's not so easy. It involves a lot of market research and innovative ideation to develop a mobile application that generates millions of revenues annually.

Who is the youngest kid to make an app? ›

12-year-old boy from Jhajjar creates three apps, sets Guinness record for youngest app developer. The Jhajjar boy, identified as Kartikeya Jakhar, said that his father is a farmer who had purchased a mobile phone which costs around ₹10,000 for online classes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Who is the richest app developer in the world? ›

Top 10 Richest App Creators
  • Tobi Lütke. ...
  • Travis Kalanick. ...
  • Kevin Systrom. ...
  • Whitney Wolfe Herd. ...
  • Nick D'Aloisio. ...
  • Chad Mureta. ...
  • Brian Wong. ...
  • Robert Nay. Robert Nay is a name that often emerges on lists depicting – Which Entrepreneurs Have Made the Most Money from Their App Idea at a Young Age?
Aug 8, 2022

What is the most profitable app to make? ›

Dating app makes the most profit. In 2021, dating apps made over $3,241 million in revenue.

Can you get rich off creating an app? ›

There is definitely plenty of money to be made with mobile applications. Even free apps make money. Lots of factors play a role in how much money your app can make. It depends on the platform, the type of app, and your revenue strategy.

How much does a beginner app developer make? ›

Entry Level Mobile Application Developer Salary. $83,500 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $127,500 is the 75th percentile.

What is the lowest salary for an app developer? ›

Application Developer Salary in India
  • ₹ 3.0L (lowest)
  • ₹ 11.6L (average)
  • ₹ 16.5L (highest)

What is the richest app? ›

Top Grossing Apps Key Statistics
  • TikTok was the top grossing app of 2023, generating $2.7 billion revenue.
  • Google One was the top grossing app in the United States in 2023 with $510 million revenue.
  • Honor of Kings was the top grossing game of 2023, generating $1.47.
Feb 1, 2024

How much money can a simple app make? ›

It is difficult to put a single figure on how much revenue an app can generate because of the wide range of apps and the disparity of money they earn. For example, the top 200 apps generate on average $82,500 daily, while the top 800 apps generate around $3,500.

What is the oldest app ever? ›

In 1997, the Nokia 6110 included a built-in version of the basic arcade game “Snake,” which many consider the first mobile app.

Can I make my kid a TikTok? ›

TikTok is available for people aged 13 and older (or other ages as indicated in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service). If you're located in the U.S. and have a child under 13 years old, you can learn more about how they may create an account to access a TikTok experience specifically designed for them.

Can app developers make millions? ›

Mobile App Developer Salary Key Data Points:

Worldwide mobile app revenue in 2023 – $150 billion. Revenue generated with games – $95 billion. Revenue generated with non-games – $55 billion.

Is Mark Zuckerberg an app developer? ›

Mark Zuckerberg (born May 14, 1984, White Plains, New York, U.S.) is an American computer programmer who was cofounder and CEO (2004– ) of Facebook, a social networking website.

Who is the youngest app developer in the US? ›

Seven-year-old Zora Ball, of Philadelphia, USA, is the youngest person to develop a full working version of a mobile videogame application.

Do app developers make a lot of money? ›

Mobile App Developer Salary Key Data Points:

Revenue generated with games – $95 billion. Revenue generated with non-games – $55 billion. Large studios generate 65% of revenue, mid-size – 25, indie developers – 10% US mobile app developer average salary (depending on years of experience) ranges from $80k to $150k / year.

Can a software developer be a millionaire? ›

It's so possible with the right skills and attitude. Software engineers are in demand, and their jobs are high paying. You can opt to be an employee at a company, start a company or do freelancing. Whichever path you choose, you can still make millions.

How much money can you make developing an app? ›

For example, the top 200 apps generate on average $82,500 daily, while the top 800 apps generate around $3,500. Gaming apps also make around $22,250, while entertainment apps make $3,090 daily, so there is no firm way to say how much an average app makes.

Can you make a living as an app developer? ›

The easiest and most common revenue stream for app developers is in-app advertising which is more often used in free apps. You can choose from displaying commercials to advertising affiliate products and getting paid for every click, view, and install from the ads.

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