Young Tech Billionaires. Who’s Next?

I last wrote on Mark Zuckerberg, of Facebook, being the Youngest Billionaire in the World. There are so many millionaires in the world today, it’s not even a surprise when you actually meet one. The new craze is hitting the billionaires list. Today I will highlight a few of the YOUNGEST members of the BILLIONAIRE club, who made their riches through the information age and the power of the internet! Imagine what this list will look like in 5 or 10 years?

Google Founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

#5 Sergey Brin & Larry Page
Age: 34 – Net Worth: $18.5 billion
Both at the age of only 34, Larry Page and Sergey Brin have a network of $18.5 billion each. In 2004, the founders of Google both cracked the Top 10 on the billionaire’s list, with a mere $4 billion each. Today they both share the #5 spot.

Yang too position of CEO in June 2001.

#261 Jerry Yang
Age: 38 – Net Worth: $1.9 billion
Jerry Yang met his founding Yahoo partner while a student at Stanford University. In 1996, they would take Yahoo public. Yang would become the chief executive of Yahoo in June 2001. Yahoo is currently valued at one-fifth of Google’s value, but back in 2004 they were neck and neck at $52 billion apiece.

Pierre Omidyar is the original programmer of eBay

#32 Pierre Omidyar
Age: 40 – Net Worth: $8.9 billion
Known for programming one of the most successful and long time standing web sites, Pierre Omidyar launched eBay in 1995. In 1995 Pierre handed executive control to Meg Whitman, while still remaining as chairman. Pierre is currently an active blogger philanthropic through his Omidyar Network.

Dell started selling computers out of his College dorm room.

#8 Michael Dell
Age: 42 – Net Worth: $17.2 billion
After numerous company setbacks, including pummeled share price, Michael Dell reclaimed his executive spot at Dell Computer in January, for the first time since 2004. Since Dell’s return, share are up 25% in the past 12 months, and there has been many changes to the company. Michael started selling computers from his University of Texas dorm room in 1984 with $1,000, he then dropped out to start Dell. In 1998 he would take Dell public. The majority of Dell’s networth is now outside of the company, and reinvests in private MSD Capital: equities, real estate, private equity.

All of these billionaire’s made their fortunes in their own unique way. The one thing they shared in common, was the power of computer and use of the internet. With 2.0 web sites being produced in a such a mass volume and quickly gobbled up for millions by big players, will any of the 2.0 founders make their way to the billionaires list? In the next 5-10 years, will Forbes even bother with their massively growing “millionaires” list and just focus on the ever growing list of “billionaires”?

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22 Comments

  2. Michael Dell is still young?! Wow, I remember 15+ years ago in elementary school when our school got our first computers. They were all Dell's loaded with Windows 3.11.

  3. The guys worked hard for what they have. They are all self made. They deserve all the credit they get.

    I guess this is what Calacanis was talking about, aiming for big ideas that have the potential to achieve this level of success.

    1. Yeah, but you can spend your whole life chasing the next big idea and never get anywhere.

      I guess you first need to establish an ongoing, passive income before you attempt such feats

  6. i think If you aim high you ge to the middle but if you aim middle you get low and if you aim low you get nothing all these guys aimed high and got high

  7. forbes top 3 thousandnaires

    1. Zac Johnson from zacjohnson.com

    2. John Chow from Johnchow.com

    3. and me from thegeekboys.com (well I'm in the wrong list I should be in the top dollarnaires)

    1. Add me to the list..

      I am one but not earning through my blog 😉 but from the web through my portfolio of websites.

  9. The common denominator for all of those mentioned in this post (aside from disciplined business management):

    Take a good idea, identify its weaknesses, modify it and deliver it better than anyone else has ever done before.

  10. wow This post is really inspired me,My age is 22 I also want to be top list.I will try my leven best with my site.

  12. I always dream of becomming a billionaire like these guys. And I always wonder how they did it and if they ever thought they would become billionaires. I don't think they planned to become billionaires from what I've read and heard about these billionaires is that they just had an idea and stuck with it and eventually it became "hot" and they became billionaires.

  13. Well… I'm 25 years old now and making 15 million South African Rands a month. Thas roughly 2.3 mil USD a month. I'm seeking to retire at age 30. And also want to be rated SA youngest millioner… Penny for your thought's on that.

  14. Well I don't know whether this list will change that much in 5 or 10 years… I mean, do we have already lost the internet bandwagon, or are we still in time to hit it big with the internet revolution?

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