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Youngest billionaires in America

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Stacker compiled data from Forbes to figure out who are the youngest billionaires in America. Ties in age are broken by net worth ranking.  
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America’s oldest billionaire is 101-year-old insurance magnate George Joseph. Of more than 700 American billionaires, the median age is 68. But there are young billionaires, too, with some having net worths ranging from $2.5 billion to $17.2 billion. The newest youngest billionaire is only 25 years old.

Stacker compiled data from Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List as of Nov. 23, 2022, to list the youngest billionaires in America. Any ties in age were broken by net worth ranking. Some are heirs to family fortunes and even many of the world’s “self-made” billionaires started off with advantages in life, including startup funds from family. Tech companies like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Facebook have created many fortunes, although technology isn’t the only way to strike it rich. Others have made their money through hedge funds, retail, and even by creating a burger that relies upon the simplest recipe and ingredients.

A few billionaires came from more humble beginnings. Some immigrated seeking better opportunities in America, while others were born to single parents who struggled to provide for them, and some never went to college or dropped out to pursue the ideas that would make them wealthy. Readers will notice that women are rare on this list, pointing to the continuing discrimination and sexism they face in boardrooms, as well as the broader inequality in access to capital often necessary to turn a good idea into big money.

Curious to see who the youngest billionaire is? Continue reading to find out who made the exclusive and enviable list.

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Jan Koum sitting on a white chair onstage.

Manuel Blondeau – Corbis // Getty Images

#50. Jan Koum

– Age: 46
– Net worth: $13.3 billion (#48 richest in the U.S., #130 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: WhatsApp

Born in Ukraine, Jan Koum immigrated to the United States with his mother at the age of 16 in search of a better life. Koum, the co-founder and former CEO of WhatsApp, became a billionaire when Facebook purchased the mobile messaging app in 2014 for $19 billion. Ironically, when Koum left Yahoo in 2007, he applied to Facebook and Twitter, both of whom turned him down, which led to him starting WhatsApp.

Justin Ishbia in a suit.

Enchantingbear // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Justin Ishbia

– Age: 45
– Net worth: $2.2 billion (#465 richest in the U.S., #1,321 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Private equity

In 1986, Justin Ishbia’s father founded United Wholesale Mortgage, a lender based in Michigan. The younger Ishbia has a 22% stake in the company, which has since gone public and in 2015, became the largest wholesale lender in the U.S. Ishbia also has a private equity firm in Chicago, Shore Capital Partners.

Alejandro Santo Domingo standing at a podium in a black suit.

JP Yim // Getty Images

#48. Alejandro Santo Domingo

– Age: 45
– Net worth: $2.5 billion (#423 richest in the U.S., #1,164 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Beer

Alejandro Santo Domingo works at New York investment advisory firm Quadrant Capital Advisors as a senior managing director, but his fortune comes from his family. His father, Julio Mario Santo Domingo, passed down the 15% stake he had in SABMiller, a business division of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, to his sons and grandchildren. Santo Domingo holds a 1.75% stake in the family beer fortune.

Daniel Sundheim walking outside in a blue jacket and jeans.

Kevin Dietsch // Getty Images

#47. Daniel Sundheim

– Age: 45
– Net worth: $2.9 billion (#374 richest in the U.S., #977 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Hedge funds

Daniel Sundheim is the founder and CFO of D1 Capital Partners LP, an investment firm that he started in 2018. Previously, Sundheim worked at Viking Global Investors for 15 years, and he started his career researching private equity investments and executing them at Bear Stearns’ Merchant Banking Group.

A man working on a laptop.

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#46. Jeff Green

– Age: 45
– Net worth: $3.0 billion (#367 richest in the U.S., #959 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Digital advertising

Jeff Green, chairman and CEO of The Trade Desk, attended the University of Southern California where he studied marketing communications. Prior to founding The Trade Desk, Green founded AdECN in 2004. The company, an online advertising exchange, was acquired by Microsoft in 2007.

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Scott and Elena Shleifer dressed in black at a banquet dinner.

Ben Gabbe // Getty Images

#45. Scott Shleifer

– Age: 45
– Net worth: $3.5 billion (#322 richest in the U.S., #806 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Private equity

Scott Shleifer is the founder of the private equity unit at Tiger Global Management, where he is also the Managing Director. Some of the investments he has made have been in Chinese companies, including JD.com, the ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing, and the e-commerce company Meituan.

Ryan Smith onstage wearing a black hat and hoodie.

Sportsfile // Getty Images

#44. Ryan Smith

– Age: 44
– Net worth: $1.5 billion (#620 richest in the U.S., #1,908 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Cloud computing

Qualtrics was acquired by SAP for $8 billion in cash just days before its scheduled IPO, making its co-founder and CEO Ryan Smith a billionaire. The sale of the cloud-computing company also made fellow co-founders, Jared Smith and Scott Smith—Ryan Smith’s brother and father, respectively—millionaires as well.

Andres Santo Domingo at a podium in a black suit.

JP Yim // Getty Images

#43. Andres Santo Domingo

– Age: 44
– Net worth: $1.6 billion (#588 richest in the U.S., #1,775 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Beer

Brother to Alejandro Santo Domingo and son to Julio Mario Santo Domingo, the majority of Andres’ fortune is in Anheuser-Busch InBev, which acquired SABMiller in 2016 for $100 billion. Andres Santo Domingo was educated at Brown University, and while his family fortune comes from the beer industry, he has a passion for music. In 2002, he co-founded record label Kemado Records.

Bom Kim smiling in a suit with a microphone in hand.

M. Von Holden // Getty Images

#42. Bom Kim

– Age: 44
– Net worth: $3.4 billion (#327 richest in the U.S., #826 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Online retailing

While Bom Kim was born in South Korea, he was raised in the U.S. and attended Harvard Business school, although he dropped out after only six months. Kim’s company Coupang has been referred to as the South Korean version of Amazon, and it has given the American company a run for its money. Coupang raised $4.6 billion and was valued at $109 billion in its U.S. initial public offering, one of the biggest IPOs in 2021.

Robert Pera, Jesse Williams, Win Butler, Mo'Ne Davis, Spike Lee, Anthony Anderson, Mike Golic and Nick Cannon attend the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in red basketball uniforms.

Brad Barket // Getty Images

#41. Robert Pera

– Age: 44
– Net worth: $17.2 billion (#40 richest in the U.S., #95 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Wireless networking gear

Robert Pera began working at Apple in 2003, and by 2005 he was working full-time at Ubiquiti Networks, a wireless equipment maker that he founded. In 2012, he also became one of the youngest controlling owners in the NBA after purchasing the Memphis Grizzlies.

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Technology graphs on a screen in multiple colors.

Sodel Vladyslav // Shutterstock

#40. John Bicket

– Age: 42
– Net worth: $1.1 billion (#694 richest in the U.S., #2,279 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Sensor systems

Currently the co-founder and chief technology officer of Samsara, John Bicket also co-founded Meraki. The company came out of research Bicket did while a Ph.D. student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cisco acquired Meraki for $1.2 billion in cash, although it is actually Samsara that made Bricket a billionaire.

Kim Kardashian in a tight light blue outfit.

Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic // Getty Images

#39. Kim Kardashian

– Age: 42
– Net worth: $1.8 billion (#527 richest in the U.S., #1,559 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Shapewear, cosmetics, reality tv

Kim Kardashian, an entrepreneur and television personality, gained international fame after sharing her personal life on the reality TV series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Her popularity has grown thanks to social media, where Kardashian promotes her many endorsement deals and various business ventures, including Skims, her shapewear company.

Orion Hindawi and another man walking together outside.

Drew Angerer // Getty Images

#38. Orion Hindawi

– Age: 42
– Net worth: $2.0 billion (#492 richest in the U.S., #1,414 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Software

Orion Hindawi followed in his father’s footsteps by attending the University of California, Berkeley, although he dropped out. With his father, David, he co-founded Tanium, a cybersecurity firm, in 2007. After a $150 million financing round in October 2020, the company’s valuation was more than $9 billion.

Sean Parker in a black suit speaking at a podium.

Gilbert Carrasquillo // Getty Images

#37. Sean Parker

– Age: 42
– Net worth: $2.8 billion (#387 richest in the U.S., #1,033 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Facebook

Sean Parker was highly successful at an early age, co-founding the file-sharing service Napster at age 19, and revolutionizing how people consumed music. At 24, he was Facebook’s founding president. Since these early successes, Parker has built up his net worth over time through a variety of business interests such as Spotify.

A home for sale.

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP // Getty Images

#36. Mat Ishbia

– Age: 42
– Net worth: $5.2 billion (#196 richest in the U.S., #498 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Mortgage lender

Mat Ishbia, the brother of Justin Ishbia, also made his wealth because of United Wholesale Mortgage. Mat Ishbia is chief executive of the company and in 2021, the wholesale lender reported $2.7 billion in revenue.

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Paul Sciarra in a ball cap on the phone outside.

Drew Angerer // Getty Images

#35. Paul Sciarra

– Age: 41
– Net worth: $1.3 billion (#649 richest in the U.S., #2,065 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Pinterest

In 2010, Paul Sciarra co-founded Pinterest, a photo-bookmarking website, with Evan Sharp and Ben Silbermann. Although he left Pinterest two years later, Sciarra held onto about 7% of the company, which made him a billionaire. Currently, he is the executive chairman of Joby, a maker of electric air taxis.

Tope Awotona speaking onstage in front of a red and blue background.

Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile for Collision // Getty Images

#34. Tope Awotona

– Age: 41
– Net worth: $1.4 billion (#643 richest in the U.S., #2,016 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Software

In 2013, Tope Awotona, a Nigerian American entrepreneur, started Calendly, his software for online appointment scheduling. It would not be until the COVID-19 pandemic, however, that Calendly really found success. Awotona’s story is an inspiring one, as he spent the last of his savings on Calendly after his first three startups failed.

Richard Saghian in a black suit.

Steve Granitz/WireImage // Getty Images

#33. Richard Saghian

– Age: 41
– Net worth: $2.1 billion (#486 richest in the U.S., #1,405 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Fast fashion

Iranian American Richard Saghian started the fast fashion company Fashion Nova in 2006. Every week, Fashion Nova releases hundreds of new styles of clothing, which are promoted by celebrities and influencers on Instagram. Fashion Nova’s annual sales are now greater than $1 billion.

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss in front of colorful balloons.

Alli Harvey/Getty Images for Spotify // Getty Images

#32. Tyler Winklevoss

– Age: 41
– Net worth: $2.1 billion (#483 richest in the U.S., #1,400 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Cryptocurrency

Tyler Winklevoss, along with his brother Cameron Winklevoss, gained a majority of their wealth through cryptocurrency. After reaching a settlement of $65 million from suing Mark Zuckerberg for having stolen what they claim was their idea for a social media platform that became Facebook, they used the money to invest in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. In 2012, the Winklevoss twins launched the venture capital firm Winklevoss Capital, and in 2014, they launched Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange.

Cameron Winklevoss in a white t-shirt onstage.

Joe Raedle // Getty Images

#31. Cameron Winklevoss

– Age: 41
– Net worth: $2.1 billion (#482 richest in the U.S., #1,399 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Cryptocurrency

The investments Cameron Winklevoss has made with his brother launched them onto Forbes’ Crypto Rich List in 2018. Gemini is known for being one of the cryptocurrency industry’s most trusted and secure platforms for buying and selling cryptocurrency, although with recent controversies in the industry, the company’s staying power remains to be seen.

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Joe Gebbia in a black sweater with a microphone on stage.

Stuart C. Wilson // Getty Images

#30. Joe Gebbia

– Age: 41
– Net worth: $6.5 billion (#146 richest in the U.S., #369 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Airbnb

Joe Gebbia co-founded Airbnb in 2008 with business partners Nathan Blecharczyk and Brian Chesky in Gebbia’s San Francisco apartment. The company now offers more than 6 million active listings worldwide, from apartments to luxury yurts.

Brian Chesky holding a magazine onstage.

Kurt Krieger/Corbis // Getty Images

#29. Brian Chesky

– Age: 41
– Net worth: $7.5 billion (#104 richest in the U.S., #286 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Airbnb

Before becoming the co-founder and CEO of lodging rental giant Airbnb, Brian Chesky attended the Rhode Island School of Design. In December 2020, the company’s valuation jumped past $100 billion in its U.S. initial public offering.

Anthony Casalena speaking onstage.

Abbie Parr // Getty Images

#28. Anthony Casalena

– Age: 40
– Net worth: $1.0 billion (#716 richest in the U.S., #2,433 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Software

In 2003, Anthony Casalena founded Squarespace, the website builder, when he was still a college student. He is also the CEO of the company and has approximately 30% ownership of Squarespace, which went public in 2021 after many traditional brick-and-mortar retailers moved their operations online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A phone with the OnlyFans app up sitting on a laptop.

Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket // Getty Images

#27. Leonid Radvinsky

– Age: 40
– Net worth: $1.1 billion (#708 richest in the U.S., #2,386 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: E-commerce

After founding the online entertainment company OnlyFans in 2016, Ukraine-born Leonid Radvinsky purchased a stake in the company in 2018. Now, he is the company’s majority owner as well as director. As of September 2022, OnlyFans had paid Radvinsky more than $500 million.

Sanjit Biswas sitting in a black leather chair on stage.

Steve Jennings // Getty Images

#26. Sanjit Biswas

– Age: 40
– Net worth: $1.2 billion (#689 richest in the U.S., #2,267 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Sensor systems

Sanjit Biswas holds degrees from Stanford and MIT and is the co-founder of Meraki and Samsara. Biswas is the CEO of San Francisco-based Samsara, which is primarily responsible for making him a billionaire.

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Ben Silbermann in a black leather chair on stage.

Steve Jennings // Getty Images

#25. Ben Silbermann

– Age: 40
– Net worth: $1.5 billion (#593 richest in the U.S., #1,797 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Social media

The co-founder and CEO of Pinterest, Ben Silbermann grew up in Iowa and attended Yale. Silbermann worked at Google and tried out several product ideas, including iPhone apps, before hitting it big with Pinterest, a website that allows users to save ideas for future purchases.

Lynsi Snyder in front of an In-N-Out Burger restaurant.

MediaNews Group/Orange County Register // Getty Images

#24. Lynsi Snyder

– Age: 40
– Net worth: $4.2 billion (#258 richest in the U.S., #645 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: In-N-Out Burger

Lynsi Snyder’s grandparents founded the iconic West Coast fast food joint In-N-Out Burger in 1948. Snyder, the company’s president, became a billionaire on her 35th birthday and was the youngest woman on The Forbes 400 in 2018. The nostalgic draw of the chain comes in part because the recipe for its staple items, burgers and fries, remains almost the same as it did more than 70 years ago.

A pipeline being worked on.

shinobi // Shutterstock

#23. Scott Duncan

– Age: 40
– Net worth: $6.6 billion (#139 richest in the U.S., #353 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Pipelines

Scott Duncan is the heir to his family fortune. His father, Dan Duncan, founded the pipeline firm Enterprise Products Partners and left Scott and his three siblings a stake in the company when he died in 2010. The company went public in 1998, and from the time of the IPO until Dec. 31, 2020, the company’s asset base increased from $715 million to more than $64 billion.

Jared Isaacman in a black vest.

PATRICK T. FALLON // Getty Images

#22. Jared Isaacman

– Age: 39
– Net worth: $1.5 billion (#619 richest in the U.S., #1,905 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Payment processing

As founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, Jared Isaacman owns 38% of the company’s shares. The payment processing firm was not Isaacman’s first venture, though. Draken International, a defense firm he founded in 2011, earned him a nine-figure sum when he sold a majority stake in the company in 2019 to Wall Street firm Blackstone.

Drew Houston in a white button down shirt in a chair onstage.

Handout // Getty Images

#21. Drew Houston

– Age: 39
– Net worth: $1.7 billion (#564 richest in the U.S., #1,678 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Cloud storage service

Not only is Drew Houston the co-founder and CEO of online backup and storage service Dropbox, but he is also the company’s largest shareholder, with more than 20% ownership. In February 2020, Houston was appointed to Facebook’s board of directors.

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Brian Armstrong speaking onstage.

Steve Jennings // Getty Images

#20. Brian Armstrong

– Age: 39
– Net worth: $1.9 billion (#525 richest in the U.S., #1,553 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Cryptocurrency

Brian Armstrong’s cryptocurrency business Coinbase was valued at an estimated $68 billion in March 2021, prior to its direct listing on the NASDAQ. Achieving billionaire status led Armstrong to philanthropy. In December 2018, he signed the Giving Pledge, vowing to donate much of his fortune to philanthropic causes.

Nathan Blecharczyk in front of a pink background.

Mike Windle // Getty Images

#19. Nathan Blecharczyk

– Age: 39
– Net worth: $6.6 billion (#143 richest in the U.S., #360 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Airbnb

Nathan Blecharczyk’s sizable fortune is a direct result of co-founding the lodging site Airbnb. Also the company’s chief strategy officer and first engineer, Blecharczyk serves as chairman of Airbnb China. In October 2019, Blecharczyk gifted his alma mater, Boston Latin Academy, $1 million, with a promise to match any other donations to the school up to $1 million.

Kevin Systrom sitting on a pink velvet couch.

Vivien Killilea // Getty Images

#18. Kevin Systrom

– Age: 38
– Net worth: $1.2 billion (#685 richest in the U.S., #2,257 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Instagram

Facebook purchased Instagram, the picture-sharing social media app Kevin Systrom co-founded in 2012, for a cool billion in cash and stock. Systrom’s time at Stanford University may have inspired the idea for Instagram, when he built a photo-sharing site for his fraternity brothers.

Dustin Moskovitz in front of a blue Facebook background on stage.

Kimberly White // Getty Images

#17. Dustin Moskovitz

– Age: 38
– Net worth: $6.5 billion (#147 richest in the U.S., #372 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Facebook

In 2004, Dustin Moskovitz and Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook from their dorm room at Harvard. Leaving Facebook in 2008, Moskovitz co-founded the workflow software company Asana, though most of his wealth comes from Facebook. He still holds an estimated 2% stake in the company.

Mark Zuckerberg speaking in front of a blue Facebook background.

BERTRAND GUAY // Getty Images

#16. Mark Zuckerberg

– Age: 38
– Net worth: $40.8 billion (#17 richest in the U.S., #27 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg is the most well-known and wealthiest of the men who co-founded Facebook. Ranking #7 on Forbes 2020 10 Richest People in the World, Zuckerberg was a 19-year-old sophomore at Harvard when he launched the social media site that would change the world and eventually make him a billionaire at 23.

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LeBron James in a blue and white shirt.

Ethan Miller // Getty Images

#15. LeBron James

– Age: 37
– Net worth: $1.0 billion (#710 richest in the U.S., #2,408 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Basketball

LeBron James has made his wealth as a professional basketball player. As a teenager, he was the #1 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA draft and has won multiple titles, Olympic gold medals, and individual awards. James has been just as successful in the boardroom, making deals that give him equity in many rising brands, not to mention lucrative deals with Nike and other big-name companies.

Josh Kushner in sunglasses.

Mario Renzi – Formula 1/Formula 1 // Getty Images

#14. Josh Kushner

– Age: 37
– Net worth: $2.0 billion (#509 richest in the U.S., #1,469 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Venture capital

Josh Kushner is a businessman and entrepreneur who co-founded Brazil’s biggest social media company, Vostu, where he is also the CFO. In addition to his work with Vostu, Kushner founded Thrive Capital, where he is the managing partner. Kushner became a billionaire after selling off part of Thrive Capital and other venture investments.

A shopping cart in a Walmart store.

Jonathan Weiss // Shutterstock

#13. Lukas Walton

– Age: 36
– Net worth: $22.8 billion (#28 richest in the U.S., #61 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Walmart

Lukas Walton is a member of one of the wealthiest families in America. His grandfather, Sam Walton, founded mega-superstore Walmart. Walton acquired his fortune under tragic circumstances when his father, John Walton, died in a plane crash.

Zach Perret in a black sweater speaking onstage.

Cody Glenn/Sportsfile for Web Summit // Getty Images

#12. Zach Perret

– Age: 35
– Net worth: $1.5 billion (#603 richest in the U.S., #1,850 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Fintech

After the passing of the Dodd-Frank Act, which allows consumers to access their banking data, Zach Perret, along with William Hockey, co-founded Plaid. Plaid is a technology that connects money-moving apps with banking data. Since its founding, Plaid’s customers have included Venmo, Robinhood, Coinbase, Microsoft, and Shopify.

Nikil Viswanathan in front of a pink background onstage.

Taylor Hill // Getty Images

#11. Nikil Viswanathan

– Age: 35
– Net worth: $2.1 billion (#476 richest in the U.S., #1,375 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Blockchain technology

Nikil Viswanathan is the co-founder of Alchemy, a blockchain development platform where he is also CEO. Before working at Alchemy, Viswanathan was the co-founder and CEO of Down To Lunch, a meet-up app that was popular among college students.

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Bobby Murphy and two other men in suits in front of a yellow backgound onstage.

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#10. Bobby Murphy

– Age: 34
– Net worth: $2.5 billion (#434 richest in the U.S., #1,194 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Snapchat

The co-founder and chief technology officer of Snap Inc., Bobby Murphy came up with the idea for the social media app Snapchat with his fraternity brothers Evan Spiegel and Reggie Brown when the trio attended Stanford University. While Murphy’s billions come from Snapchat, he has also invested millions in California real estate.

William Hockey with a microphone.

Cambrian // Wikimedia Commons

#9. William Hockey

– Age: 33
– Net worth: $1.4 billion (#628 richest in the U.S., #1,954 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Fintech

Along with Zach Perret, William Hockey co-founded Plaid, where he served as its CTO and president. Hockey is no longer working at Plaid and is now the co-CEO and co-founder of Column, the only nationally chartered bank to enable builders and developers to make new financial products.

A phone showing the Alchemy app in front of a computer screen.

T. Schneider // Shutterstock

#8. Joe Lau

– Age: 33
– Net worth: $2.1 billion (#476 richest in the U.S., #1,375 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Blockchain, technology

Along with Nikil Viswanathan, Joe Lau co-founded Alchemy, the software that powers Web3 blockchain-based companies. In February 2022, Alchemy was valued at $10.2 billion. Lau owns an estimated 26% stake in Alchemy.

Devin Finzer speaking onstage.

Rita Franca/NurPhoto // Getty Images

#7. Devin Finzer

– Age: 32
– Net worth: $1.3 billion (#651 richest in the U.S., #2,073 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Online marketplace

Devin Finzer is the co-founder of OpenSea, where he is also the CEO. OpenSea is a decentralized marketplace where users can collect, sell, and explore non-fungible tokens.

Evan Spiegel onstage.

Steve Jennings // Getty Images

#6. Evan Spiegel

– Age: 32
– Net worth: $2.7 billion (#395 richest in the U.S., #1,078 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Snapchat

The flashier co-founder of Snapchat, Evan Spiegel married supermodel Miranda Kerr in 2017. Spiegel dropped out of Stanford to start Snapchat, although he finally graduated from the university in 2018 with a degree in product design. Both Spiegel and fellow Snapchat co-founder Bobby Murphy own an estimated 18% of the company.

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The OpenSea app on a cellphone in front of a computer screen.

Jens Kalaene/picture alliance // Getty Images

#5. Alex Atallah

– Age: 30
– Net worth: $1.3 billion (#651 richest in the U.S., #2,073 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Online marketplace

Along with Devin Finzer, Alex Atallah co-founded OpenSea, where he is also the CTO. In January 2021, the company was valued at $13.3 billion after a funding round.

Palmer Luckey in a Hawaiian shirt onstage.

David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile // Getty Images

#4. Palmer Luckey

– Age: 30
– Net worth: $1.3 billion (#645 richest in the U.S., #2,031 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Virtual reality

Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR, a virtual reality company, back in 2012. He sold this company in 2014 to Facebook, getting $2 billion in stock and cash in return. In 2017, Luckey founded Anduril, a defense startup, which in 2021 had an estimated revenue of $150 million.

A computer screen showing FTX.

Michael M. Santiago // Getty Images

#3. Gary Wang

– Age: 29
– Net worth: $4.2 billion (#257 richest in the U.S., #644 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Cryptocurrency exchange

Along with Sam Bankman-Fried, Gary Wang co-founded FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange, where he is also CTO. Bankman-Fried filed for bankruptcy protection for FTX and its operations in the U.S. in late 2022 after FTX collapsed, putting Wang’s future wealth in doubt.

Ryan Breslow onstage in front of a pink background.

Taylor Hill // Getty Images

#2. Ryan Breslow

– Age: 28
– Net worth: $2.0 billion (#504 richest in the U.S., #1,449 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: E-commerce software

Ryan Breslow is the co-founder of Bolt Financials, where he is its executive chairman. Additionally, he is the co-founder and chairman of Love Health. Breslow has gained a large amount of wealth in a short amount of time because Bolt Financials’ valuation went from $250 million to $11 billion in about three years.

The Scale AI app in front of a computer screen.

T. Schneider // Shutterstock

#1. Alexandr Wang

– Age: 25
– Net worth: $1.0 billion (#727 richest in the U.S., #2,467 richest in the world)
– Source of wealth: Artificial intelligence

Along with Lucy Guo, Alexandr Wang co-founded Scale AI, a data platform for artificial intelligence that provides training data for machine learning teams. Those using Scale AI’s technology include the U.S. military, SAP, Lyft, PayPal, Toyota, and General Motors.

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Is real estate actually a good investment?

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Wealth Enhancement Group analyzed data from academic research, Standard and Poor's, and Nareit to compare real estate to stocks as investments.
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It’s well-documented that the surest, and often best, return on investments comes from playing the long game. But between stocks and real estate, which is the stronger bet?

To find out, financial planning firm Wealth Enhancement Group analyzed data from academic research, Standard and Poor’s, and Nareit to see how real estate compares to stocks as an investment.

Data going back to 1870 shows the well-established power of real estate as a powerful “long-run investment.” From 1870-2015, and after adjusting for inflation, real estate produced an average annual return of 7.05%, compared to 6.89% for equities. These findings, published in the 2019 issue of The Quarterly Journal of Economics, illustrate that stocks can deviate as much as 22% from their average, while housing only spreads out 10%. That’s because despite having comparable returns, stocks are inherently more volatile due to following the whims of the business cycle.

Real estate has inherent benefits, from unlocking cash flow and offering tax breaks to building equity and protecting investors from inflation. Investments here also help to diversify a portfolio, whether via physical properties or a real estate investment trust. Investors can track markets with standard resources that include the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, which tracks residential real estate prices; the Nareit U.S. Real Estate Index, which gathers data on the real estate investment trust, or REIT, industry; and the S&P 500, which tracks the stocks of 500 of the largest companies in the U.S.

High interest rates and a competitive market dampened the flurry of real-estate investments made in the last four years. The rise in interest rates equates to a bigger borrowing cost for investors, which can spell big reductions in profit margins. That, combined with the risk of high vacancies, difficult tenants, or hidden structural problems, can make real estate investing a less attractive option—especially for first-time investors.

Keep reading to learn more about whether real estate is a good investment today and how it stacks up against the stock market.


A line chart showing returns in the S&P 500, REITs, and US housing. $100 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1990 would be worth around $2,700 today if you reinvested the dividends.

Wealth Enhancement Group

Stocks and housing have both done well

REITs can offer investors the stability of real estate returns without bidding wars or hefty down payments. A hybrid model of stocks and real estate, REITs allow the average person to invest in businesses that finance or own income-generating properties.

REITs delivered slightly better returns than the S&P 500 over the past 20-, 25-, and 50-year blocks. However, in the short term—the last 10 years, for instance—stocks outperformed REITs with a 12% return versus 9.5%, according to data compiled by The Motley Fool investor publication.

Whether a new normal is emerging that stocks will continue to offer higher REITs remains to be seen.

This year, the S&P 500 reached an all-time high, courtesy of investor enthusiasm in speculative tech such as artificial intelligence. However, just seven tech companies, dubbed “The Magnificent 7,” are responsible for an outsized amount of the S&P’s returns last year, creating worry that there may be a tech bubble.

While indexes keep a pulse on investment performance, they don’t always tell the whole story. The Case-Shiller Index only measures housing prices, for example, which leaves out rental income (profit) or maintenance costs (loss) when calculating the return on residential real estate investment.

A chart showing the annual returns to real estate, stocks, bonds, and bills in 16 major countries between 1870 and 2015.

Wealth Enhancement Group

Housing returns have been strong globally too

Like its American peers, the global real estate market in industrialized nations offers comparable returns to the international stock market.

Over the long term, returns on stocks in industrialized nations is 7%, including dividends, and 7.2% in global real estate, including rental income some investors receive from properties. Investing internationally may have more risk for American buyers, who are less likely to know local rules and regulations in foreign countries; however, global markets may offer opportunities for a higher return. For instance, Portugal’s real estate market is booming due to international visitors deciding to move there for a better quality of life. Portugal’s housing offers a 6.3% return in the long term, versus only 4.3% for its stock market.

For those with deep enough pockets to stay in, investing in housing will almost always bear out as long as the buyer has enough equity to manage unforeseen expenses and wait out vacancies or slumps in the market. Real estate promises to appreciate over the long term, offers an opportunity to collect rent for income, and allows investors to leverage borrowed capital to increase additional returns on investment.

Above all, though, the diversification of assets is the surest way to guarantee a strong return on investments. Spreading investments across different assets increases potential returns and mitigates risk.

Story editing by Nicole Caldwell. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.

This story originally appeared on Wealth Enhancement Group and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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5 tech advancements sports venues have added since your last event

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Uniqode compiled a list of technologies adopted by stadiums, arenas, and other major sporting venues in the past few years.
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In today’s digital climate, consuming sports has never been easier. Thanks to a plethora of streaming sites, alternative broadcasts, and advancements to home entertainment systems, the average fan has myriad options to watch and learn about their favorite teams at the touch of a button—all without ever having to leave the couch.

As a result, more and more sports venues have committed to improving and modernizing their facilities and fan experiences to compete with at-home audiences. Consider using mobile ticketing and parking passes, self-service kiosks for entry and ordering food, enhanced video boards, and jumbotrons that supply data analytics and high-definition replays. These innovations and upgrades are meant to draw more revenue and attract various sponsored partners. They also deliver unique and convenient in-person experiences that rival and outmatch traditional ways of enjoying games.

In Los Angeles, the Rams and Chargers’ SoFi Stadium has become the gold standard for football venues. It’s an architectural wonder with closer views, enhanced hospitality, and a translucent roof that cools the stadium’s internal temperature. 

The Texas Rangers’ ballpark, Globe Life Field, added field-level suites and lounges that resemble the look and feel of a sports bar. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers are building a new arena (in addition to retail space, team offices, and an outdoor public plaza) that will seat 18,000 people and feature a fan section called The Wall, which will regulate attire and rooting interest.

It’s no longer acceptable to operate with old-school facilities and technology. Just look at Commanders Field (formerly FedExField), home of the Washington Commanders, which has faced criticism for its faulty barriers, leaking ceilings, poor food options, and long lines. Understandably, the team has been attempting to find a new location to build a state-of-the-art stadium and keep up with the demand for high-end amenities.

As more organizations audit their stadiums and arenas and keep up with technological innovations, Uniqode compiled a list of the latest tech advancements to coax—and keep—fans inside venues.


A person using the new walk out technology with a palm scan.

Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register // Getty Images

Just Walk Out technology

After successfully installing its first cashierless grocery store in 2020, Amazon has continued to put its tracking technology into practice.

In 2023, the Seahawks incorporated Just Walk Out technology at various merchandise stores throughout Lumen Field, allowing fans to purchase items with a swipe and scan of their palms.

The radio-frequency identification system, which involves overhead cameras and computer vision, is a substitute for cashiers and eliminates long lines. 

RFID is now found in a handful of stadiums and arenas nationwide. These stores have already curbed checkout wait times, eliminated theft, and freed up workers to assist shoppers, according to Jon Jenkins, vice president of Just Walk Out tech.

A fan presenting a digital ticket at a kiosk.

Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox // Getty Images

Self-serve kiosks

In the same vein as Amazon’s self-scanning technology, self-serve kiosks have become a more integrated part of professional stadiums and arenas over the last few years. Some of these function as top-tier vending machines with canned beers and nonalcoholic drinks, shuffling lines quicker with virtual bartenders capable of spinning cocktails and mixed drinks.

The kiosks extend past beverages, as many college and professional venues have started using them to scan printed and digital tickets for more efficient entrance. It’s an effort to cut down lines and limit the more tedious aspects of in-person attendance, and it’s led various competing kiosk brands to provide their specific conveniences.

A family eating food in a stadium.

Kyle Rivas // Getty Images

Mobile ordering

Is there anything worse than navigating the concourse for food and alcohol and subsequently missing a go-ahead home run, clutch double play, or diving catch?

Within the last few years, more stadiums have eliminated those worries thanks to contactless mobile ordering. Fans can select food and drink items online on their phones to be delivered right to their seats. Nearly half of consumers said mobile app ordering would influence them to make more restaurant purchases, according to a 2020 study at PYMNTS. Another study showed a 22% increase in order size.

Many venues, including Yankee Stadium, have taken notice and now offer personalized deliveries in certain sections and established mobile order pick-up zones throughout the ballpark.

A fan walking past a QR code sign in a seating area.

Darrian Traynor // Getty Images

QR codes at seats

Need to remember a player’s name? Want to look up an opponent’s statistics at halftime? The team at Digital Seat Media has you covered.

Thus far, the company has added seat tags to more than 50 venues—including two NFL stadiums—with QR codes to promote more engagement with the product on the field.  After scanning the code, fans can access augmented reality features, look up rosters and scores, participate in sponsorship integrations, and answer fan polls on the mobile platform.

Analysts introducing AI technology at a sports conference.

Boris Streubel/Getty Images for DFL // Getty Images

Real-time data analytics and generative AI

As more venues look to reinvigorate the in-stadium experience, some have started using generative artificial intelligence and real-time data analytics.  Though not used widely yet, generative AI tools can create new content—text, imagery, or music—in conjunction with the game, providing updates, instant replays, and location-based dining suggestions

Last year, the Masters golf tournament even began including AI score projections in its mobile app. Real-time data is streamlining various stadium pitfalls, allowing operation managers to monitor staffing issues at busy food spots, adjust parking flows, and alert custodians to dirty or damaged bathrooms. The data also helps with security measures. Open up an app at a venue like the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and report safety issues or belligerent fans to help better target disruptions and preserve an enjoyable experience.

Story editing by Nicole Caldwell. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.

This story originally appeared on Uniqode and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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Import costs in these industries are keeping prices high

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Machinery Partner used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to identify the soaring import costs that have translated to higher costs for Americans.  
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Inflation has cooled substantially, but Americans are still feeling the strain of sky-high prices. Consumers have to spend more on the same products, from the grocery store to the gas pump, than ever before.

Increased import costs are part of the problem. The U.S. is the largest goods importer in the world, bringing in $3.2 trillion in 2022. Import costs rose dramatically in 2021 and 2022 due to shipping constraints, world events, and other supply chain interruptions and cost pressures. At the June 2022 peak, import costs for all commodities were up 18.6% compared to January 2020.

While import costs have since fallen most months—helping to lower inflation—they remain nearly 12% above what they were in 2020. And beginning in 2024, import costs began to rise again, with January seeing the highest one-month increase since March 2022.

Machinery Partner used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to identify the soaring import costs that have translated to higher costs for Americans. Imports in a few industries have had an outsized impact, helping drive some of the overall spikes. Crop production, primary metal manufacturing, petroleum and coal product manufacturing, and oil and gas extraction were the worst offenders, with costs for each industry remaining at least 20% above 2020.


A multiline chart showing the change in import costs in four major product industries.

Machinery Partner

Imports related to crops, oil, and metals are keeping costs up

At the mid-2022 peak, import costs related to oil, gas, petroleum, and coal products had the highest increases, doubling their pre-pandemic costs. Oil prices went up globally as leaders anticipated supply disruptions from the conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. and other allied countries put limits on Russian revenues from oil sales through a price cap of oil, gas, and coal from the country, which was enacted in 2022.

This activity around the world’s second-largest oil producer pushed prices up throughout the market and intensified fluctuations in crude oil prices. Previously, the U.S. had imported hundreds of thousands of oil barrels from Russia per day, making the country a leading source of U.S. oil. In turn, the ban affected costs in the U.S. beyond what occurred in the global economy.

Americans felt this at the pump—with gasoline prices surging 60% for consumers year-over-year in June 2022 and remaining elevated to this day—but also throughout the economy, as the entire supply chain has dealt with higher gas, oil, and coal prices.

Some of the pressure from petroleum and oil has shifted to new industries: crop production and primary metal manufacturing. In each of these sectors, import costs in January were up about 40% from 2020.

Primary metal manufacturing experienced record import price growth in 2021, which continued into early 2022. The subsequent monthly and yearly drops have not been substantial enough to bring costs down to pre-COVID levels. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting shows that increasing alumina and aluminum production prices had the most significant influence on primary metal import prices. Aluminum is widely used in consumer products, from cars and parts to canned beverages, which in turn inflated rapidly.

Aluminum was in short supply in early 2022 after high energy costs—i.e., gas—led to production cuts in Europe, driving aluminum prices to a 13-year high. The U.S. also imposes tariffs on aluminum imports, which were implemented in 2018 to cut down on overcapacity and promote U.S. aluminum production. Suppliers, including Canada, Mexico, and European Union countries, have exemptions, but the tax still adds cost to imports.

U.S. agricultural imports have expanded in recent decades, with most products coming from Canada, Mexico, the EU, and South America. Common agricultural imports include fruits and vegetables—especially those that are tropical or out-of-season—as well as nuts, coffee, spices, and beverages. Turmoil with Russia was again a large contributor to cost increases in agricultural trade, alongside extreme weather events and disruptions in the supply chain. Americans felt these price hikes directly at the grocery store.

The U.S. imports significantly more than it exports, and added costs to those imports are felt far beyond its ports. If import prices continue to rise, overall inflation would likely follow, pushing already high prices even further for American consumers.

Story editing by Shannon Luders-Manuel. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.

This story originally appeared on Machinery Partner and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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