Self Made Success: The World's Richest Women Under 40
They didn't wait a lifetime to build empires. While much of the world's female billionaire wealth still stems from inheritance, a bold new generation of self-made women is rewriting the rules—and doing so before 40.
From Rihanna's inclusive beauty empire to Lucy Guo's AI innovations, the world's richest self-made women are forging fortunes in industries as diverse as entertainment, technology, beauty, and luxury jewelry.
Their ascent stands in stark contrast to the legacy wealth of traditional empires, signaling a dynamic shift in the landscape of female fortune.
Curious to meet the leaders of this new wave? These women aren't merely amassing wealth—they're selling out stadiums, breaking ceilings and records, and redefining what it means to be among the richest women in the world.
Global pop icon Katy Perry, known for hits like 'Roar', 'Dark Horse, and Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)' sold the rights to her music catalog for a reported $225 million in 2023, significantly boosting her fortune. After seven seasons as a high-earning judge on American Idol, she announced her departure in 2024 and hinted at new studio work. Net Worth: $350 million Born: 1984, United States Age: 39 Industry: Entertainment Source of Wealth: Self-made, Music Impact: One of the best-selling female artists, with 48 million albums sold. Interesting Fact: Sold music catalog for $225 million in 2023.
Christina Cacioppo, co-founder and CEO of Vanta, launched the automated security and compliance company in 2017 after roles at Union Square Ventures and Dropbox. Vanta reached $100 million in annual recurring revenue in 2024 and a $1.6 billion valuation by private investors in 2022. Net Worth: $385 million Born: 1988, United States Age: 36 Industry: Technology, Software Source of Wealth: Self-made, Vanta Impact: Vanta automates security for 7,000+ companies. Interesting Fact: Ran an eBay Beanie Baby business at age 11.
Whitney Wolfe Herd founded Bumble, the women-first dating app launched in 2014. Its 2021 IPO briefly made her a billionaire, and despite stock fluctuations, she retains an 18% stake. After stepping down as CEO in 2024, she returned in 2025. Her earlier role as a Tinder co-founder adds to her tech legacy. Read More India's gem and jewelry exports fall in November 2024 Net Worth: $400 million Born: 1989, United States Age: 35 Industry: Technology, Dating Apps Source of Wealth: Self-made, Bumble Impact: Bumble has 50 million active users globally. Interesting Fact: Youngest female CEO to take a company public in 2021.
Neha Narkhede co-founded data-streaming software company Confluent, building on her engineering work developing the open source messaging system Apache Kafka at LinkedIn. Confluent's 2021 IPO valued it at $9.1 billion, with her 6% stake driving her wealth. In 2023, Narkhede co-founded and now leads Oscilar, a fraud detection startup self-funded with $20 million alongside her husband. Net Worth: $680 million Born: 1985, India Age: 39 Industry: Technology, Cloud Computing Source of Wealth: Self-made, Confluent Impact: Confluent serves 1,000+ enterprises; Apache Kafka powers 80% of Fortune 500. Interesting Fact: Self-funded Oscilar with $20 million.
Despite 'self-made' debates, one thing is certain: Kylie Jenner transformed her reality TV fame into a multimillion-dollar business empire. Launching Kylie Cosmetics in 2015 with her modeling earnings, she leveraged her massive Instagram audience to promote her lip kits. In 2020, she sold 51% of the brand to Coty for $600 million, retaining a 44% stake. Expanding into fashion with Khy and canned cocktails with Sprinter, Jenner's $710 million fortune reflects the power of celebrity and digital influence in shaping consumer brands. Net Worth: $710 million Born: 1997, United States Age: 27 Industry: Cosmetics, Fashion Source of Wealth: Self-made, Kylie Cosmetics Impact: Kylie Cosmetics sold $330 million in products in 2023. Interesting Fact: Youngest on Forbes' self-made list (since 2019).
Born in 1990 in China, Shuo Wang is the co-founder and chief revenue officer of Deel, a global HR software company. After moving to the U.S. at 16, she studied robotics at MIT and co-founded air purification startup Aeris, later acquired by iRobot for approximately $100 million. Deel, founded in 2019, surpassed $500 million in annual revenue by 2024, cementing Wang's status as a rising tech entrepreneur. Net Worth: $850 million Born: 1990, China Age: 35 Industry: Technology, HR Software Source of Wealth: Self-made, Deel Impact: Supports remote hiring for 20,000+ companies. Interesting Fact: Moved from China to the U.S. at 16 to pursue tech ventures.
Born in the United States, Daniela Amodei is the co-founder and president of Anthropic, a leading artificial intelligence company launched in 2021 with her brother Dario and former OpenAI researchers. Previously an executive at OpenAI and a founding recruiter at Stripe, Amodei's journey—from English literature major to AI pioneer—highlights her adaptability. With Anthropic valued at over $61 billion in 2025 by private investors and partnerships with Amazon and Alphabet (Google's parent company), she is shaping the future of safe, large-scale AI systems. Net Worth: $1.2 billion Born: 1987, United States Age: 37 Industry: Technology, AI Source of Wealth: Self-made, Anthropic Impact: Anthropic's safe AI systems power enterprise solutions globally. Interesting Fact: Transitioned from English literature to AI leadership.
Born in 1994, Lucy Guo is a tech prodigy and one of only six self-made female billionaires under 40. She co-founded artificial intelligence firm Scale AI in 2016 with Alexandr Wang, leaving two years later but retaining a nearly 6% stake. A former Thiel Fellow and Carnegie Mellon dropout, Guo has since launched Passes, a fast-growing platform for digital creators that raised over $50 million from investors like Skimm's Emma Grede. Net Worth: $1.3 billion Born: 1994, United States Age: 30 Industry: Technology, AI Source of Wealth: Self-made, Scale AI Impact: Scale AI powers AI models for 300+ companies. Interesting Fact: Youngest self-made female billionaire in tech.
Lu Yiwen, also known as Wendy Lu, is the co-founder and CEO of Darry Ring, a jewelry brand renowned for its 'One Love, One Lifetime' philosophy—allowing only one engagement ring per lifetime, verified by identity. Starting with a single store in Shenzhen in 2010, her vision transformed Darry Ring into a global symbol of modern romance, earning her a place among the youngest self-made female billionaires. Net Worth: $1.4 billion Born: 1987, China Age: 38 Industry: Jewelry Source of Wealth: Self-made, Darry Ring Impact: Darry Ring's philosophy reshaped commitment jewelry globally. Interesting Fact: Built a global brand from a single Shenzhen store in 2010.
Born in 1988 in Barbados, Rihanna transformed global stardom into a $1.4 billion empire. While chart-topping hits like 'Umbrella' launched her fame, her business acumen secured her billionaire status. Her 50% stake in Fenty Beauty, co-owned with LVMH, drives the bulk of her wealth, with her Savage X Fenty lingerie brand adding to her fortune. Her 2023 Super Bowl halftime show amplified her cultural influence. Net Worth: $1.4 billion Born: 1988, Barbados Age: 37 Industry: Cosmetics, Entertainment Source of Wealth: Self-made, Fenty Beauty, Music Impact: Fenty Beauty serves 50+ skin tones, redefining inclusivity in cosmetics. Interesting Fact: Her 2023 Super Bowl halftime show drew 121 million viewers, the most-watched ever.
American pop icon Taylor Swift became a billionaire in 2023, propelled by her record-breaking Eras Tour and strategic re-recording of early albums to reclaim ownership and creative control. Earning nearly $600 million from touring and royalties, complemented by a real estate portfolio spanning Rhode Island to Tennessee, Swift's rise exemplifies artistic independence and business acumen—a masterclass in transforming creative vision into enduring wealth. Net Worth: $1.6 billion Born: 1989, United States Age: 35 Industry: Entertainment Source of Wealth: Self-made, Music Impact: The Eras Tour grossed over $2 billion, a historic milestone for any artist. Interesting Fact: First musician to become a billionaire primarily through songwriting and touring.
Born in 1987 in Australia, Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva, launched the user-friendly design platform in 2013 alongside her husband, Cliff Obrecht. A 2024 valuation of $40 billion elevated her wealth, with her 18% stake fueling her fortune. The couple pledged most of their stake to the Canva Foundation for charitable causes. Net Worth: $5.8 billion Born: 1987, Australia Age: 37 Industry: Technology, Design Software Source of Wealth: Self-made, Canva Impact: Canva empowers over 220 million monthly active users with accessible design tools. Interesting Fact: Learned kitesurfing to connect with angel investor Bill Tai, a kiteboarding enthusiast.
The world's richest self-made women under 40 are not merely accumulating wealth; they are reshaping industries, challenging norms, and inspiring a new era of entrepreneurship.
As of May 2025, only six self-made female billionaires under 40 grace the global stage:1. Melanie Perkins: $5.8 billion, Technology, Australia2. Taylor Swift: $1.6 billion, Entertainment, United States3. Rihanna: $1.4 billion, Beauty, United States3. Lu Yiwen: $1.4 billion, Jewelry, China4. Lucy Guo: $1.3 billion, Technology, United States
5. Daniela Amodei: $1.2 billion, Technology, United States
These billionaires are joined by a cadre of visionary women who, while not yet billionaires, are redefining wealth and influence in their own way:
6. Shuo Wang: $850 million, Technology, United States7. Kylie Jenner: $710 million, Cosmetics, United States8. Neha Narkhede: $680 million, Technology, United States9. Whitney Wolfe Herd: $400 million, Technology, United States10. Christina Cacioppo: $385 million, Technology, United States
11. Katy Perry: $350 million, Entertainment, United States
Together, this new guard—spanning technology, entertainment, beauty, luxury jewelry and beyond—reflects a seismic shift in how wealth is created and wielded.
Methodology: The rankings of these self-made women under 40 are based on net worth estimates sourced from Forbes and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index as of May 2025.
READ SOURCE businessmayor May 15, 2025
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