To become a billionaire at a very young age is a highly unusual thing to happen. Based on Forbes’ World’s Billionaires 2026 list, Amelie Voigt Trejes, 20, is the youngest billionaire in the world. She comes from Brazil, and part of her fortune comes from the family’s inheritance in WEG, the Brazilian industrial machinery manufacturing company that was co-founded by her grandfather, Werner Ricardo Voigt. Her estimated net worth is $1.1 billion.
The 2026 Forbes list has a record number of 35 billionaires younger than 30 years, demonstrating how a new generation of young billionaires emerges through inheritance, entrepreneurial skills, tech industries, and others.
Table of Contents
Who Is the Youngest Billionaire in the World?
Amelie Voigt Trejes currently holds the title of the world’s youngest billionaire on Forbes’ 2026 list.
| Detail | Information |
| Name | Amelie Voigt Trejes |
| Age | 20 |
| Country | Brazil |
| Estimated Net Worth | $1.1 billion |
| Source of Wealth | Industrial machinery |
| Company Connection | WEG |
| Wealth Type | Inherited |
| Forbes Ranking | Youngest billionaire in 2026 |
Amelie’s share in WEG, which is one of the most important Brazilian manufacturers of electrical equipment and motors, is 2%. The company was founded by her grandfather in 1961.
How Did Amelie Voigt Trejes Become A Billionaire?
Unlike self-made billionaires who start companies on their own, Amelie Voigt Trejes became a billionaire through her inherited ownership of WEG.
WEG grew into a big industrial company that manufactures electrical motors and other kinds of equipment that serve markets all over the world. So, her family connection to the company gives her billionaire status because of inheritance rather than because of a company she started herself.
Who Is The Youngest Self-Made Billionaire?
The youngest billionaire and the youngest self-made billionaire are different positions.
According to Forbes’ 2026 list, the world’s youngest self-made billionaire is Surya Midha, 22. He co-founded the company Mercor, an AI recruiting company, together with Brendan Foody and Adarsh Hiremath. Their fortune is estimated to be $2.2 billion each.
Surya Midha is a few months younger than the two Mercor cofounders, so he is the youngest self-made billionaire on the list.
Youngest Billionaires In 2026
The Forbes list includes several billionaires whose age is in their early twenties.
| Billionaire | Age | Main Source of Wealth |
| Amelie Voigt Trejes | 20 | Industrial machinery |
| Johannes von Baumbach | 20 | Healthcare/pharmaceuticals |
| Lívia Voigt de Assis | 21 | Industrial machinery |
| Clemente Del Vecchio | 21 | Eyeglasses |
| Surya Midha | 22 | AI software |
| Brendan Foody | 22 | AI software |
| Adarsh Hiremath | 22 | AI software |
| Kim Jung-youn | 22 | Online gaming |
These data come from the 2026 World’s Billionaires ranking made by Forbes, with wealth calculations conducted on March 1, 2026.
The Rise of AI Entrepreneurs Among the Youth
One of the most impressive trends in the 2026 billionaire ranking is the increasing number of young people who became billionaires due to artificial intelligence technologies.
So, Surya Midha, Brendan Foody, and Adarsh Hiremath accumulated their wealth via Mercor, while other young entrepreneurs became rich by developing artificial intelligence coding software and other AI technology solutions. As reported by Forbes, 86 billionaires in its 2026 ranking accumulated a considerable part of their fortunes through artificial intelligence.
This shows how quickly technology companies, which were able to be highly valued, managed to get wealthy.
Inherited versus Self-made Wealth
The young billionaires can be categorized into two groups in general terms:
Inherited Billionaires
These people make their money from family business, shares of companies, trusts, or other inherited assets.
Examples:
- Amelie Voigt Trejes
- Johannes von Baumbach
- Clemente Del Vecchio
- Kim Jung-youn
Self-made Billionaires
These people create companies or businesses and make them bring billionaire-level income.
Examples:
- Surya Midha
- Brendan Foody
- Adarsh Hiremath
- Other young technology entrepreneurs
There are 35 billionaires under 30 years old in Forbes’ 2026 ranking, 12 of whom are self-made.
Factors that Make People Very Young Billionaires
Certain features might be used to explain why young people become very young billionaires.
Technology
Fast growth and valuation are characteristic of technology companies.
Artificial Intelligence
The boom in artificial intelligence created the need for software, infrastructure, recruitment platforms, and other artificial intelligence-related development tools.
Family Business
Large family businesses are able to pass valuable shares to the next generation.
Global Investments
Young people might inherit or receive ownership in diverse investment portfolios.
Youngest Billionaire vs. Youngest Millionaire
| Feature | Youngest Billionaire | Youngest Millionaire |
| Net Worth | At least $1 billion | At least $1 million |
| Wealth Level | Extremely high | High, but significantly lower |
| Typical Sources of Wealth | Business ownership, investments, inheritance, technology, startups | Business, investments, entertainment, sports, family wealth |
| Business Scale | Often involves companies valued at billions | May involve smaller businesses or personal investments |
| Investment Opportunities | Access to major private equity, venture capital, and global investments | Usually focused on stocks, real estate, businesses, and other assets |
| Public Attention | Often receives substantial media coverage | Usually receives less international attention |
| Path to Wealth | Can result from entrepreneurship, inheritance, or ownership stakes | Can result from entrepreneurship, high income, investments, or inheritance |
| Financial Milestone | Reaching $1 billion in net worth | Reaching $1 million in net worth |
Youngest Billionaire versus Richest Young Billionaire
Being the youngest billionaire does not necessarily mean that one has the largest fortune among young billionaires.
For example, according to the 2026 Forbes ranking, Clemente Del Vecchio, aged 21, has an estimated net worth of $6.8 billion. At the same time, the older brother of Clemente Del Vecchio, Luca Del Vecchio, aged 24, is also estimate to have $6.8 billion net worth.
Also, several members of the von Baumbach family are estimates to be worth $6.6 billion each.
Therefore, age and net worth are different ways to compare among the world’s youngest billionaires.
How Billionaire Rankings Change
However, include in the list does not mean that you will remain in such a position. Everything depends on the valuation of your company, its stock price, inheritance, selling your business, and other factors.
The Forbes’ annual list of billionaires has the estimation of fortunes as of certain dates. In the case of the 2026 list of billionaires, the ranking will estimate as of March 1, 2026.
This means that the title of the youngest billionaire may change due to new fortunes.
FAQ
Who is the youngest billionaire in the world in 2026?
In accordance with Forbes’ 2026 World’s Billionaires ranking, Amelie Voigt Trejes, aged 20, is consider to the youngest billionaire in the world.
How much is Amelie Voigt Trejes worth?
According to Forbes, the fortune of Amelie Voigt Trejes is estimates at $1.1 billion as of March 1, 2026.
Is the youngest billionaire self-made?
No, Amelie Voigt Trejes is the heir who received her fortune as a result of having shares in the family company WEG.
Who is the youngest self-made billionaire?
According to Forbes’ 2026 ranking, Surya Midha, aged 22, is consider to the world’s youngest self-made billionaire.
How many billionaires under 30 are there?
There are 35 billionaires under 30 in Forbes’ 2026 ranking.
Conclusion
Thus, in 2026, the answer to the question “youngest billionaire in the world” will be Amelie Voigt Trejes, aged 20, who is the heir from Brazil and has a fortune of approximately $1.1 billion connected with WEG.
However, Surya Midha will be the youngest self-made billionaire. He will be 22 and will develop artificial intelligence technology.
