The artificial intelligence sector generated unparalleled wealth in 2025, creating more than 50 new billionaires as investors poured billions into AI companies.
Record Investments
According to Crunchbase data, $202.3 billion was invested in AI startups, capturing 50% of all global funding, up 16% from 2024.
The surge in investment, with valuations reaching historic levels across infrastructure, development tools, and data services, has propelled a new wave of self-made billionaires to the forefront.
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek made founder Liang Wenfeng a billionaire with an estimated $11.5 billion net worth in January, according to Forbes data. Anthropic raised $16.5 billion in 2025, reaching a $183 billion valuation and making all seven cofounders billionaires.
See Also: Top AI Infrastructure Stocks For 2026 Industrial Super-Cycle
New AI Billionaires Emerge Across Sectors
Edwin Chen, founder and CEO of Surge AI, holds a 75% stake worth an estimated $18 billion based on $1.2 billion in 2024 revenue, according to Forbes.
Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) acquired 49% of Scale AI for over $14 billion, making cofounder Lucy Guo the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire, with a net worth of $1.4 billion. Mercer, the global consulting firm, saw its three 22-year-old cofounders, Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha, become billionaires following a $10 billion valuation, according to Forbes.
The AI audio research and deployment company ElevenLabs also saw its cofounders, Mati Staniszewski and Piotr Dąbkowski, become billionaires at a $6.6 billion valuation.
Investor Focus and Funding Strength
Investors are shifting focus beyond AI infrastructure builders like Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) toward companies using AI to drive real productivity gains, highlighting how strategic bets are helping create the next wave of AI billionaires.
Last week, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) noted that nearly 90% of AI spending through 2026 is expected to be funded by corporate cash rather than debt, underscoring the sector’s financial strength.
Read Next:
Photo: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Recent Comments