In 2016, Guo co-founded artificial intelligence company Scale AI with Alexandr Wang, 28, the world's youngest self-made billionaire. The firm provides training data for AI models and drew a major investment from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who spent $14.3 billion to acquire a 49% stake.
Guo and Wang founded the company after working together at Q&A platform Quora. Although Guo stepped down from Scale AI in 2018, she retained around 5% ownership. Her stake in the company helped her surpass pop star Taylor Swift—who held the previous record at 35—to become the youngest self-made female billionaire at age 31.
Beyond her career achievements, Guo frequently captures attention on social media by sharing moments from her private life. She travels the world, attends music festivals, and in 2023–2024, hosted an annual birthday party called “Lucypalooza” alongside her startup Passes, attracting content creators, startup founders, and musicians.
A self-professed party lover, Guo is a regular attendee at the Coachella music festival and has been referred to by several media outlets as “Miami’s No. 1 party girl.” Through Passes, a platform that allows fans to interact with celebrities via video calls, she has formed friendships with actress Bella Thorne, former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, and DJ Kygo. She is also a devoted fan of Taylor Swift and met the singer during the 2024 Eras Tour at Coachella.
Born in 1994 and raised in Fremont, California, Guo is the daughter of Chinese immigrants, both of whom were electrical engineers. As a teenager, she taught herself to code and made money through side hustles including selling Pokémon cards, building gaming bots, and trading virtual items.
According to Entrepreneur magazine, Guo never waited for opportunities, she actively pursued them. She was accepted into Carnegie Mellon University’s computer science program but dropped out in 2014 after receiving a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship. The two-year grant, founded by former PayPal executive Peter Thiel, supports young entrepreneurs building innovative businesses.
Lucy Guo sings along to "You Belong With Me" during Taylor Swift’s concert.
Lucy Guo during a skydiving session in Dubai, UAE.
Despite her demanding schedule, Guo prioritizes fitness. She trains regularly at fitness class Barry’s Bootcamp, adheres to a strict workout regime, and maintains a healthy diet.
After stepping away from Scale AI, Guo founded Backend Capital, an early-stage tech investment firm. In 2022, she redirected her focus to Passes.
Although a billionaire, Guo lives modestly. Entrepreneur reported that she often drives an old Honda Civic to work, shops for clothing on low-cost retailer Shein, and only keeps a few designer outfits for special occasions.
In a workout video, she documented performing 880 burpees, 2,175 squat pulses with a 36 kg weight, 120 cable pulls with 18 kg, and 12 overhead presses.
Her fashion sense centers around “quiet luxury”, favoring timeless, high-quality garments without visible logos. She prefers structured and elegant silhouettes over seasonal trends.
Her typical style includes athletic-inspired outfits, such as fitted tees and short jeans paired with blazers or bomber jackets.
Guo describes her daily life as relatively uneventful, often spent glued to her laptop or smartphone for work. She works at least eight hours a day, including on holidays.
Guo’s daily routine begins with a gym session, followed by checking emails and holding meetings with staff and partners. She does not cook, instead ordering meals through delivery apps.
Guo and tech billionaire Bill Gates met at a technology event.
In an interview with Fortune, Guo explained why many billionaires favor a simple appearance: “They don’t need to be in the suit 24/7 because they’re done proving themselves to the rest of the world. The rest of the world is just sucking up to them.”
The tech billionaire during a visit to Kruger National Park in South Africa in 2022.
Prior to purchasing a $6.7 million apartment in 2020, she lived as a digital nomad, working remotely while traveling. In 2024, she bought another property in West Hollywood for $4.2 million, according to Business Insider.
While she owns high-end pieces from Louis Vuitton and Chanel, Guo was once seen wearing a $500,000 Audemars Piguet Tourbillon watch encrusted with white baguette-cut diamonds during her Fortune interview.
Growing up in a household that emphasized financial discipline has had a lasting impact on her approach to money. She said her parents taught her not to spend lavishly, even after she began earning her own income.
“Be frugal and always live below your means,” she told Fortune. “A lot of people up their lifestyles when they start making more money, which causes them to not save as much. The more money you save, the more you can invest, which compounds over the years.”
