Forbes’ annual list of billionaires has just been released, and it’s time to take a closer look at the youngest members of this elite club. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the top 10 youngest billionaires of 2023 (ranked from youngest to oldest), exploring their stories of innovation, entrepreneurship, and success. These remarkable individuals have managed to cross the 10-figure mark before even reaching their thirties, thanks to their ingenuity, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit.
- Clemente Del Vecchio
At the top of the list is Clemente Del Vecchio, an 18-year-old Italian who inherited a stake in Luxottica, the company behind Sunglass Hut, Ray-Ban, and Oakley, among others, after his father, Leonardo Del Vecchio, passed away in June 2022. With a net worth of $3.5 billion, Clemente is the youngest billionaire in the world.
2. Kim Jung-youn
Following closely behind Clemente is Kim Jung-min, a 19-year-old South Korean who inherited a stake in online gaming giant Nexon from her late father’s holding company. Although she and her sister keep a low profile and don’t have an active role in the company, their combined net worth of $1.7 billion puts them both on the list.
3. Kevin David Lehmann
Kevin David Lehmann, a 20-year-old German, comes in third with a net worth of $2.3 billion. At just 14, he inherited 50% of the German drugstore chain dm-drogerie markt from his father, but neither he nor his father is operationally involved in the company.
4. Luca Del Vecchio
Luca Del Vecchio, a 21-year-old Italian, also inherited a stake in Luxottica from his father but is not known to have a role in the company. His net worth is also $3.5 billion, tying him with his younger cousin Clemente.
5. Kim Jung-min
Another 21-year-old South Korean, Kim Jung-min, inherited around a third of her family’s assets, including a 15% stake in Nexon, after her father’s death in February 2022. Her net worth is also $1.7 billion.
6. Alexandra Andresen
Alexandra Andresen, a 26-year-old Norwegian, and her sister Katharina own a 42% stake each in investment firm Ferd. Alexandra is also a three-time junior Norwegian champion in dressage riding and runs a horse breeding and training facility. Her net worth is $1.5 billion.
7. Wang Zelong
Wang Zelong, a 26-year-old Chinese billionaire, made his fortune from a stake in a Shenzhen-listed traded company that produces titanium dioxide, a chemical used to create white pigment for things like paint and paper. His net worth is $1.4 billion.
8. Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio
Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, a 27-year-old Italian, inherited 12.5% of his father’s fortune, mostly shares of publicly traded Essilor-Luxottica, and heads strategy for Luxottica. His net worth is also $3.5 billion.
9. Katharina Andresen
Katharina Andresen, a 27-year-old Norwegian, is a sixth-generation owner of Ferd, the investment company her father runs. She is also a sustainability officer at an Oslo-based construction firm. Her net worth is also $1.5 billion, tying her with her younger sister Alexandra.
10. Ryan Breslow
Rounding out the top 10 is Ryan Breslow, a 28-year-old American with a net worth of $1.1 billion. The Stanford dropout founded three startups aimed at removing middlemen in payments processing, personal finance, and pharmaceuticals. He is also embroiled in a legal battle over his fourth venture, a crypto project called Movement DAO.