How Lucy Guo Became the Youngest Self-Made Woman Billionaire And Why She Still Chases Deals on Uber Eats

In an episode of Networth & Chill with Vivian Tu (@yourrichbff), Lucy Guo — co-founder of Scale AI and founder of Passes — offers a rare, unfiltered look into the mind of one of the most fascinating figures in tech today. At 30 years old, she’s the youngest self-made woman billionaire in the world. But don’t expect yachts and shopping sprees. Expect Uber Eats deals, electric skateboards, and the grind of someone who just really, really wants to win.*

From Neopets Hustler to AI Billionaire

Long before she built a $25 billion AI company, Lucy Guo was making real money in Neopets.

Yes, Neopets.

“I started really young,” she said. “I was earning cold, hard cash doing things on the playground… I started learning how to make bots, essentially, to auto-adopt the rarest pets or buy the rarest items — then I’d sell them for real money online.”

By second grade, Lucy had discovered PayPal and realized money online was power. That hunger for independence and agency — not just wealth — would shape every venture she pursued next.

Building Scale AI: A Pivot-Driven Origin Story

Guo’s journey to founding Scale AI wasn’t linear. She dropped out of Carnegie Mellon and entered Y Combinator with a now-laughable idea: ClassPass for clubbing.

When that flopped, she pivoted to helping patients find doctors — still no traction. But a throwaway comment from a roommate sparked the idea that would become Scale: an “API for humans.”

They launched a scrappy MVP on Product Hunt. “Then VCs started reaching out like, ‘Take our money,’” she recalled.

Scale AI took off by labeling data for self-driving car companies — stop signs, pedestrians, LiDAR feeds. In Lucy’s words, “We’re the picks and shovels of the AI industry.”

Though she left in 2018, her equity stake has since grown to over $1.2 billion.

“Machine learning models are only as good as the data you feed them. That’s where Scale came in,” she explained.

Still Clipping Coupons at a Billion-Dollar Net Worth

Guo’s frugal mindset hasn’t changed — even with a billion-dollar paper valuation.

“Even today, I went on Uber Eats, clicked ‘offers,’ and chose based on what had the best deal between Chinese food and money off,” she laughed.

Her parents — two frugal electrical engineers — never turned on the AC, and Lucy internalized those values early. “To this day, I try to find little travel hacks… Why spend the money if I don’t need to?”

This mindset isn’t a gimmick. She once bought a $70K apartment in Vegas, skateboarding to the airport, booking fake flights to eat free meals at the Amex Lounge, then canceling the tickets — all to save money post-liquidation.

The Creator Economy Is Her Next Billion-Dollar Bet

After leaving Scale, Guo turned her attention to the creator economy — a space she believes is underserved by existing platforms like Patreon.

With Passes, she’s building an end-to-end monetization engine for creators: merchandise, subscriptions, 1:1 video calls, livestreaming, DMs — all in one place.

“Creators are founders,” she said. “They’re small businesses that can grow into big businesses… but they don’t always have the right tools.”

She saw the pain firsthand: creators relying on delayed brand deals, inconsistent income, and limited ways to monetize beyond subscriptions. Passes gives them options — and ownership.

Frugality Meets Luxury (But Always With ROI)

Guo’s financial mindset is a blend of “organized fun” and ROI-driven splurging.

She owns rare jewelry — but keeps it in a vault. She throws extravagant birthday parties (“LucyPalooza”) — but turns a profit through sponsorships. She considers buying a private jet — only if it breaks even on charter fees.

“It’s all a calculation,” she said. “I like caviar. But I’ll find the cheapest caviar that doesn’t taste disgusting.”

Even real estate lessons are scrutinized: she bought into Zaha Hadid’s 1000 Museum in Miami, then realized high HOA fees and strict rental rules killed the investment upside.

“Now I only buy single-family homes. No more HOA surprises.”

Facing Stereotypes, Embracing Her Edge

Being a loud, opinionated, highly visible Asian woman in tech hasn’t been without friction.

“I’m not demure — and people don’t like that. I don’t fit the mold of what they think I should be,” she said.

While many assume female founders get more flack from other women, Guo said the opposite: “Almost all my haters are men. Women actually really like me.”

Her visibility, success, and refusal to play small challenge deeply embedded biases — and she’s fine with that.

“I just want to win.”

Advice for Wantrepreneurs: Build Your Network Early

Guo’s biggest advice to aspiring founders?

“Build your network before you take the leap. Who you hire will determine if your company succeeds.”

While her early companies failed, her team and network helped her pivot into something better. The smartest people she met in college, hackathons, and internships remain her go-to hiring pool today.

“Now everyone I know is a CEO. Back then, I met engineers I could build with. That’s harder now.”

So Why Keep Going?

With multiple $100M+ exits under her belt, a $1.2B net worth, and no need to prove anything — why did Lucy Guo start again?

“Because I just like winning. It’s not about the money anymore. It’s about building something that matters — and doing it better than anyone else.”

Where to Follow Lucy Guo

• Instagram: @guoforit
• Her company: @passes

Key Takeaways for Founders:

• Frugality isn’t weakness — it’s leverage. Guo’s habits give her the power to say no to bad deals and yes to risky bets.
• Pivoting is a superpower. Scale AI started as a terrible idea. Iteration led to a $25B valuation.
• The best founders stay curious. From Neopets bots to AI infrastructure to creator tools, Guo follows her learning edge.
• Community is your unfair advantage. Build your network before you need it.
• Success doesn’t require conforming. Guo built her empire by being unapologetically herself — rave-loving, deal-hunting, and deeply strategic.