The annual Forbes 30 Under 30 list is a high profile annual list that highlights the next generation of business leaders. Often dubbed “the superannuation list,” after the Australian term for this category, it is also known as the “future of business” list. Last year, Forbes published its first list of China’s 30 Under 30, led by Guo Zhiyuan, and now the list has been expanded to include more international contenders.
To qualify, applicants must be 30 years old and must have been involved in the management of a company or business entity. This year’s roster of rich and powerful young entrepreneurs features some household names such as the co-founder of TikTok, Joseph Chen, alongside rising stars such as the founder of My Coffee Lover, Harry Shi, and the founder of Yomad, Hussein Kamal.
This year’s list is made up of individuals who have a collective net worth of over US$100 million and will represent the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders. With an estimated collective net worth of over US$100 million, these 30 Under 30 are already very rich, and some of them are known to be extremely philanthropic. Some members of the list have even given up lucrative career paths to pursue a life of leisure and philanthropy.
The Self-Made Business Mogul
One of the most interesting things about this year’s 30 Under 30 list is how many of the individuals achieved fame and fortune largely on their own merits. The list is full of entrepreneurs who started from a humble beginning and worked their way up through sheer hard work and determination. Some of the individuals on this year’s list have been in the media spotlight for years and have built up a considerable social media presence.
The co-founder of TikTok, Joe Chen, is one such example. Having grown up in Beijing, he gained fame on TikTok for his unique and often satirical videos on the pandora app where he mocks the Chinese government, its leadership, and its treatment of the country’s Muslim Uighur population. Chen has also been critical of China’s ban on the use of the English language in Singapore.
A Wealth of Experience
While some of this year’s 30 Under 30 were born into wealthy families and had grown up surrounded by luxury, others had to work long, hard hours to achieve their success. The list is made up of entrepreneurs and business leaders who have gained fame and fortune by dint of hard work and determination. Several of this year’s 30 Under 30, such as the co-founder of My Coffee Lover, Harry Shi, and the founder of Yomad, Hussein Kamal, started their businesses on a shoestring and grew them into multi-national corporations. They are both notable for their philanthropy and commitment to social causes. For example, Kamal donates large sums of money to various charities and educational foundations.
A Life Lived To The Max
Finally, we come to the most interesting part of this year’s 30 Under 30 list: it is an eclectic group of individuals who have each devoted their entire lives to achieving success and living life to the fullest. The collective 30 Under 30 have held various senior executive positions within large multinational corporations, founded innovative companies, launched successful social media platforms, become wealthy property developers, and established themselves as philanthropic individuals.
The individuals on this year’s list have made it onto the roster for a number of reasons. Some of them are famous for their innovative ideas and product launches while others made it on to the list for their business acumen and drive. In some cases, an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to make a difference led to them founding a company and then spending their entire adult lives growing it into a big business.
In many other cases, wealth and a life of luxury came as a pleasant surprise to the founders of thriving businesses. Many of the 30 Under 30 on this year’s list achieved fame and success quite late in life, after many years of hard work, and some even made it onto the list after dedicating their entire post-retirement years to philanthropy. This last category is made up of some extremely fascinating individuals whose stories merit a book-length profile – the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.