Archive · 2 Nov 2025
Three 22-Year-Olds Become Youngest Self-Made Billionaires with AI Startup
Three friends, Brendan, Adarsh, and Surya, who are all 22 years old, have become the youngest people ever to become billionaires by creating a special company.
Their company, called Mercor, uses smart computer programs, called AI, to help other companies find people for jobs and to train AI systems.
Recently, Mercor got a lot of money, $350 million, which made everyone believe the company is worth a lot, $10 billion.
Because their company is now worth so much, the three friends are now billionaires.
Two of the friends, Adarsh and Surya, are of Indian heritage and have known each other since they were kids, even competing in debate.
They are also part of a special program that helps young people who leave college to start their own businesses.
They even work very long hours to make their company successful.
Three 22-year-old friends, Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha, have become the world's youngest self-made billionaires.
Their San Francisco-based startup, Mercor, uses AI for recruitment and data-levelling, reaching a $10 billion valuation.
Mercor secured $350 million in a new funding round, with participation from major investors.
Two of the co-founders, Adarsh Hiremath and Surya Midha, are of Indian origin and met in elementary school debate competitions.
The founders are Thiel Fellows, a program supporting young entrepreneurs who forgo college to build startups.
- Who
- Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha, founders of the AI startup Mercor.
- What
- Became the world's youngest self-made billionaires with their AI startup, Mercor.
- When
- Recently, with the company reaching a $10 billion valuation.
- Where
- San Francisco, US (company base)
- Why
- Their company, Mercor, raised $350 million in new funding, which led to its $10 billion valuation.
- Company Name
- Mercor
- Founders
- Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, Surya Midha
- Age of Founders
- 22
- Startup Type
- AI Recruiting and Data-Levelling
- Latest Funding
- $350 million
- Company Valuation
- $10 billion
- Thiel Fellows
- Yes
- Contractor Network Size
- Over 30,000
Sources
Indian-origin school friends become world’s youngest self-made billionaires with AI startup at 22
22-year-old Indian-origin school friends are now the world’s youngest billionaires — who are they?