Imagine becoming a billionaire before you’re even old enough to rent a car in some countries. That’s exactly what three 22-year-olds from San Francisco have done, shattering records as the world’s youngest self-made billionaires. Meet Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha, the masterminds behind Mercor, a startup that’s revolutionizing recruitment and training AI models for Silicon Valley’s tech giants. Founded in 2023, Mercor is now valued at a staggering $10 billion, leaving even seasoned entrepreneurs in awe.
In an interview with Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardnieva/2025/10/30/mercor-youngest-self-made-billionaires/), Mr. Foody described the experience as “definitely crazy” and “surreal,” admitting it far exceeded anything they could have imagined just two years ago. But here’s where it gets controversial: these young billionaires are part of the Thiel Fellowship, a program that encourages participants to drop out of college in exchange for a $100,000 grant to pursue their ventures. Is this the future of education, or a risky gamble? Let’s dive deeper.
Each of the trio holds an estimated 22% stake in Mercor, making them younger than Mark Zuckerberg when he achieved billionaire status at 23. Their journey began with a simple yet powerful idea: connecting talented engineers in India with U.S. companies seeking freelance coders. They built an AI-driven recruiting platform that not only interviews applicants but also matches them with the perfect company—a game-changer in the tech industry.
And this is the part most people miss: Mr. Hiremath, who left Harvard after two years, reflects on how his life took a “180-degree turn” in such a short time. “If I weren’t working on Mercor, I’d have just graduated college a few months ago,” he said. It’s a stark reminder of the unconventional paths that can lead to extraordinary success.
Despite their massive wealth, the founders claim they haven’t had time to splurge. Mr. Foody works six days a week, often leaving the office at 10:30 PM, leaving little room for distractions. But here’s a thought-provoking question: In a world where success is increasingly tied to innovation rather than traditional education, are we witnessing the rise of a new paradigm, or is this an exception to the rule?
What do you think? Is dropping out of college to pursue entrepreneurship a smart move, or a risky bet? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your perspective!
