Youngest Self-Made Billionaire: Surya Midha at 22
The youngest self-made billionaire title has been held by only a select few founders, such as Mark Zuckerberg, who attained this milestone at merely 23 years old. Now, Surya Midha, a 22-year-old co-founder of the AI startup Mercor, shares this prestigious accolade as part of the youngest self-made billionaire trio in Forbes’ 2026 World’s Billionaires list, boasting a net worth of $2.2 billion.
Background of Surya Midha
Surya Midha, alongside his fellow co-founders Brendan Foody and Adarsh Hiremath, established Mercor, an AI-driven hiring platform, in 2023. As of October 2025, Mercor’s valuation soared to $10 billion following a successful $350 million Series C funding round.
Notably, Surya Midha is a few months younger than his two counterparts, solidifying his position as the youngest among them.
Who is Surya Midha?
Born in Mountain View and raised in San Jose, California, Surya Midha graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory from 2017 to 2021. He excelled during high school, becoming a national debate champion.
He detailed in a blog post that his partnership with a teammate led them to become the first in history to clinch victories at three national tournaments in policy debate: the Tournament of Champions (TOC), the National Debate Coaches Association Tournament (NDCA), and the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament (NSDA).
Midha pursued a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Studies at Georgetown University, and after two years of study, he decided to take an academic leave in 2023 to co-found Mercor. He teamed up with his high school friend, Brendan Foody, and Adarsh Hiremath, ultimately being recognised among the world’s youngest self-made billionaires by October 2025.
What is Mercor and How Does It Function?
Mercor is designed as an AI-driven hiring platform that aims to minimise the time and effort required in recruitment processes. It reportedly streamlines resume screening and candidate matching, conducts automated AI interviews, and manages payroll operations. The hiring process initiates with the uploading of a job description, following which Mercor’s algorithm identifies the most suitable candidates.
According to a report by Tech Crunch, one of Mercor’s clients, OpenAI, uses the platform to enhance its hiring process. The company asserts that its AI-enabled approach mitigates human bias, ensuring candidates are assessed strictly on their abilities and qualifications.