Most teenagers are worried about homework or video games. But some are busy building empires. In the digital age, age is just a number when it comes to making money. These Teenage Millionaires are rewriting the rules of wealth.
From investing in Bitcoin at age 12 to turning a lemonade stand into a national brand, these kids proved that you don’t need a degree to be a boss. Their stories are not just lucky breaks; they are lessons in hustle.
Prepare to be inspired (and maybe a little jealous). Here are 10 Teenage Millionaires who made it big before they could even vote.
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10 Teenage Millionaires Who Out-Earned Their Parents
1. Ryan Kaji (Ryan’s World)
He started by reviewing toys on YouTube when he was just a toddler. Now, Ryan Kaji is a brand powerhouse with his own TV show on Nickelodeon and toys in Walmart.
He consistently earns nearly $30 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid YouTubers in history according to Forbes. Not bad for playing with toys.
⚡ Fun Fact: His channel has over 50 billion lifetime views.
2. Mikaila Ulmer (Me & the Bees Lemonade)
After getting stung by a bee twice, Mikaila decided to save them. She used her great-grandmother’s flaxseed lemonade recipe and added local honey.
She appeared on Shark Tank at age 9, secured an investment from Daymond John, and now her lemonade is sold in Whole Foods and Starbucks nationwide.
⚡ Fun Fact: She has shaken hands with President Obama.
3. Erik Finman (Bitcoin Millionaire)
When he was 12, Erik made a bet with his parents: if he became a millionaire by 18, he wouldn’t have to go to college. He took $1,000 his grandmother gave him and bought Bitcoin back when it was cheap.
By the time he was 18, he owned over 400 Bitcoins, winning the bet and becoming one of the most famous Teenage Millionaires in crypto history.
⚡ Fun Fact: He later invested in a real-life Dr. Octopus suit.
4. Moziah Bridges (Mo’s Bows)
Moziah couldn’t find bow ties he liked, so he learned to sew his own at age 9. His company, Mo’s Bows, exploded after appearing on Shark Tank.
He eventually signed a seven-figure licensing deal with the NBA to make bow ties for all 30 teams.
⚡ Fun Fact: He started his business on his grandmother’s kitchen table.
5. Alina Morse (Zollipops)
Alina wanted a lollipop that wouldn’t rot her teeth. So, she invented “Zollipops,” a sugar-free candy that actually cleans your teeth.
She became a millionaire by age 13. Her candy is now the #1 selling sugar-free lollipop on Amazon and is sold in major retailers like Kroger and Walmart.
⚡ Fun Fact: She manages her company while still attending high school.
6. Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf (Fortnite Champion)
In 2019, 16-year-old Kyle Giersdorf won the Fortnite World Cup Solos. In a single day, he took home $3 million in prize money, more than Tiger Woods earned winning the Masters that year.
He proved that gaming is a serious career path among modern Teenage Millionaires.
⚡ Fun Fact: He gained over 400,000 Twitter followers in the hours after his win.
7. Ben Pasternak (Tech Prodigy)
Ben created the game “Impossible Rush” while bored in science class. It became more popular than Tinder and Twitter on the App Store.
He dropped out of high school at 15 and moved to New York alone. He later founded Monkey, a video chat app, which was acquired for millions. Check out his story if you are interested in Future Technologies.
⚡ Fun Fact: He was called the “Teenager of the Year” by huge tech magazines.
8. Fraser Doherty (SuperJam)
Fraser started making jam from his grandmother’s recipes in Scotland at age 14. He sold them door-to-door.
By 16, he pitched Waitrose, a major UK supermarket. They accepted his product, “SuperJam,” making him the youngest supplier in the store’s history and a millionaire shortly after.
⚡ Fun Fact: His jam is made 100% from fruit and fruit juice, no added sugar.
9. Pixie Curtis (Pixie’s Fidgets)
Pixie is one of the youngest on this list. With the help of her PR guru mother, she launched a toy business selling fidget spinners.
In the first month, the business turned over $200,000. She “retired” at age 12 to focus on school, already having earned a fortune most adults dream of.
⚡ Fun Fact: She bought a Mercedes-Benz before she could even drive.
10. Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)
We can’t have a list of Teenage Millionaires without the ultimate example. Zuckerberg launched Facebook from his Harvard dorm room when he was just 19.
He became a millionaire almost instantly and a billionaire by 23. His story was even turned into a movie, which we discussed in our Famous Movie Mistakes post.
⚡ Fun Fact: He originally turned down offers from Yahoo and MTV to buy Facebook.
Conclusion
These Teenage Millionaires prove that ambition has no age limit. Whether through tech, food, or media, they saw an opportunity and took it.
What business idea did you have as a kid that you wish you started?