Meet the world’s youngest woman tech billionaire, 22-year-old- Kim Jung-youn – The Times of India
Kim Jung-youn, a 22‑year‑old South Korean heiress, has become the world’s youngest woman tech billionaire. According to Forbes’ 2026 World’s Billionaires list, Jung-youn inherited her fortune from her later father and founder of Nexon Kim Jung-ju. Her increasing wealth underscores the enduring power of Asia’s online gaming industry and highlights how generational wealth transfer is reshaping the billionaire landscape. Jung‑youn’s rise comes amid a record number of ultra‑young billionaires worldwide, many propelled by AI startups, massive funding rounds, and inheritance, but few as strikingly young as her.
Who is Kim Jung-youn
Daughter of Kim Jung-ju who was the founder of Nexon, one of the world’s largest online gaming companies, Kim Jung-youn inherited her father’s fortune. According to Forbes, after Jung-Ju’s death in 2022, Jung-youn and her older sister, Jung-min, inherited significant stakes in NXC, the holding company that controls Nexon. Neither sister has been directly involved in the company’s operations, and little is publicly known about their personal lives. Jung-youn currently resides in Jeju, South Korea, according to Forbes.
Nexon and the source of wealth
Founded in 1994, Nexon is considered to be a pioneer in online gaming. The company gained massive popularity in its multiplayer online role-paying games. Along with this, the company has also produced some global hits such as MapleStory and Dungeon & Fighter, which continue to generate billions in revenue. Also, the dominance on Nexon in Asia’s gaming market has made it one of the most valuable tech firms in South Korea. This success of the company also underpins Jung-youn’s fortune.
Young billionaires in 2026
According to Forbes, there are 35 billionaires under the age of 30 this year, collectively worth $92.4 billion. While many inherited their wealth, a record 12 are self‑made, including the 22‑year‑old founders of AI recruiting startup Mercor. Jung-youn stands out as the youngest woman billionaire in tech, joining a small group of female billionaires under 30 that includes Luana Lopes Lara, cofounder of prediction market firm Kalshi, and Lucy Guo, cofounder of Scale AI.