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Nothing can be more infuriating than someone younger than you achieving a lot more than you have. To get you in a good mood, Andrea lists seven youngsters who will make you question whether you’re reaching your full potential.
Jun 25,2025
Feeling accomplished for making it through the day without spilling your coffee? While that’s a win in itself, there are young people out there who’ve already redefined success before they hit 30. Here’s a list of modern trailblazers to inspire—and slightly humble—you.
Age: 39
Lena Dunham is best known for creating HBO’s Girls, for which she won multiple awards including Golden Globes. In 2025, she returns with the Netflix series Too Much, co-created with her husband Luis Felber.
Age: 29
Nick developed the news app Summly at 15 and sold it to Yahoo! for around $30 million—making him one of the youngest self-made tech millionaires of his time.
Age: 29
Gevinson launched a fashion blog at 11 and by 15 had founded Rookie, an online magazine for teen girls. She has since expanded into acting and editorial writing.
Age: 35
Spiegel co-founded Snapchat while still in university. Today, he leads Snap Inc. as CEO and is one of the youngest billionaires in tech.
Age: 27
A child prodigy and TED speaker, Adora published her first book at 7 and continues to advocate for education and youth empowerment worldwide.
Age: 28
New Zealand pop icon Lorde hit No.1 in the U.S. with “Royals” at age 16. Her fourth album Virgin is slated for release in 2025, followed by the Ultrasound World Tour.
Age: 27
Malala survived a Taliban attack at 15 and became a global icon for girls’ education. She won the Nobel Peace Prize at 17 and continues her advocacy through the Malala Fund.
While you may not be closing million-dollar deals or headlining festivals (yet), it’s never too late to pursue your passion. Explore online courses and start carving your own path to success.
Andrea is a knowledgeable writer at Career FAQs, offering guidance on career progression, education choices, and workplace skills. Discover her expert insights.