Meet Surya Midha: The 22-year-old college dropout AI founder who became a billionaire faster than Mark Zuckerberg

At the age of 22, most people are still trying to complete university, secure their first stable job, or decide what they actually want to do in life. That is why the story of Surya Midha has attracted so much global attention. The Indian-origin entrepreneur reportedly became one of the world’s youngest self-made billionaires after the rapid rise of his artificial intelligence startup Mercor, as reported by Forbes, residing in San Francisco, California. What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that Midha reached billionaire status at a younger age than Mark Zuckerberg. His journey from college dropout to tech billionaire has quickly become one of the most talked-about startup success stories of 2026, especially as the AI industry continues expanding at an extraordinary pace.Mercor was founded in 2023 by Surya Midha, along with his friends Brendan Foody and Adarsh Hiremath. The three reportedly shared an interest in technology, debate, and entrepreneurship before deciding to launch their own company during the growing artificial intelligence boom.The platform helps companies find workers who can contribute to artificial intelligence research, AI model training, technical development, and related projects. What made the startup stand out was its heavy use of artificial intelligence throughout the hiring process itself. According to reports, the platform uses AI systems to conduct interviews, assess skills, evaluate candidates, and match people with companies more efficiently than conventional recruitment methods. Mercor reportedly positioned itself as a fast and scalable solution for companies struggling to hire qualified talent quickly enough.Mercor’s growth during 2025 reportedly surprised even experienced investors in the technology sector. According to Forbes reports, the company’s annualised revenue rose from around $100 million earlier in the year to nearly $500 million within just a few months. The rising demand for AI services encouraged major investors to put significant money into the company. By late 2025, Mercor had reportedly reached a valuation of nearly $10 billion. That valuation instantly transformed all three founders into billionaires while they were still only 22 years old.Surya Midha currently serves as chairman of the company after reportedly transitioning from his earlier role as chief operating officer. Reports suggest that each cofounder owns roughly 22% of Mercor, giving them massive personal wealth as the company continues growing. According to recent estimates, Midha’s real-time net worth is believed to be around $2.2 billion as of 14 May 2026 Forbes report.One reason Surya Midha’s success story has gone viral online is because of the comparison with Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg became a billionaire at the age of 23 after the explosive rise of Facebook, now known as Meta. Midha reportedly crossed that milestone at just 22 years old.The comparison highlights how quickly the AI industry is creating enormous wealth for young entrepreneurs. During the social media era, companies like Facebook changed the internet. Today, artificial intelligence appears to be creating a new generation of ultra-young tech billionaires even faster.Midha reportedly studied at Georgetown University before deciding to leave college and focus completely on the startup. Dropping out of university is always a major gamble, especially in a competitive industry like technology. For many young entrepreneurs, especially students interested in artificial intelligence, Midha’s story represents the growing belief that age no longer limits success in the startup world. Access to technology, AI tools, and global investment networks has reportedly made it possible for young founders to scale companies faster than ever before.