Alexandr Wang, 28: the self-made multibillionaire powering the future of AI and STEM-focused philanthropy

A visionary investor in intelligence, inclusion, and education, Wang is quietly becoming one of tech’s most impactful next-gen donors.

At just 28 years old, Alexandr Wang has already earned a place among the most consequential minds in artificial intelligence.

As the founder and CEO of Scale AI, he has helped transform how the world trains machines to learn. But beyond his role as a trailblazer in technology, Wang is emerging as a committed philanthropist, quietly deploying his influence and resources toward one goal: building a smarter, more inclusive future.

Wang’s story begins in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where he was raised by physicist parents working at the legendary Los Alamos National Laboratory. Immersed in science and inquiry from a young age, he quickly distinguished himself in national math, physics, and computing competitions.

After enrolling at MIT to study computer science and mathematics, he made the bold decision to leave after his freshman year to co-found Scale AI—a move that would accelerate his rise to becoming the world’s youngest self-made billionaire by age 24.

Today, Scale AI is a cornerstone of the global AI ecosystem, supplying mission-critical data infrastructure to industry leaders like Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and key branches of the U.S. government. But even as Wang builds the architecture of tomorrow’s AI, he is investing just as deeply in the human capital that will shape it.

As of 2025, Wang has donated millions of dollars to efforts supporting STEM education and AI research, driven by a belief that these areas are vastly underfunded relative to their long-term importance. “STEM education,” he has said, “is a disproportionately high-leverage issue for the future of society. We need to start treating it that way.”

He is also a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in technology, aligning his philanthropy with his values.

While he keeps many of his charitable activities private, those close to his work point to a clear theme: broadening access to knowledge, innovation, and opportunity for the next generation of technologists and thinkers.

Wang’s approach to philanthropy is thoughtful, data-driven, and impact-oriented—characteristics that mirror his entrepreneurial mindset.

His giving is not just about writing checks; it’s about investing in systems that scale, whether that means empowering future engineers or safeguarding responsible AI development.

In a moment when artificial intelligence is reshaping global norms, Alexandr Wang is ensuring that intelligence—both human and machine—is developed with purpose, equity, and long-term vision.

He is, in every sense, a donor building not just the future—but a future worth building.