Forbes30 Under 30 is a set of lists published annually byForbes magazine since 2011 that recognize 30 notable people under 30 years old in various industries. The American list consists of 600 people, with 30 selected in each of 20 sectors. The Asia and Europe lists each have 10 categories for a total of 300 people each, while Africa has a single list of 30 people.Forbes hosts associated conferences and a section of its website called 30 Under 30. The nomination process forForbes 30 Under 30 is open to the public, and people may nominate themselves or another as long as the nominee is under 30 years of age.[1][independent source needed]
The final 30 under 30 list published byForbes is divided into different categories of industries: Art & Style, Hollywood & Entertainment, Retail & E-Commerce, Healthcare, Consumer Technology, Sports, Marketing and Advertising, Energy, Science, Media, Music, Social Media, Manufacturing & Industry, Social Impact, Finance, Venture Capital, Food & Drink, Education, Enterprise Technology, and Games.[2][independent source needed]
According toForbes, the 30 honorees under the age of 30 in each industry list are scouted and selected by the editors ofForbes, independent judges, celebrity judges, and industry experts.[3][independent source needed]
Forbes launched its 30 Under 30 list in 2011 under the direction of editor-in-chiefRandall Lane.[4][unreliable source] By 2016, nominations had surpassed 15,000, withForbes editors and industry experts selecting 30 winners per category based on stated criteria including innovation, impact, and leadership.[5][6] Over time,Forbes expanded the initiative to include regional lists for Asia (launched in 2016), Europe (2016), and Africa.[7][8][9]
Forbes also leveraged the 30 Under 30 brand through a dedicated digital channel and asocial media app, developed in collaboration withTinder co-founder andForbes 30 under 30 honoreeSean Rad, to engagemillennials and promote networking among young professionals.[12][13][14]
In addition to the magazine feature,Forbes hosts an annualForbes 30 Under 30Summit.[15] In 2014 and 2015, the summit was held inPhiladelphia,[16] withMonica Lewinsky making headlines[17][18] at the first summit for her address oncyberbullying.[19] The 2016 and 2017 summits were both held in October inBoston.[20] Organizers include previous 30 Under 30 honorees chefChris Coombs, Boston mayoral aide Dan Koh, andpediatric oncology professor Cigall Kadoch.[21]
The 30 Under 30 list has drawn criticism for under-representation of women and racial minorities in the early years of the list.[29]The Root observed that 29 of 30 journalists honored on the inaugural Media category list in 2011 were white, and none were of African descent orLatino.[30]Elle South Africa noted the gender imbalance of the 2014 lists, asking, "Where are the women?"[31] Demographics of theForbes selections have also been discussed byPoynter, which reported that the 2015 Media list had 18 women, the most in the list's five-year history.[32]
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Multiple 30 Under 30 honorees have later become embroiled in scandal or criminality, often related to finance.[33][34][35][36] It has also been described by some critics in opinion pieces as the "curse of the Forbes 30 Under 30" with "few things are as reliable in prophesying a fall from grace as 30 Under 30".[37][38][39] One investor estimated that the sum total of funds raised by 30 Under 30 honorees was less than the total dollar value of frauds and scams that honorees have been arrested for.[39]
In 2023,Forbes published a "hall of shame" article describing the following 10 picks as "duds":[40]
Sam Bankman-Fried, Finance, 2021 (41st richest American who was subsequently convicted of financial fraud and conspiracy)[40]
Joanna Smith-Griffin, a 2021 honoree charged with financial fraud[45][46]
Abraham Shafi, charged in 2024 with defrauding investors[47][46]
Olivia Nuzzi, a 2018 honoree who engaged in a personal relationship with U.S. Presidential candidateRobert F. Kennedy Jr. while working as a political journalist and covering his campaign.[48]
Gökçe Güven, a 2025 honoree charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft.[49]
