Core Insights - The number of self-made billionaires under 30 has reached a historic high of 13, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, prediction markets, and online gambling, surpassing the previous record of 7 [2][3]. Group 1: Emerging Billionaires - Shayne Coplan, founder of the prediction market platform Polymarket, became the youngest self-made billionaire at 27 after a $2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange, raising Polymarket's valuation to $9 billion [2]. - The three co-founders of AI startup Mercor, all aged 22, have now taken the title of the youngest self-made billionaires in history, surpassing Mark Zuckerberg's record by one year [2][3]. - In a short span from November to December, seven more entrepreneurs under 30 joined the billionaire ranks, including Luana Lopes Lara, the youngest self-made female billionaire at 29 [3]. Group 2: Industry Growth - The rise of young billionaires is attributed to the rapid growth of industries like AI and prediction markets, which were not significant a decade ago [3]. - The 2023 Forbes Billionaires list included only two entrepreneurs under 30, highlighting the recent surge in this demographic [4]. - The total number of billionaires in their 20s has reached 30 when including 17 inheritors of family wealth, with the youngest being Johannes von Baumbach at 20, valued at $5.8 billion [5]. Group 3: Notable Billionaires - Alexandr Wang, co-founder of Scale AI, has a net worth of $3.2 billion after selling 49% of the company to Meta for approximately $14 billion [4][25]. - Ed Craven, co-founder of Stake.com, has a net worth of $2.8 billion, with the platform projected to generate $4.7 billion in revenue in 2024 [31]. - The list of 13 self-made billionaires includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, with six originating from outside the U.S. [4].

Core Insights - Kalshi is expanding its business from political elections and sports events to the consumer goods sector, indicating a shift towards mainstream acceptance in the prediction market industry [1] - The company has partnered with StockX to launch event contracts based on resale prices of popular sneakers, trading cards, and collectible toys, allowing users to bet on whether certain products will exceed specific price thresholds [1][2] - This new business category targets the growing alternative asset market, including limited edition sneakers and trendy collectibles, which often resell for multiples of their retail prices [1][3] Event Contracts Covering Diverse Consumer Goods - Under the partnership, Kalshi will utilize StockX's data to create event contracts covering sneakers, trading cards, and collectibles, starting with high-demand products from major brands [2] - Initial contracts will include anticipated releases like Jordan sneakers, Supreme hoodies, and Labubu blind boxes, with trading on average resale prices beginning in November and December [2] - StockX's CEO highlighted this development as a natural evolution of a platform built on stock market mechanisms [2] Targeting the "Everything Exchange" Goal - Kalshi aims to create a "marketplace for everything," focusing on deep, liquid, and high-volume markets, aligning with the recent growth trends in alternative asset categories [3] - The expansion into sneakers and collectibles reflects the increasing interest in these markets, where resale prices can significantly exceed retail prices [3] Regulatory Uncertainty Persists - Despite the progress towards mainstream acceptance, the prediction market industry operates in a gray area between financial trading and gambling, facing regulatory uncertainties [4] - Kalshi's previous legal victory against U.S. regulators has led to explosive growth in the industry, with Kalshi and competitors like Polymarket Exchange actively seeking funding for expansion [4]