For this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 U.S. list, all candidates had to be aged 29 or under as of December 31, 2025 and never before named to a U.S., Europe or Asia Under 30 list.
By Zoya Hasan and Alexandra York
Each year, Forbes spotlights the top young entrepreneurs, leaders and change-makers for our Under 30 U.S. list. The influential list showcases 600 of the most talented and influential individuals under 30 shaping business and culture. To create it, Forbes conducts months of thorough research, evaluating thousands of candidates and examining their businesses and achievements.
To discover the top leaders across 20 industries, we partner with list alumni, industry professionals and the public. Our open nominations portal—which can be found here—brings in, on average, more than 20,000 nominations across our U.S., Asia and Europe lists. Anyone can nominate themselves or a potential candidate. We look at every single one.
Our more than 8,000 U.S. list alumni share tips about who Forbes should feature on the list. Meanwhile, the newsroom reaches out to influential sources for promising candidates: Venture capitalists, corporations, universities, founders. We put it all in (several) big spreadsheets.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for making the Under 30 list, Forbes editors look for scale, impact, creativity and potential for success. And of course, at Forbes, money matters. Whether that’s raising tens of millions from powerful investors or doubling revenue in the past year, our reporters are looking to where the big money is flowing. It applies to non-profits, celebrities and social media stars too. As always, founders receive more credit than employees.
Once the Forbes reporters create our shortlist of finalists for each category, we send the candidates to four independent judges, each a leader in their field. We’re talking experts like America’s richest self-made woman Diane Hendricks, shark investor Mark Cuban, global pop sensation Taylor Swift and tennis legend Serena Williams. Judges score candidates based on factors, including funding, revenue, investors, stage, inventiveness and social impact. All finalists go through background checks.
There’s no shortcut or surefire way to become a finalist for the Forbes Under 30 list. The list favors the bold, the creative, and the visionaries. There’s one non-negotiable, however–all candidates must be 29 or under on December 31st to earn the honor. All ages listed are are as of December 31st of the year this list is published. That’s right—no 30-year-olds on the Under 30 list.
Here are some of our most frequently asked questions:
Can I pay to be on the list?
No. The Forbes 30 Under 30 list is an editorial project. There are no fees to apply, and no one can pay their way to secure a spot on the list. You can nominate yourself or someone you know here.
Do multiple nominations increase my chances of making the list?
No. Nominations are simply a way for editors of this list to learn about you. The number of nominations does not matter, but quality does. Give us a strong pitch, just like you would an investor.
Is it better to self-nominate or have someone nominate me?
If Mark Zuckerberg takes the time to nominate you, we’ll certainly be intrigued, but that doesn’t shoot you to the top of our radar. Every nomination, whether it comes from Zuck or from yourself, is given the same level of consideration. What matters is what the nomination tells us about you—give us numbers, tell us how you’ve made an impact and how you plan to scale. And most importantly, explain exactly what you and your company do.
What if I apply for the wrong category and miss my chance of making the list?
Apply for whatever category you think best fits your business. Our reporters talk to each other and move around candidates from one category to another. (There have been a few instances where two categories have had to debate over who gets to keep the candidate.)
How and when do I know if I made the list?
You find out with the rest of the world! No one learns whether or not they’ve made the list until the day of publication.
It’s Forbes policy. It also adds an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the process.
Can I be featured on the list multiple times?
No. If you’ve made a previous U.S, Europe or Asia list, you can not make the list again. However, individuals who have appeared on Under 30 Local lists, as well as Under 30 lists by Forbes licensees (such as Forbes France) are still eligible.
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