Shayne Coplan, Generation Z’s First Major Billionaire
Shayne Coplan, 27, is known for his fast-paced lifestyle and groundbreaking achievements. Last year, at a Manhattan venture capital dinner, he left early during the main course to attend a concert in Brooklyn, reflecting his dynamic approach to life.
Coplan amassed his fortune through Polymarket, a platform he founded in 2020. It allows users to bet on the likelihood of real-world events, ranging from Brazil’s elections to the Obamas’ marriage status. Using blockchain technology, Polymarket displays real-time market predictions, aggregating thousands of individual opinions for an objective outlook.
Coplan says Polymarket provides "a more objective view than traditional media, as its predictions are the sum of thousands of individual opinions and are not influenced by ideological biases or political agendas."
Following a $2 billion investment by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), owner of the New York Stock Exchange, Polymarket is now valued at approximately $8 billion. Before ICE's involvement, it had attracted prominent investors including Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund.
Additionally, Peter Thiel has become an adviser through the conservative-leaning tech fund 1789 Capital.
Summary: Shayne Coplan’s Polymarket has revolutionized prediction markets with blockchain, earning him a place as the youngest self-made billionaire at just 27.