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Pedro Franceschi, Former Hacker and Founder of Brex, Is the Only Self-Made Among the 10 Richest Young People in Brazil, According to Forbes Ranking.
What leads a former child hacker to become a billionaire and be among the 10 richest in Brazil before turning 30? This is the journey of Pedro Franceschi, 28, co-founder and CEO of the fintech Brex, who turned curiosity into technology and innovation into fortune.
Unlike his peers on the Forbes list published on August 28, Franceschi did not inherit wealth. He is the only “self-made” individual among young billionaires, with an estimated fortune of R$ 3.3 billion.
Who Is Pedro Franceschi and Why His Story Stands Out
Forbes USA ranked Franceschi as the eighth richest Brazilian under 30. While nine of the ten young billionaires inherited family businesses or large equity stakes, he took a different path. His wealth came from his own effort, based on technology and entrepreneurial vision.
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At the helm of Brex, valued today at US$ 3.4 billion, Franceschi leads a company that serves over 30,000 companies worldwide.
Founded in 2017 in Silicon Valley, the fintech develops corporate cards, expense management software, and management solutions supported by artificial intelligence.
From Child Hacker to TEDx Stage
Franceschi’s relationship with computers started early. At six years old, he was already exploring programming, and by 11, he began unlocking iPhones, charging for the service and buying his own phone with his money.
As a teenager, he developed tools that helped popularize the jailbreak for iPods and iPhones. In 2010, at the age of 13, he filled the Planetarium of Rio de Janeiro during TEDxSudeste, being introduced as a promising “former hacker.”
At 15, he impressed everyone by making Siri, Apple’s assistant, respond in Portuguese even before the official version was released.
When asked about the future, he said he saw himself working for a large company like Apple. However, fate led him to found his own company.
The Partnership That Gave Rise to Brex
The meeting with Henrique Dubugras, his current partner, happened in 2012 after a discussion on Twitter about programming. The rivalry turned into friendship and then into partnership.
Together, they created Pagar.me, a startup that simplified online payments in Brazil. Both were accepted at Stanford, but they set their studies aside to invest in the business.
Years later, Franceschi completed his degree in Computer Science in the United States.
In 2017, already in Silicon Valley, they founded Brex. A year later, they launched corporate cards and a points program for growing startups.
Quickly, the company established itself as a reference in the global financial ecosystem.
When the Turning Point Happened
The decisive moment came in January 2022, when Brex was valued at US$ 12.3 billion. This milestone officially placed Pedro Franceschi in the exclusive group of billionaires.
Since then, despite market fluctuations reducing the company’s valuation, his personal wealth remains in the billions.
In addition to Brex, Franceschi has held positions in major companies. Between 2021 and 2023, he was on the board of Stone and, since April 2022, has been part of Coupang’s board, South Korea’s e-commerce giant.
The Other Names Among the 10 Richest Young People in Brazil
The Forbes ranking showed that the vast majority of young Brazilian billionaires owe their fortune to inheritances. Among the names are:
Lívia Voigt, 20, with R$ 6.6 billion inherited from WEG.
Max Van Hoegaerden Herrmann Telles, 29, with R$ 29.3 billion linked to AB InBev and 3G Capital.
Izabela Henriques Feffer, 28, with R$ 2.3 billion inherited from Grupo Suzano.
In this landscape dominated by family legacies, Pedro Franceschi stands out as an exception.
Why Pedro Franceschi Is a Rare Case Among Billionaires
Franceschi’s journey inspires because it shows that even in a country where wealth concentration is historical, it is still possible to build fortune through one’s own merit.
His trajectory combines hacker talent, entrepreneurial vision, and the courage to take risks in Silicon Valley.
Today, he lives in San Francisco, from where he continues to lead Brex and actively participates in global boards. Among the young billionaires in Brazil, he is the only one who not only inherited but built his fortune.
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