Steven Guo’s Accidental Entrepreneurial Journey

24-year-old who left California for Bali makes $254,000 a year working only 30 hours a week: ‘I’m definitely much happier’

A 12-Year-Old’s Summer Project Led to a Thriving E-Commerce Empire

Steven Guo’s Accidental Entrepreneurial Journey

At just 12 years old, Steven Guo stumbled upon an opportunity that would change his life forever. What started as a simple summer project in Minecraft quickly evolved into an entrepreneurial journey. This journey has since generated millions in revenue.

“I wanted to host servers so that me and my friends can play on it. Turns out, other people decided to start playing on it as well, and because of that, someone offered me $50.”

That single deal opened Guo’s eyes to the possibilities of online business. “I was super happy and through the moon,” he recalls. “I didn’t realize you could make money off the internet.” Encouraged by his initial success, he continued selling in-game perks and, by the end of the summer, had earned $10,000.

Nonetheless, his first major financial lesson came swiftly. Excited by his earnings, Guo attempted to launch a game development company. “And unfortunately I failed miserably and blew basically all of my money,” he says. “But I learned a really valuable lesson, which was: marketing is extremely important for any business.”

Rather than being discouraged, Guo became obsessed with the idea of building businesses. “Ever since I made my first bit of money when I was 12 years old, I knew that I didn’t want a traditional job,” he says.

Now 24, Guo is the founder of multiple e-commerce businesses projected to bring in a total of $1.7 million this year. His ventures include a date fruit retailer. He also runs a K-pop-inspired merch store and a luxury car cover business. All these ventures ladder up to his primary company, Manifest Five—a venture-capital studio focused on scaling direct-to-consumer brands.

Despite his business acumen, Guo’s academic career was far from stellar. Studying business economics at the University of California, Irvine, he prioritized entrepreneurship over academics, graduating with a 2.7 GPA. Ironically, this challenge became another source of motivation. “Because my GPA was so bad, I knew that getting a high-paying job was probably unlikely, and that pushed me to work even harder on my own businesses,” he explains.

After graduation, Guo traveled extensively, eventually settling in Bali, Indonesia, a location he describes as having “a magnetic pull.”

“Bali really is a place where my work-life balance finally makes sense,” Guo says. “Mornings are mostly for running my business, [and] afternoons are for surfing, exploring the landscapes, or enjoying the vibrant culture here.”

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While he enjoys a laid-back lifestyle, Guo remains financially disciplined. He invests $60,000 annually in index funds. He has over $340,000 in investments. He keeps his expenses lean and prioritizes experiences over luxury goods. “I absolutely refuse to spend money on things that depreciate in value,” he states.

One of his proudest moments? Treating his mother and her boyfriend to a fully paid vacation in Hawaii as a token of gratitude. “When I was 7, I immigrated from China to Canada with my mom,” Guo shares. “I saw her working multiple jobs just to put food on the table.” Inspired by her resilience, he vowed to guarantee his family never faced financial struggles again.

Looking ahead, Guo aims to build a $50 million e-commerce portfolio by the time he turns 30. “My plan to do that is by incubating a variety of businesses through working with students, mentoring them, and investing in them,” he says.

For Guo, Bali is more than just a home—it signifies the freedom to live life on his own terms. “Bali isn’t just a home,” he says. “It’s the freedom to live, work, and thrive on my own terms.”

Steven Guo’s journey proves that success isn’t about a perfect GPA or traditional career paths. It’s about persistence, adaptability, and learning from failure. From making his first dollar in Minecraft to building a multi-million-dollar business, he took control of his destiny. His disciplined financial habits and strategic approach to business offer valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. Success is possible for those willing to take risks and push forward.