Shayne Coplan, Generation Z’s first major billionaire

Shayne Coplan, Generation Z’s First Major Billionaire

Polymarket, the company founded by young New York entrepreneur Shayne Coplan, has reached a valuation of $8 billion. At 27, Coplan stands out as one of the most dynamic figures in the tech world.

Last year, he attended a Manhattan dinner hosted by a venture capital firm wearing jeans and a leather jacket. Invited as one of the most promising entrepreneurs of his generation, he left before dessert to catch a concert in Brooklyn—an example of his fast-paced lifestyle.

Building a Billion-Dollar Vision

Coplan’s fortune stems from Polymarket, a platform launched in 2020 that allows users to place bets on real-world events. Topics range from political elections in Brazil to celebrity relationships, illustrating the variety of public predictions on the platform.

Using blockchain technology, Polymarket displays in real time what the market collectively believes about future outcomes. Coplan contends that this approach provides a more impartial view than traditional news sources.

“Polymarket offers a more objective perspective because its predictions reflect thousands of independent viewpoints,” Coplan says.

Investors and Expansion

The company’s sharp rise in value was recently driven by a $2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. Before ICE stepped in, Polymarket had already attracted notable backers, including Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and 1789 Capital, a conservative-oriented investment fund that now advises the company.

Author’s Summary

At just 27, Shayne Coplan transformed Polymarket into an $8 billion platform blending finance and technology, reflecting Generation Z’s bold entrepreneurial energy.

EL PAÍS English — 2025-11-02