Figma CEO Dylan Field hits $5 billion net worth after 333% IPO surge

Dylan Field, the founder and CEO of Figma, has become a billionaire after the company’s initial public offering (IPO) propelled his net worth to an estimated $5 billion. Field is now joining the ranks of renowned college dropouts such as Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, and Bill Gates, all of whom built their empires without completing university degrees [1].

Figma’s IPO last week marked a significant milestone in the design collaboration software market, with the stock surging by 333% on the first day and achieving a market cap exceeding $70 billion within just a few trading days. This success not only validates the company’s business model but also reinforces Field’s decision to leave Brown University, a choice he made possible through the Thiel Fellowship, which allowed him to focus on entrepreneurship instead of traditional education [1].

Field's journey began in the early 2010s, when he applied for the Thiel Fellowship after working at LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Flipboard. The program awarded him $100,000 to pursue innovation outside the classroom, a decision that initially met with skepticism from his parents. His mother expressed concern that he might regret the decision later, while his father admitted to being “quite nervous” about the risks involved [1].

Once he received the fellowship, Field felt confident in leaving school and began developing what would become Figma. His path mirrors that of other tech luminaries who abandoned formal education to build their own companies. For example, Mark Zuckerberg left Harvard in 2004 to focus on Facebook, while Larry Ellison never completed a degree and instead co-founded Oracle. Bill Gates also dropped out of Harvard to start Microsoft [1].

Field’s success story adds to a broader trend of young entrepreneurs questioning the value of traditional higher education. As Gen Z increasingly views college as an expensive endeavor with uncertain returns, more students are considering alternative routes such as startup fellowships or direct entry into the workforce. According to a recent survey by Indeed, more than a third of recent graduates feel their degree was a “waste of money,” highlighting the growing disillusionment [1].

The rise of self-taught innovators is reshaping perceptions of what it takes to succeed in the tech world. While many business leaders hold advanced degrees, the stories of Field, Zuckerberg, and others show that formal education is not always necessary for massive success. However, it is important to note that the vast majority of startups fail, and success in this path typically requires significant resources, vision, and timing.

Field’s journey reflects a larger cultural shift in how talent is developed and how young people are choosing to carve their own paths. His story resonates with a generation that is redefining traditional career trajectories and embracing innovation over convention [1].

Source: [1] title: Figma’s CEO is now worth $5 billion after IPO—like Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, and Bill Gates, he’s another college-dropout billionaire (url: https://fortune.com/2025/08/05/billionaire-figma-ceo-dylan-field-college-drop-out-ivy-league-like-mark-zuckerberg-larry-ellison-and-bill-gates/?itm_source=parsely-api)