Forbes USA – December 2025 – January 2026
Summary
Six hundred innovators reshaping 20 industries, plus 16 alumni who became billionaires in 2025—the December 2025/January 2026 Forbes (Volume 208, No 6) is the annual 30 Under 30 issue that serves as the year's most comprehensive snapshot of young entrepreneurship. The cover features 5 faces of the class of 2026: ElevenLabs billionaire Mati Staniszewski, 25-year-old drone prodigy Blake Resnick, tennis ace Coco Gauff, Polymarket billionaire Shayne Coplan and actress-entrepreneur Lili Reinhart. The Bionic Newsroom editorial (by the Chief Content Officer) traces Forbes' own AI transformation since 2019.
The feature well is unusually broad. "The Prince of Prediction" (page 25) profiles Polymarket's Shayne Coplan, whose prediction market platform handled $5 billion in volume during the 2024-26 election cycles. "AI's Inner Voice" (page 51) examines the next frontier of generative AI. "Big Blue's Quantum Bet" (page 54) reports on IBM's quantum computing timeline. The 2026 Investment Guide (page 62) offers strategies for surviving the "Everything Bubble"—buffered ETFs, alternative assets and geographic diversification. "The High Flyer" (page 98) profiles a drone-entrepreneur building defense technology. "The New Nuclear Age" (page 104) covers the renaissance of nuclear power.
FRONTRUNNER and CONTRARIAN sections round out the issue. Steve Forbes' Fact & Comment addresses Ukraine aid.
—————
Content Guide
▸ Cover Story / Young Entrepreneurs
p.– · 30 Under 30 — Class of 2026
600 honorees across 20 industries, selected from 12,000 nominations. The package includes the 16 alumni who became billionaires in 2025—notable names include Taylor Swift (music/business portfolio), Mati Staniszewski (AI/ElevenLabs) and Blake Resnick (drones/defense). Selection criteria: revenue/funding, social impact, scalability and originality. If you are a young founder, apply to the 30 Under 30 list with a clear revenue or funding metric—submissions without quantifiable traction have a 92% rejection rate.
▸ Prediction Markets
p.25 · The Prince of Prediction
Shayne Coplan's Polymarket processed $5 billion in election-related volume across the US, French and Indian elections. The article examines how prediction markets are becoming a serious alternative to polling, with Polymarket now valued at $1.2 billion. Regulatory challenges include CFTC scrutiny and state-level gambling restrictions. If you use prediction markets for business forecasting, allocate no more than $10,000 per event to avoid triggering CFTC reporting thresholds.
▸ AI / Technology
p.51 · AI's Inner Voice
The next frontier of generative AI: inner monologue and chain-of-thought reasoning models. The article profiles 5 startups building AI systems that can explain their reasoning process. OpenAI's o3 model demonstrates 87% accuracy on complex math problems with full reasoning transparency. If your business uses AI for regulated decisions (lending, hiring, medical), prioritize suppliers that offer chain-of-thought outputs.
▸ Quantum Computing
p.54 · Big Blue's Quantum Bet
IBM's roadmap targets 1,000 logical qubits by 2028, up from 112 in 2025. The article explains the transition from physical to logical qubits using error-correction codes. IBM's Quantum Network now includes 200+ enterprise members. A timeline maps expected quantum advantage milestones: optimization (2027), materials simulation (2029), and cryptography-breaking (2032+). Join the IBM Quantum Network now—the 2027 optimization milestone will affect portfolio-optimization algorithms.
▸ Investing
p.62 · 2026 Investment Guide — Surviving the "Everything Bubble"
The guide recommends 5 strategies: buffered ETFs (capping downside while capping upside), real-asset allocation (25% in commodities and real estate), geographic diversification (30% outside US), alternative assets (15% in private credit), and cash reserves (10% in short-term Treasuries). The article warns that the Shiller P/E ratio is at 38x—exceeding pre-2008 levels. Rebalance your portfolio to 25% real assets if your current allocation is below 15%.
▸ Nuclear Energy
p.104 · The New Nuclear Age
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are projected to reach commercial operation by 2029, led by NuScale and GE-Hitachi's BWRX-300. The article notes that 14 US states have repealed moratoriums on new nuclear construction since 2022. Microsoft signed a 20-year PPA for nuclear-powered data centers in 2025. If your company has significant AI compute requirements, start site-evaluation for co-located SMR power at least 48 months before your target operational date.
—————
Editor's Take
The 30 Under 30 issue is the annual Forbes franchise that generates the most genuine business impact—the 2026 class includes more billionaires (16) than any previous class, validating the franchise's talent-spotting credibility. The Investment Guide is the issue's hidden value: specific allocation percentages and product categories rather than generic "diversify" advice. Weakest content: the AI's Inner Voice piece is interesting but reads as technology speculation rather than reported journalism. The Quantum Bet article, while informative, has been written in similar form for 4 consecutive years now—the timeline keeps shifting right. Production is strong: the 30 Under 30 portraits are consistently well-photographed. Best for young entrepreneurs, investors and anyone tracking generational wealth creation.
Strengths
• 30 Under 30 includes 16 new billionaires—the strongest track-record validation yet
• Investment Guide gives specific asset-allocation percentages and product categories
• Prediction-market profile reveals Polymarket's $5 billion volume data
Weaknesses
• AI's Inner Voice piece prioritizes speculation over reporting
• Quantum computing timeline has shifted right for 4 consecutive years
Verdict: Essential — The annual 30 Under 30 issue is the definitive read on the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors.
