Austin Russell’s journey to becoming the world’s youngest self-made billionaire started in 2012, when he founded Luminar Technologies. The company specializes in cheap, compact lidar systems, which use lasers to help cars see their surroundings—a technology important to developing self-driving vehicles. But Russell says he’s more focused on making driving safer than getting rid of the humans at the wheel—and his approach has paid off. Ten years in, Luminar is a leader in the industry, creating lidar systems for companies like Volvo and Nissan.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race, Endorses Harris to Replace Him
- Why Biden Dropped Out
- The Chaos and Commotion of the RNC in Photos
- Why We All Have a Stake in Twisters’ Success
- 8 Eating Habits That Actually Improve Your Sleep
- Stop Feeling Bad About Sweating
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox