Zach Yadegari Biography: Net Worth, Age, Nationality, and Work In 2025

Introduction

Zach Yadegari biography tells the inspiring journey of an 18-year-old entrepreneur who turned his passion for coding into a multi-million-dollar empire. From learning to code at age seven to building Cal AI, a viral AI-powered calorie tracking app, Zach has become a rising star in the business and tech world. Despite being rejected by elite Ivy League schools, he proved that vision, resilience, and execution matter more than traditional pathways.

In this post, we’ll explore his early life, nationality, age, work, Cal AI’s success, university rejections, net worth, and what’s next for this Gen-Z entrepreneur.

1. Early Life & Nationality

Zach Yadegari grew up in New York, where his fascination with computers started early. At just 7 years old, he attended coding camps and began teaching himself online. By age 10, he was already developing small projects and showing signs of brilliance in tech.

Though his exact heritage isn’t widely publicized, his name hints at a multicultural background. What’s clear is his ability to think globally and innovate in a way that resonates across cultures.

By 12, Zach was publishing his first app, Speed Soccer, and winning hackathons against university-level students, a clear indication that he wasn’t just another bright kid, but a prodigy destined for greater things.

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2. First Exit: Totally Science

At 14, Zach founded Totally Science, a clever gaming website that allowed students to play online games even on restricted school Wi-Fi. It spread like wildfire among teenagers, becoming a viral sensation.

By age 16, Zach had already sold Totally Science for six figures, marking his first official entrepreneurial exit. This milestone not only gave him financial independence but also validated his potential as a serious founder.

3. Cal AI: From High School Project to Global App

After Totally Science, Zach focused on solving a real-world problem: the hassle of calorie tracking. Teaming up with his childhood friend Henry Langmack and collaborators Blake Anderson and Jake Castillo, he built Cal AI ~ an app that uses artificial intelligence to identify food items from photos and estimate calories instantly.

• Launch Success: With just $2,000 spent on marketing, Cal AI earned $28,000 in its first month and $115,000 in the second month.
• Massive Growth: By 2025, the app had over 8.3 million downloads worldwide.
• Accuracy: According to CBS News, Cal AI achieves about 90% accuracy when identifying meals like salmon, rice, or avocado.
• Global Team: Today, Cal AI has 17 employees spread across four continents.

This rapid growth turned Cal AI into one of the most promising AI startups of the decade.

4. Net Worth of Zach Yadegari

Thanks to the explosive success of Cal AI, Zach’s wealth skyrocketed in just a few years. By 2025, reports estimated that Cal AI generates over $1.4 million per month, putting its annual run rate between $16.8 million and $30 million.

Here’s a breakdown of his financial journey:

Year	Source of Income	Estimated Earnings	Notes
2022	Totally Science (Exit)	Six figures (~$100k+)	Sold gaming website at age 16
2023	Early Cal AI Launch	$28k – $115k/month	Viral growth from student-built app
2024	Cal AI Revenue	$10M – $16.8M annually	8.3M downloads, 17 global employees
2025	Projected Cal AI Revenue	~$30M annually	Current net worth estimated in tens of millions

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5. Education & University Rejections

Despite his brilliance, Zach’s college journey wasn’t smooth. He graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA and an ACT score of 34, but was rejected by Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, and Princeton.

His admissions essay questioned the necessity of college in today’s entrepreneurial world, a stance that may have rubbed admissions officers the wrong way. Still, he received offers from Georgia Tech and the University of Miami.

Interestingly, Zach later reflected on this rejection during a trip to Kyoto’s Ryoan-ji rock garden, realizing that college could still offer valuable experiences, even if not essential to his success.

6. Life as a High School CEO

Running a startup while in high school was no easy feat.

• He still attended regular classes, joking that he “had to raise his hand to go to the bathroom” while managing a multi-million-dollar company.
• His mother often worried when he worked late nights, but remained supportive and proud.
• Despite his CEO duties, Zach maintained a perfect GPA and participated in typical teenage experiences, like prom.

This balance shows his discipline and ability to handle responsibilities beyond his age.

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7. Future Plans & Vision

Zach has enrolled in the University of Miami’s business school, but he doesn’t plan to stay long. His vision is to lead Cal AI for another two years, scale it to new heights, and eventually hand it over to a successor or sell it.

Long term, Zach sees himself as a serial entrepreneur in AI, determined to keep pushing boundaries and inspire the next generation of innovators.

8. Human Side: Personality & Influence

Beyond his business achievements, Zach remains relatable:

• He openly shares his struggles, like rejection letters and balancing teenage life with leadership.
• Online discussions often debate his confidence, with some critics calling him “too bold” in his essays, while fans admire his resilience.
• He has become a Gen-Z influencer, symbolizing that passion and action can beat traditional pathways to success.

His story is not just about money, but about breaking barriers and rewriting the rules of success.

Conclusion

The Zach Yadegari biography is more than just a success story ~ it’s proof that innovation, courage, and resilience can outshine traditional paths. From coding at 7, selling a startup at 16, and building a $30M AI company at 18, Zach has already achieved what many entrepreneurs dream of.

His net worth, likely in the tens of millions, is just one part of his legacy. The real story lies in his vision to use AI for real-world impact, and his determination to inspire a generation of creators.

Zach Yadegari is just getting started, and the world will be watching.