Dylan Taylor, chairman and CEO of space technology company Voyager Technologies, made his first million at 27. Now a billionaire, he plans to leave his two children an eight-figure inheritance rather than pass down his entire fortune. In a May 27, 2026, interview with Fortune, Taylor said he would direct the wealth beyond that limit towards philanthropy. His fortune grew through business leadership, real estate and investments, and increased further after Voyager went public in 2025. Taylor believes passing down enormous fortunes may not benefit children or society. Instead, he wants his wealth to address unmet needs and support causes that can make a difference during his lifetime.
How a space entrepreneur made his first million at 27
Taylor built his career across real estate, finance and technology before moving into the commercial space industry. He held senior leadership roles at Colliers International, including global president and chief operating officer, and served in executive and board positions at other companies.His approach to building wealth involved more than earning a salary. Taylor invested in real estate and emerging businesses, including companies in the space sector. He has said that these investments, alongside his executive career, helped him build his fortune.Taylor later became chairman and CEO of Voyager Technologies, a company focused on space technology, infrastructure and national security. His career eventually brought together his business experience and interest in commercial space exploration.
Voyager’s stock market debut boosted his fortune
Voyager Technologies went public on the New York Stock Exchange in June 2025. The company priced its initial public offering at US$31 per share. On its first day of trading, the shares opened at US$69.75, giving Voyager a market valuation of approximately US$3.8 billion at the time.The listing marked a major milestone for Taylor. Fortune reported in May 2026 that his net worth had crossed the billion-dollar mark in 2025, helped by Voyager’s IPO, his real estate portfolio and investments in companies including Robinhood, Relativity Space and Calm.Voyager’s valuation does not represent Taylor’s personal wealth. His fortune also depends on his ownership stake and other assets and investments.
Why he wants to limit his children’s inheritance
Taylor has two children and believes they should receive enough money to be financially secure without inheriting a fortune so large that they have little incentive to build something themselves.In his interview with Fortune, he said he was not a strong believer in transferring wealth across generations. When asked how much his children could expect to inherit, he described the amount as “eight figures, not nine”. That means tens of millions of dollars rather than hundreds of millions.Taylor said his children are old enough to access the resources available to them but have not used them because they want to achieve things independently. He sees this as a positive outcome and wants to preserve that sense of independence.His plan is to provide a substantial financial safety net while directing the rest of his wealth towards causes beyond his family.
He wants the bulk of his wealth to support philanthropy
Taylor plans to direct the wealth beyond his children’s inheritance towards philanthropic causes. According to Fortune, the amount could eventually reach hundreds of millions of dollars or more.One of the causes closest to him is Space for Humanity, a nonprofit he founded in 2017. The organisation aims to expand access to spaceflight and use the experience of seeing Earth from space to encourage people to address global challenges.Taylor has also supported initiatives that help widen access to careers in the space industry, including the Brooke Owens Fellowship, the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship and Mission: Astro Access.His approach centres on using wealth to address needs that remain unmet. Rather than preserving the bulk of his fortune in trusts for descendants far into the future, he wants it to support causes that can make a difference during his lifetime.
His approach echoes Bill Gates’ inheritance plans
Taylor’s position resembles that of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who has said he plans to leave his children less than 1% of his wealth and direct most of his fortune towards philanthropy.Other wealthy individuals have also questioned whether passing down enormous fortunes is the best use of their money. Laurene Powell Jobs, who inherited wealth from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, has said she does not intend to pass her fortune down through generations. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has also discussed directing much of his wealth towards charitable causes.These approaches reflect a wider debate over inheritance, financial independence and the concentration of wealth. Supporters of large inheritances argue that they provide security and opportunities for future generations. Critics contend that enormous fortunes can concentrate resources within a small number of families and reduce incentives for independent achievement.Taylor’s position is that his children should have financial security while the bulk of his fortune serves a wider purpose.
A different view of generational wealth
Taylor’s inheritance plan marks a contrast between how he accumulated his fortune and how he wants it used. He built wealth through executive roles, investments and the growth of Voyager Technologies, but does not intend to pass all of it to his children.His stated plan is to leave them an eight-figure inheritance and direct the remainder towards philanthropy. Through Space for Humanity and other initiatives, he has supported efforts to expand access to space and encourage its use for broader social benefit.