British entrepreneur, investor, author, and podcast host Steven Bartlett has been named to the prestigious TIME100 Creators List for 2025, an annual honour that recognises the most influential voices in the global digital space. The list, curated by TIME magazine, celebrates creators who are shaping culture, sparking conversations, and building meaningful communities online.
Bartlett, best known as the founder of FlightStory, Thirdweb, as a successful investor and the host of The Diary of a CEO, started his podcast in the early hours of the morning in a spare bedroom with nothing but a microphone and his laptop. That small, personal project has since grown into one of the most listened-to and reportedly fastest growing podcasts in the world, earning him recognition alongside digital giants such as MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), Joe Rogan, Charli D’Amelio, Kai Cenat, and Khaby Lame.
The TIME100 Creators list is TIME magazine’s annual recognition of the world’s most influential digital voices—people who are shaping culture, driving conversations, and building powerful online communities.
Unlike traditional celebrity rankings, the TIME100 Creators list focuses specifically on digital-first talent: creators who have built meaningful platforms through podcasts, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, newsletters, and other online channels.
The phrase “most influential digital voices” refers to individuals whose content moves people—not just in terms of views or followers, but in terms of real impact. These are the creators who challenge thinking, start trends, shift opinions, and lead global conversations from behind a phone or microphone.
What makes Bartlett’s inclusion even more notable is that only 5% of the 2025 TIME100 Creators list are British, signalling a significant moment for UK voices breaking through on a global stage. His journey highlights the power of consistency, curiosity, and the courage to create content rooted in meaning and vulnerability.
Bartlett has often credited his success to the stories shared by his guests and the community that has supported the podcast from day one. Whether it’s during a commute, workout, or quiet moment of reflection, The Diary of a CEO has struck a chord with millions by focusing on honest, thought-provoking conversations that go beyond the surface.
He also paid tribute to his team at Flight Story and The Diary of a CEO, calling them “the very best in the industry.” Bartlett has consistently praised the people behind the scenes who help bring his vision to life, from content to production to brand partnerships.
Steven Bartlett’s inclusion in the TIME100 Creators 2025 list marks another major milestone in a career defined by innovation, authenticity, and a relentless drive to challenge the status quo—both in business and in media.
Q&A with Steven Bartlett:
What is Flight Story? Flight Story is a media company and investment fund founded by Steven Bartlett. It has two main parts.
The first is Flight Story Studio – a media company that helps build powerful audiences across all platforms. They own their own media and are the owners of shows like The Diary Of A CEO, We Need To Talk by Paul Brunson and Begin Again by Davina McCall.
The second is the Flight Story Fund – an investment arm that builds, backs, and buys companies. The focus is on brands and businesses that are shaping the future, especially in areas like health, AI, consumer tech, and media.
Together, Flight Story helps companies grow by giving them both the audience and the backing they need to succeed.
What is Steven Bartlett Known For? How did Steven Bartlett make his money? Steven Bartlett sold his company (a significant portion of his shares in Social Chain AG) in December 2020, when the company’s valuation was approximately $300 million. The transaction, which marked Bartlett’s first business exit and made him a multi-millionaire at age 28 years old. The sale was facilitated by his co-founder and co-CEO Wanja Oberhof. At the time of the sale of his company shares, Bartlett was 28 years old. In 2020 he resigned as co-CEO of Social Chain AG and he transitioned to an advisory role for Social Chain AG until 2021. The company later went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, with its valuation eventually reaching around $600 million.
After leaving Social Chain he founded The Diary of a CEO podcast which he 100% owns to date. The show has employed more than 100 people across the UK and the US, and is on track to generate $40 million in 2025 revenues. He also founded Flight Story, a media and investment company that has backed some of the world’s most exciting businesses.
In addition, Bartlett is the co-founder of thirdweb, a San Francisco–based software company valued at $160 million in its most recent funding round, which included investors such as Shopify, Coinbase, and others.
Steven Bartlett was not a direct shareholder in Social Chain Ltd at the time of its acquisition by Brave Bison in February 2023, and he had no involvement in the deal. Bartlett had exited the business several years earlier, stepping down as co-CEO of Social Chain AG in 2020, the publicly listed parent company of Social Chain Ltd. All of his equity was held in Social Chain AG, not in the UK-based agency – which was one of over 60 companies in Social Chain AG – and was later sold to Brave Bison.
How old is Steven Bartlett? He is 32 years old and he was born August 26, 1992.
How tall is Steven Bartlett? Steven Bartlett is 6 foot 1 inch tall