Growing up in Seattle, Washington, Alex Butler always enjoyed inventing toys. In 2017, at the age of 7, while playing cards with his parents, Leslie Pierson and Mark Butler, he came up with the idea for Taco vs. Burrito, a card game simulating the assembly of a meal.
Players draw and place ingredient cards like meat, vegetables, or quirky items like toothpaste and tacos. The goal is to create the highest-scoring meal while using action cards to disrupt opponents' strategies.
Seeing Alex's seriousness about commercializing his idea, his parents offered their support. The family launched an online fundraising campaign, raising 25,000 USD, and established Hot Taco Inc.
They found a manufacturer and launched Taco vs. Burrito on Amazon for 20 USD per set. By the end of 2018, sales reached nearly 1.1 million USD, making the game a best-seller on the platform.
The game made Alex a millionaire by the time he turned 15.
Taco vs. Burrito now has two expansion packs and has sold over 1.5 million copies. Last month, the brand's ownership was transferred to PlayMonster, an American toy company known for products like Spirograph, Farkle, and Yeti in my Spaghetti. The deal's value was not disclosed.
"I just wanted to make as much money as possible," Alex said. However, he added that he has no plans for a new game as he is focusing on music and sports.
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Alex Butler's family in Seattle, Washington, USA. Photo: *Fortune* |
Alex's mother is an entrepreneur. Seeing her son's idea sparked after playing Exploding Kittens, she encouraged and supported him. The family often took prototypes to coffee shops to test and adjust the rules.
They received several acquisition offers but declined them all. Only when they met PlayMonster did they decide to sell.
The family hasn't decided what to do with the money, but Alex dreams of owning a Lamborghini.
Alex is not the only teenager earning money early. According to *Fortune*, 42% of American teenagers are generating income through digital platforms, surpassing the 38% who choose traditional jobs. On average, they earn about 718 USD annually from online activities.
Cameron Zoub, co-founder and chief growth officer of Whop, an online business platform in Brooklyn, noted that in the past, young entrepreneurs had to find places to sell, set up payment systems, and build communities. "But now, all they need is a phone with internet access," he said.
Ngoc Ngan (*Fortune*, *Ny Post*)
