Whitney Wolfe Herd, the trailblazing founder of Bumble, is back in the headlines—and not just for her business moves. In a whirlwind 2025, Wolfe Herd has reclaimed her CEO seat at Bumble, faced the surreal experience of a Hulu biopic about her life, and navigated the shifting sands of her personal fortune. Here’s how the tech world’s “queen of dating apps” is rewriting her own story—again.
The Hulu Biopic That Made Wolfe Herd Squirm
Imagine waking up to find your life dramatized on screen—without your blessing. That’s exactly what happened to Wolfe Herd this month when Hulu premiered
Swiped, a biopic starring Lily James as the Bumble founder. The film traces Wolfe Herd’s meteoric rise from Tinder cofounder to the youngest woman to take a company public, but the real-life subject was less than thrilled.
In a candid interview, Wolfe Herd admitted she tried to stop the project, telling her lawyer, “Shut it down!” two years ago. She confessed to CNBC that she found the whole idea “too weird” and hasn’t even watched the trailer all the way through. Still, she called it an “honor” to be portrayed by James, revealing a mix of pride and discomfort that’s rare among tech moguls.
Bumble’s Rocky Road—and Wolfe Herd’s Return
While Hollywood was busy telling her story, Wolfe Herd was plotting a comeback of her own. After stepping down as Bumble’s CEO in 2023—citing burnout after a decade at the helm—she remained as board chair while the company weathered a brutal market downturn. Bumble’s share price plummeted more than
90% from its 2021 IPO high, and Gen Z’s growing disillusionment with dating apps didn’t help.
Under new CEO Lidiane Jones, Bumble made controversial changes, including allowing men to send the first message—a move that drew mixed reviews. An ad campaign that some women felt shamed celibacy also backfired. By early 2025, Jones was out, and Wolfe Herd was back in the CEO seat, determined to steer Bumble into a new era as the “Love Company.” She’s openly acknowledged the toxic dynamics of dating apps and says she’s focused on building a healthier, more supportive platform for users.
Net Worth: No Longer a Billionaire, But Still a Power Player
Wolfe Herd’s financial journey has mirrored Bumble’s ups and downs. At the peak of Bumble’s IPO in 2021, her net worth soared to about
$1.5 billion, making her the youngest self-made female billionaire. But as of 2025, her fortune is estimated between
$400 million and
$600 million—still impressive, but no longer in the billionaire club. Most of her wealth remains tied to her Bumble stake, along with dividends and other investments.
Despite the drop, Wolfe Herd remains one of the most influential women in tech, and her net worth still outpaces that of her former Tinder colleague, Justin Mateen, by roughly
$200 million.
What’s Next for Whitney Wolfe Herd?
Wolfe Herd’s return to Bumble signals a renewed focus on user well-being and a push to redefine online dating. She’s openly critical of the “rejection and judgment” baked into dating apps and is promising a more compassionate approach. Meanwhile, the Hulu biopic has thrust her story into the cultural spotlight, whether she likes it or not.
For Wolfe Herd, 2025 is shaping up as a year of reinvention—on her own terms, and in the public eye.
Sources
1. Whitney Wolfe's Net Worth Post Losing Billionaire Tag
2. Whitney Wolfe Herd is back as Bumble's CEO - Fortune
3. Bumble founder Wolfe Herd is terrified of Hulu's biopic about her ...
4. Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd becomes billionaire at 31 after ...
5. Why Lily James 'Swiped' right on telling Whitney Wolfe Herd's story
6. Bumble CEO may end women making the first move on app - Fortune
7. The True Story Behind Swiped and Whitney Wolfe Herd | TIME
8. How does Whitney Wolfe make her comeback after leaving Tinder?
9. Hulu's "Swiped" portrays entrepreneur behind Bumble, Tinder - Axios
