Garrett Gee Age: Career Timeline And Biography

Garrett Gee is 36 years old, born on November 6, 1989. He first entered public view as a tech entrepreneur who co-founded the mobile barcode scanning app Scan, which Snapchat acquired for $54 million. Following that massive exit, he and his family packed up their belongings to launch The Bucket List Family, transforming a major tech payout into a global travel media brand.

Understanding his trajectory requires looking past surface-level viral headlines. His path spans collegiate soccer, early software ventures, a multi-million-dollar acquisition, and long-term content creation.

Early Life and Education

Garrett Burton Gee grew up in the United States, spending his early years with a large family that valued activity and sports. As a young adult, he served a two-year mission for his church in Vladivostok, Russia, where he met his future wife, Jessica.

Returning to the United States, he enrolled at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. At BYU, he balanced academics with athletics as a member of the university soccer team. Rather than treating sports as a mere hobby, he used physical training to manage the intense stress of early software development.

The Founding and Sale of Scan

While studying as a freshman at BYU, Gee became fascinated by the emerging utility of QR codes. Recognizing that early smartphones lacked simple, native ways to scan them, he teamed up with co-founders to build a mobile application called Scan.

• The Build Phase: With limited formal coding experience at the start, Gee focused on design, user experience, and freelancing to pick up technical skills.
• Venture Funding: The startup secured early backing, including venture funding supported by prominent tech players like Google, which prompted Gee to drop out of college to run the company full-time.
• The Snapchat Acquisition: In 2014, Snapchat acquired Scan for $54 million. Gee spent a brief stint working inside Snapchat in California before evaluating his next chapter.

Launching The Bucket List Family

With millions in the bank following the Snapchat acquisition, Gee and his wife Jessica faced a pivotal choice. Instead of settling into a traditional corporate routine, they held a massive yard sale, sold nearly all their material possessions, and bought one-way plane tickets.

• The Initial Plan: They set out on what was originally intended to be a 5-month open-ended vacation.
• The Pivot to Media: Documenting their journey online struck a chord with millions. They adopted the moniker The Bucket List Family, building massive audiences across YouTube and Instagram.
• Expansion: Over the following decade, their travels spanned close to 90 countries, evolving from personal vlogs into commercial brand partnerships with major hospitality, media, and conservation organizations.

Career Milestones Timeline

• November 6, 1989: Born in the United States.
• 2009: Married Jessica Settie after meeting during their missions in Russia.
• 2011–2014: Founded Scan, secured Google-backed funding, and grew the mobile scanning platform.
• 2014: Sold Scan to Snapchat for $54 million.
• 2015: Sold personal belongings and launched The Bucket List Family global expedition.
• Present: Continues to manage digital media projects, family content production, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Evaluating Tech Wealth

Many online articles conflate a high-profile company acquisition with instant personal luxury, missing the underlying realities of startup finances.

• Assuming 100% Take-Home Payout: Acquisition prices reported in media headlines ($54 million) are total transaction values. They involve multiple stakeholders, early investors, legal fees, and significant corporate taxes before founders receive their net distribution.
• Overlooking Burnout Management: Founders who exit early often face severe psychological transitions. Gee famously credited structured physical outlets like soccer and strict family boundaries for helping him avoid tech-industry burnout.
• Confusing Travel with Vacation: Building a sustainable media brand on the road requires rigorous daily production schedules, editing, logistics management, and brand compliance—it functions as an intensive remote business rather than a permanent holiday.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Garrett Gee make his money?

His primary source of initial wealth came from building Scan, a mobile QR code scanning app that Snapchat purchased for $54 million. Subsequent income stems from digital media production, brand sponsorships, publishing, and entrepreneurial investments tied to The Bucket List Family brand.

How many children do Garrett and Jessica Gee have?

They have three children: daughters Dorothy and Manilla, and a younger son named Calihan. Each child has grown up traveling extensively across dozens of countries.

Where does Garrett Gee live now?

While the family spent many years continuously traveling from country to country, they established a home base in Hawaii to balance schooling, community, and personal projects.

What is Garrett Gee's educational background?

He attended Brigham Young University (BYU) studying industrial design and entrepreneurship before dropping out when his software startup received major venture backing.