Garrett Gee is 36 years old, born on November 6, 1989. He first entered the public eye as a tech entrepreneur who co-founded Scan, a mobile barcode and QR code reading company that Snapchat later acquired for $54 million. Following that massive exit, he and his family packed up their belongings to launch The Bucket List Family, documenting years of full-time global travel.
Understanding his trajectory requires looking past surface-level headlines. From launching a dorm-room startup to building a multi-platform media brand, his career spans software development, venture-backed tech, and digital storytelling.
Early Life and Education at Brigham Young University
Born in Provo, Utah, Gee grew up with a strong interest in athletics, design, and digital media. Before beginning his university studies, he spent two years serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vladivostok, Russia. During this missionary service, he met Jessica Settie, whom he married in April 2009.
Upon returning to the United States, Gee enrolled at Brigham Young University (BYU), focusing on industrial design and entrepreneurship. While traditional coursework provided a foundation, his real education happened outside the lecture hall. He started exploring how smartphones could interact with the physical world through barcode technology, which laid the groundwork for his future company.
Founding Scan and the $54 Million Snapchat Acquisition
In 2011, while still a student at BYU, Gee co-founded Scan alongside fellow students Kirk Ouimet and Ben Turley. The core premise was simple: smartphones were becoming ubiquitous, but scanning barcodes and QR codes still required clunky, poorly designed apps. Scan aimed to build a clean, universal reader that made barcode interaction effortless.
The company faced early hurdles typical of bootstrapped startups. To fund initial operations, Gee took on freelance web design and branding projects through his agency, Capital G Design. Momentum shifted when the startup secured outside investment, including backing from Google Ventures, prompting Gee to drop out of university to focus full-time on the venture.
In 2013, Scan gained national television exposure when Gee pitched the concept on the reality show Shark Tank. Although the judges chose not to invest, the publicity drove widespread app downloads. Just one year later, in 2014, Snapchat acquired Scan for $54 million, providing Gee and his co-founders with a life-changing financial exit in their early twenties.
Transition to The Bucket List Family
Rather than immediately jumping into another corporate tech role, Gee made a radical pivot. In 2015, he and Jessica sold nearly all their worldly possessions at a giant yard sale, packed two suitcases, and took their three young children—Dorothy, Manilla, and Calihan—on what was originally planned as a five-month vacation.
They launched Instagram and YouTube channels under the moniker The Bucket List Family. What started as a temporary sabbatical turned into a permanent lifestyle. Over the next decade, the family traveled to dozens of countries, partnering with major hospitality brands, tourism boards, and conservation groups.
Current Ventures and Life Today
Today, Gee balances content creation with independent business ventures. He has expanded beyond travel vlogging into children's media, crowdfunding educational cartoon projects and publishing children's literature.
The family maintains a home base in Hawaii while continuing to document outdoor adventures, fitness routines, and minimalist lifestyle choices. Even with significant wealth from the Snapchat acquisition, Gee maintains that his primary focus remains on family experiences, health, and purpose-driven projects rather than traditional accumulation of goods.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Garrett Gee born?
He was born on November 6, 1989.
How did Garrett Gee make his initial fortune?
He co-founded Scan, a mobile QR code scanning app that was acquired by Snapchat in 2014 for $54 million.
What is The Bucket List Family?
It is a popular digital media brand and travel channel created by Garrett and Jessica Gee that documents their global adventures with their three children.
Did Garrett Gee finish college?
No, he dropped out of Brigham Young University after his startup received outside venture funding to pursue the business full-time.
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