Brian Chesky | |
|---|---|
 Chesky in 2021 | |
| Born | Brian Joseph Chesky August 29, 1981 Niskayuna, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Rhode Island School of Design (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | CEO and co-founder, Airbnb |
Brian Joseph Chesky (born August 29, 1981) is an American businessman and industrial designer and the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. As of January 2024, Chesky is the 232nd richest person in the world according to Forbes, with a net worth of $9.4 billion,[1] mostly due to his ownership of 76 million shares of Airbnb.[2]
Brian Chesky was born on August 29, 1981, in Niskayuna, New York, the son of Deborah and Robert H. Chesky;[3] His father is of Polish and his mother of Italian origin.[4] Chesky's parents were both social workers.[5][6] He has a younger sister, Allison.[5] As a child, Chesky was interested in art, drawing replicas of paintings, and design, redesigning shoes and toys.[5] He later became interested in landscape architecture and design.[7]
Chesky attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), beginning in 1999,[8] and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in industrial design in 2004.[9] During his time at RISD, Chesky was influenced by the works of Charles Eames and Walt Disney.[10] He also met fellow student Joe Gebbia, who would later be one of the co-founders of Airbnb.[11] In his early 20s, he was also a hockey player and competitive bodybuilder.[8]
After attending college, Chesky worked as an industrial designer and strategist at 3DID, Inc. in Los Angeles.[11]
In 2007, he moved to San Francisco where he shared an apartment with Gebbia.[12][13]
In October 2007, the Industrial Designers Society of America was hosting a conference in San Francisco and all hotel rooms were booked.[14][15] The pair could not afford rent for the month and decided to rent their apartment for money.[16] They purchased three air mattresses and marketed this idea as "Airbed and Breakfast", with three guests staying the first night.[17][18]
Chesky became the leader and chief executive officer of Airbnb. To receive funding, Chesky and his co-founders created special-edition cereals called "Obama O's" and "Cap'n McCains", based on presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.[19][20][21][22] Impressed by the cereal boxes, computer programmer Paul Graham invited the founders to the January 2009 winter training session of his startup incubator, Y Combinator, which provided them with training and $20,000 in funding in exchange for a 6% interest in the company.[23]
In December 2020, Airbnb became a public company via an initial public offering.[24]
In 2015, Chesky was included on the Forbes list of America's Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40.[25] Chesky was recognized on the Time 100 for 2015.[24]
In May 2015, President Barack Obama named Chesky an Ambassador of Global Entrepreneurship.[26]
In 2016, Chesky was also named in the Youngest Forbes 400 list.[27]
In 2018, Chesky was named the Bay Area Executive of the Year by American City Business Journals.[28]
In June 2022, Chesky was featured among the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality by the International Hospitality Institute.[29]
In December 2022, Chesky listed his home in San Francisco's Mission District on Airbnb.[30][31]
On June 11, 2016, Chesky joined Warren Buffett and Bill Gates' The Giving Pledge, a group of billionaires who have committed to giving the majority of their wealth away.[32]
In May 2022, Chesky donated $100 million to the Obama Foundation to launch a scholarship program for students pursuing careers in public service. The Voyager Scholarship aims to support students in their junior and senior year of college with up to $50,000 in financial aid, a $10,000 stipend, and free Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience; a $2,000 travel credit every year for 10 years following graduation; an annual summit; and a network of mentors.[33]
