Brian Chesky Net Worth

Brian Chesky is an industrial designer and businessman who is also Airbnb’s co-founder and current CEO. Since the company was founded in 2007, Chesky has been in charge of it, amassing a net worth of about $10 billion, thanks to his shares in the company.

Education and early career

Chesky had an interest in design from an early age and would often draw imaginary versions of Nike sneakers. He later attended the Rhode Island School of Design and received a bachelor in fine arts in 2004. Whilst there, he met Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia.

Before the pair graduated, Gebbia is reported to have told Chesky that they were going to start a company one day and that books would be written about it.

Chesky’s first job out of college was as an industrial designer and strategist at Los Angeles firm 3DID, Inc. He then quit, moved to San Francisco, and shared an apartment with Gebbia, and it was there that the idea for Airbnb was born.

Airbnb

Both unemployed, Chesky and Gebbia found it difficult to pay the rent on their apartment. On September 22, 2007, Gebbia sent the now oft-quoted email to Chesky with an idea to turn their place into a “designers bed and breakfast” replete with “wireless internet, a small desk space, sleeping mat, and breakfast each morning.”

The pair hosted three people that weekend after a designer’s conference in San Francisco meant hotel accommodation was in short supply. A few months later, the pair recruited engineer Nathan Blecharczyk and the site Airbedandbreakfast.com was launched in August 2008.

Today, Chesky’s creative roots have found their way into Airbnb’s culture, product, and community. This has resulted in a design-driven approach that increased trust between Airbnb hosts and the strangers staying in their homes.

Pandemic management and IPO

Chesky remains Airbnb CEO, he relinquished control of daily operations to Blecharczyk in 2014. Across the pandemic, Chesky was instrumental in managing the company as it burned through its cash reserves and was forced into mass layoffs.

While around 25% of all employees were terminated, Chesky was also praised for his generous severance packages and offer to help individuals find employment elsewhere

Most recently, he oversaw Airbnb’s successful IPO in December 2020 which valued it at $86.5 billion on the NASDAQ.

Philanthropy

Chesky is also a philanthropist who, with fellow billionaires such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, has committed to donating the majority of his wealth to charity as part of The Giving Pledge campaign.

In 2022, he then announced a $100 million donation to The Obama Foundation to support students in pursuit of careers in public service. As part of the initiative, individuals would receive free Airbnb accommodation during their summer work-travel experiences.

Key takeaways

Brian Chesky is an industrial designer and businessman who is also the co-founder and current CEO of Airbnb. Chesky met Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia whilst studying design at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Chesky’s first job out of college was as an industrial designer and strategist at Los Angeles firm 3DID, Inc. He then quit, moved to San Francisco, and shared an apartment with Gebbia who suggested they offer accommodation to designs to help pay the rent.
While Chesky remains Airbnb CEO, he relinquished control of daily operations to Blecharczyk in 2014. Across the pandemic, he was instrumental in managing the company as it burned through its cash reserves and was forced into mass layoffs.