Brian Chesky

Brian Chesky is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Airbnb, a position he has held since the inception of the company. Alongside Joe Gebbia, he conceived the idea for Airbnb in 2007 when a design conference caused all the hotels in their town to be booked up, leading them to rent out their apartment. As of now, Airbnb boasts a community of over four million hosts who have welcomed more than 800 million guests across 220+ countries and regions. Chesky himself is an active Airbnb host, having listed his own home in San Francisco on the platform.

After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in industrial design, Chesky has allowed his creative roots to permeate Airbnb’s culture, product, and community. His design-driven approach has fostered a trust-based system that enables strangers to live together and has concurrently crafted a unique business model that promotes connection and belonging. Chesky is acknowledged on the Forbes list of America's Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40 and has been named one of the "World's Greatest Leaders" by Fortune. His net worth is estimated at $9.6 billion, making him the 190th richest person globally.

Chesky is genuinely committed to benefiting his community and beyond. He is a signatory to the Giving Pledge, a commitment also made by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, promising to donate his net worth to philanthropic causes. He took this commitment a step further by donating $100 million to the Obama Foundation to inaugurate a scholarship program for students pursuing careers in public service. He also has been recognized as one of Time magazine's "Time 100 Pioneers" and featured among the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality by the International Hospitality Institute. His public presence extends to many events, including the White House celebration of entrepreneurs and the Sun Valley conference.