Early Life
Brian Chesky was born on August 29, 1981, in Niskayuna, New York. His parents were both social workers. He developed an interest in art and design early in life, drawing inspiration from figures like Leonardo da Vinci. He graduated from Niskayuna High School in 1999.
Education and Early Career
Chesky pursued his passion for design, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in industrial design from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2004. After graduating, he worked as an industrial designer in Los Angeles.
Rise to Success: Founding Airbnb
In 2007, Chesky moved to San Francisco and, along with Joe Gebbia, co-founded Airbnb. The idea came about when they rented out air mattresses in their apartment to accommodate attendees of a design conference, as hotels were fully booked. The company, originally called AirBed & Breakfast, was officially launched in August 2008, with Nathan Blecharczyk joining as a co-founder.
Key Business Strategies
Airbnb's success stems from a design-driven approach, creating a platform built on trust and community. Chesky's leadership has been instrumental in the company's growth, expanding to over 5 million hosts and welcoming over 2 billion guest arrivals across the globe. The company went public in December 2020. Chesky has also focused on strategic investments, advising and backing startups.
Philanthropy
Brian Chesky is a signatory to The Giving Pledge and committed to donating the net proceeds of his CEO equity compensation to community, philanthropic, and charitable causes. He has demonstrated his commitment to philanthropy by donating $100 million to the Obama Foundation in May 2022 to launch a scholarship program.