He retains the title of the company’s CEO and remains one of the “unicorns” in the tech industry, taking a startup from concept to success in just three years.įinty United States. The majority of Brian’s wealth is in Airbnb shares, but he supposedly dumped a large percentage of his shareholding in late 2021. The company continues to grow, despite the drop in the share price from the 2021 all-time high. The company was an instant success online, and Brian decided to take Airbnb public in April 2012, with a $112 million Series A fund-raising round.

With the investment in the company, Brain expanded the workforce to 100 employees, making significant improvements to the platform before its public launch. The team sourced $200,000 of VC funding from Sequoia Capital to get the project off the ground. They subsequently created the website Air Bed and Breakfast, which eventually grew into Airbnb.Īirbnb launched in 2008, but it only really gained traction around 2015.Ĭhesky teamed up with Nathan Blecharczyk to help the team market the platform to the globe as a way to let anyone rent their property out conveniently, directly to the consumer.Ĭhesky also managed his investment in an air mattress venture until the incorporation of “Air Bed and Breakfast” in late 2008. Together with his roommates and co-founders of Airbnb, they purchased three air beds to rent out their place and make some money.

He was forced to rent out his apartment in order to have enough funds to make the monthly rent that was due. Brian Chesky built his wealth by founding Airbnb, the innovative travel booking website.īrian's inspiration behind Airbnb was a time in his life when he couldn't afford to pay out his rent.

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