The rise of Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, who got his start renting out air mattresses on his floor

• Brian Chesky, a former hockey player and industrial design student, is now worth $9.1 billion.
• Chesky started Airbnb after renting out his apartment to conference-goers who couldn’t find a hotel.
• See how Chesky led the company to a successful IPO and beyond despite COVID-19 and other challenges.

Before running Airbnb, Brian Chesky attended art school. 

After graduation, an idea hatched with his San Francisco roommate Joe Gebbia blossomed into tech unicorn Airbnb and has positioned Chesky as one of Silicon Valley’s key players. 

In 2024, Airbnb recorded a 11% growth in pre-tax earnings at approximately $4 billion compared to 2023, and remained synonymous with short-term rentals across the US. 

Here’s how the Brian Chesky, now 43, became one of the richest young tech founders in America.

This story was originally published in 2016. It was last updated on March 10, 2025.