Airbnb
Airbnb, Inc. ( AIR-bee-en-BEE, an abbreviation of its original name, "Airbed and Breakfast") is an American company operating an online marketplace for short-and-long-term homestays, experiences and services in various countries and regions. It acts as a broker and charges a commission from each booking. Airbnb was founded in 2008 by Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, and Joe Gebbia.
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Who Founded Airbnb?
Brian Joseph Chesky (born August 29, 1981) is an American businessman and industrial designer and the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. Chesky is the 290th richest person in the world according to Forbes, with a net worth of $9.2 billion, largely due to his 10 percent ownership stake in Airbnb.
Joseph Gebbia Jr. (; born August 21, 1981) is an American designer and entrepreneur, and a co-founder of Airbnb. In 2025, he joined the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Gebbia was appointed by President Donald Trump as the first Chief Design Officer to lead the National Design Studio. Gebbia is also on the board of directors of Airbnb, but has not been involved in the operations of the company since 2022. In 2022, Gebbia joined the board of Tesla Inc. and bought a minority stake in the San Antonio Spurs basketball team. He also co-founded Samara, an accessory dwelling unit startup. A Republican, Gebbia has mainly donated to Republican Party politicians and was additionally appointed as Chief Design Officer of the United States under the newly-established Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE). Gebbia holds anti-immigrant views.
Frequently Asked Questions about Airbnb
Who runs Airbnb?
Leadership and ownership at Airbnb has evolved over its history. It was originally founded by Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, who established the vision for the company.
Who is responsible for Airbnb?
The founders, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, were responsible for the initial creation and early success of Airbnb.