Joe Gebbia

Joseph Gebbia Jr.
Born	(1981-08-21) August 21, 1981 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, designer
Years active	2007–present
Known for	Co-founder of Airbnb

Joseph Gebbia Jr. (; born August 21, 1981) is an American entrepreneur and designer, best known as a co-founder of Airbnb. Although he stepped back from day-to-day operations in 2022, he continues to serve on Airbnb's board of directors.<ref> In the same year, Gebbia joined the board of Tesla Inc. and became a minority owner of the San Antonio Spurs.<ref> He also co-founded Samara, a startup specializing in accessory dwelling unit development, and in 2025 began working with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

With an estimated net worth of $8.8 billion,<ref> largely derived from his 7% stake in Airbnb,<ref> Gebbia is ranked as the 328th wealthiest individual worldwide.

Early life

Gebbia was born in Atlanta, Georgia to parents who sold health food products and is of Italian and Irish descent. Growing up in Lawrenceville, Georgia, he showed early enthusiasm for design, music, and sports. Nicknamed the "art guy" during his youth, he launched a small business creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles artwork.<ref> He attended Brookwood High School, where he studied ceramics, photography, and metalsmithing, while also taking figure drawing classes at the Atlanta College of Art. As a finalist in the Georgia Governor's Honors Program, he enrolled in college-level art courses that paved the way for his admission to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).<ref>

At RISD, Gebbia transitioned from painting to industrial design, drawing inspiration from Charles and Ray Eames. His initial entrepreneurial project was CritBuns—foam cushions designed for art students—which became a gift for his graduating class and later gained commercial distribution.<ref> He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic and Industrial Design in 2005 and complemented his studies with business coursework at Brown University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).<ref>

Career

Following graduation from RISD, Gebbia relocated to San Francisco to join Chronicle Books as a designer, where he was the only industrial designer among a team of 200 graphic designers. He also launched Ecolect, an environmentally focused design website. In 2007, his RISD colleague Brian Chesky moved into his home; both left their jobs to start a venture together. When their rent increased by 20%, Gebbia devised the concept of renting out air mattresses during the Industrial Design Society of America conference held in San Francisco. They created a site named "AirBed & Breakfast," securing three bookings that covered their rent expenses.

In 2008, Harvard alumnus and technical architect Nathan Blecharczyk joined as a third co-founder after experiencing similar rent increases. Struggling to attract angel investors initially, Gebbia and Chesky produced and sold political-themed cereal boxes—Obama O's and Cap’n McCain's—raising $30,000. This creative fundraising effort drew the attention of startup accelerator Y Combinator, which invested $20,000 for a 6% equity share.

Utilizing his design skills, Gebbia enhanced Airbnb’s listings by providing professional photography services through a network of over 2,000 freelancers. This initiative doubled Airbnb’s revenues in New York City and led to the establishment of the Airbnb Photography Program. By March 2009, Airbnb expanded its offerings beyond air mattresses to include entire homes and private rooms.

In May 2017, Gebbia introduced Neighborhood—a line of modular office furniture developed for Bernhardt Design—unveiled at New York City's design week and featured in leading design outlets such as Designboom and Dezeen. He has also contributed to preserving Ray and Charles Eames’ design heritage through support of the Eames Institute for Infinite Curiosity.

Airbnb went public on December 10, 2020, generating $3.5 billion through its initial public offering. In January 2022, Gebbia acquired a minority interest in the San Antonio Spurs, joining investors including Michael Dell and Sixth Street Partners. He resigned from his full-time role at Airbnb in July 2022 but continues to serve on its board as an advisor. Later that year in September 2022, Tesla appointed him to its board of directors.

Moreover, Samara—a research division within Airbnb started in 2016—became an independent startup focused on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) under Gebbia’s leadership in 2022. Its debut product, Backyard—a net-zero tiny home—was launched in November 2022.

Investments

Among Gebbia's investment portfolio are:

• Stark Bank, a corporate banking institution with a focus on financial technology
• Vimcal, a calendar mobile app
• A minority equity position in the San Antonio Spurs

Documentary work

In 2020, Gebbia took on the role of executive producer for the documentary Universe, which chronicles jazz trumpeter Wallace Roney as he organizes an orchestra to perform a previously unplayed orchestral jazz suite by Wayne Shorter. This composition was originally created for Miles Davis but had never been performed. The film debuted shortly after Roney's passing due to COVID-19, making it one of the earliest cinematic responses to the pandemic's effects. Additionally, Gebbia executive produced We Dare to Dream in collaboration with XTR, capturing the journey of the 29-member Refugee Olympic Team at the Olympics before, during, and after the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Personal life

Gebbia lives in Austin, Texas, where in 2020 he acquired a minimalist-style residence spanning 6,000 square feet valued at $10 million. He has a rescue dog named Bélo, a name inspired by Airbnb’s logo. In 2023, he attended the Met Gala accompanied by Brazilian model and influencer Isabelle Boemeke.

Board memberships

Gebbia holds board positions at Airbnb, Samara (a startup focused on accessory dwelling units), and Tesla Inc.. He is also affiliated with The Style Council of Mr. Porter.

Politics

In 2025, Gebbia contributed $1 million to Greg Abbott's campaign for governor. His political alignment has shifted toward the Republican Party, evidenced by his vote for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. That same year, he publicly endorsed Trump’s selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Gebbia became a member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in February 2025. His involvement raised concerns that led to calls for an Airbnb boycott. On social media platforms, he defended Trump and voiced support for DOGE’s initiatives.

Philanthropy

As one of the youngest signatories of The Giving Pledge, Gebbia has committed to donating more than half of his wealth. His charitable efforts prioritize service-oriented organizations such as Thorn and Educate Girls. In 2014, he established a $300,000 fund at RISD aimed at assisting students facing financial hardships.

In 2017, he brought attention to global refugee crises by inviting North Korean refugee Yeonmi Park to the Met Gala. His local philanthropic activities include contributing to the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation’s playground redevelopment project in San Francisco.

In 2020, Gebbia founded Airbnb.org, a nonprofit organization that empowers hosts to provide shelter for individuals in emergency situations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated $25 million toward homelessness initiatives in the Bay Area and was ranked among America’s top 50 charitable donors in 2021.

In 2022, he awarded $2.1 million worth of Airbnb stock shares to alumni of his former school, Brookwood High School. In February 2023, Gebbia donated $25 million to The Ocean Cleanup to advance ocean conservation efforts focused on System 03 technology targeting the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. He also pledged $25 million over five years to support girls’ education worldwide through the Malala Fund.

In popular culture

Brian Maya took on the role of Gebbia in the Disney+ comedy-drama series The Best Heart Attack of My Life.

External links

• How I Built This — Airbnb: Joe Gebbia