Brian Chesky (Marketplace / Travel) at Airbnb — San Francisco, United States

Brian Chesky co-founded Airbnb in 2008 with Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk after air-mattressing strangers in their San Francisco apartment to pay rent. He steered the company through its near-collapse during COVID-19 and led it to a landmark IPO in December 2020. Chesky is known for his intense focus on design, culture, and the concept of "belonging anywhere." He recently launched Airbnb Rooms and leans heavily into the original home-sharing vision.