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Dirtbag Billionaire
How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away
By David Gelles
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Founded in 1973, Patagonia has grown into a wildly popular producer of outdoor wear. It has a cult-like following among adventurers and Wall Street traders alike, posting sales of more than £1 billion a year. But it's not just the clothes that make Patagonia unique. For decades, the company has been a beacon for socially responsible business. From its exemplary care of its employees, to its extensive work trying to clean up its supply chain, to its controversial activism, Patagonia has set itself apart from its peers with one unorthodox decision after another. At the heart of the story is Patagonia's founder, the legendary rock climber Yvon Chouinard. A perennial outsider, Chouinard established himself as a pivotal figure in the global history of business. Guided by his anti-authoritarian streak and his unwavering commitment to preserving the natural world, Patagonia came to exert a powerful influence on other companies. He has paved the way for a new era of social and environmental responsibility. In 2022, having gone from 'dirtbag' to billionaire, Chouinard took the astonishing step of renouncing his wealth and committing all Patagonia's future profits to fighting the climate crisis. Drawing on exclusive access to Chouinard and the Patagonia team, Dirtbag Billionaire offers new insights into the decisions that shaped the company and sent ripples across the corporate world.
Founded in 1973, Patagonia has grown into a wildly popular producer of outdoor wear. It has a cult-like following among adventurers and Wall Street traders alike, posting sales of more than £1 billion a year. But it's not just the clothes that make Patagonia unique. For decades, the company has been a beacon for socially responsible business. From its exemplary care of its employees, to its extensive work trying to clean up its supply chain, to its controversial activism, Patagonia has set itself apart from its peers with one unorthodox decision after another. At the heart of the story is Patagonia's founder, the legendary rock climber Yvon Chouinard. A perennial outsider, Chouinard established himself as a pivotal figure in the global history of business. Guided by his anti-authoritarian streak and his unwavering commitment to preserving the natural world, Patagonia came to exert a powerful influence on other companies. He has paved the way for a new era of social and environmental responsibility. In 2022, having gone from 'dirtbag' to billionaire, Chouinard took the astonishing step of renouncing his wealth and committing all Patagonia's future profits to fighting the climate crisis. Drawing on exclusive access to Chouinard and the Patagonia team, Dirtbag Billionaire offers new insights into the decisions that shaped the company and sent ripples across the corporate world.