Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away by David Gelles (Audio)
Synopsis -
This is the inside story of one of the most extraordinary brands in the corporate world, the rare company that is driven by environmental activism instead of cutthroat capitalism. Founded in 1973, Patagonia has grown into a wildly popular producer of jackets, hats, and fleece vests, with a cultlike following among hardcore alpinists 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 distinguished itself as a singular beacon for socially responsible business, the rare company that can legitimately claim to be doing its damnedest to make the world a better place, while also making a profit. From its early efforts to take 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, proving that there is another way to do capitalism.
At the heart of the story is Patagonia’s founder, the legendary rock climber Yvon Chouinard. A perennial outsider who forged one of the most impressive resumes in the outdoor world, Chouinard also established himself as a pivotal figure in the history of American 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, paving the way for a new era of social and environmental responsibility. He started out as a dirtbag—a term affectionately bestowed on poor, itinerant outdoorsmen so uninterested in material possessions they are happy to sleep in the dirt—and he became a billionaire.
Chouinard also proved that there was another way to be a philanthropist. In the twilight of his career, he gave away Patagonia, renouncing his wealth and committing all its future profits to fighting the climate crisis. Drawing on exclusive access to Chouinard and the Patagonia team, Dirtbag Billionaire offers new insights into the key moments that informed their priorities, shaped the company, and sent ripples across the corporate world.
Review -
I didn't read the description thoroughly when I picked up this audio book. I love memoirs where the person is telling their own story in their own voice. Turns out this is a biography written by David Gelles, so a little different in focus. However, this author has not only does his research, but also knows Chouinard well and that means the story told is still full of the moments and thoughts that shaped Chouinard, as well as how he moved through life.
But it’s not just the clothes that make Patagonia unique. For decades, the company has distinguished itself as a singular beacon for socially responsible business, the rare company that can legitimately claim to be doing its damnedest to make the world a better place, while also making a profit. From its early efforts to take 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, proving that there is another way to do capitalism.
At the heart of the story is Patagonia’s founder, the legendary rock climber Yvon Chouinard. A perennial outsider who forged one of the most impressive resumes in the outdoor world, Chouinard also established himself as a pivotal figure in the history of American 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, paving the way for a new era of social and environmental responsibility. He started out as a dirtbag—a term affectionately bestowed on poor, itinerant outdoorsmen so uninterested in material possessions they are happy to sleep in the dirt—and he became a billionaire.
Chouinard also proved that there was another way to be a philanthropist. In the twilight of his career, he gave away Patagonia, renouncing his wealth and committing all its future profits to fighting the climate crisis. Drawing on exclusive access to Chouinard and the Patagonia team, Dirtbag Billionaire offers new insights into the key moments that informed their priorities, shaped the company, and sent ripples across the corporate world.
Review -
I didn't read the description thoroughly when I picked up this audio book. I love memoirs where the person is telling their own story in their own voice. Turns out this is a biography written by David Gelles, so a little different in focus. However, this author has not only does his research, but also knows Chouinard well and that means the story told is still full of the moments and thoughts that shaped Chouinard, as well as how he moved through life.
The real focus is on how Chouinard, a dirtbag climber who cared little for money and materials things outside of what it took for him to be out in nature doing what he loved, ended up modernizing climbing gear and clothing, founding a cutting edge company, and becoming a millionaire. It started simply when he began to make better gear for himself, then slowly grew to become several successful businesses, including Patagonia. From the beginning he did it differently. While wages were not higher that other companies, hours were flexible so employees could get out to enjoy surfing and other nature pursuits. When they started marrying and having kids, daycare was added to the workplace. They were leaders in how a company could respect and support their workers and still succeed.
And what did he do in the end? First he and his wife began giving 10% of gross earnings to charities supporting the environment. Then he gave his wealth away. It is a great listen (or read), especially in this time where corporate greed is running unchecked.
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David is an award winning reporter for the New York Times who lives in New York City with his family. He currently writes for the Climate desk, and previously wrote for the Business section and was the Corner Office columnist. His reporting has won EMMY, George Polk, Gerald Loeb and SABEW awards.
Before joining the Times in 2013, he spent five years with the Financial Times. At the FT, he covered tech, media and M&A in San Francisco and New York. In 2011 he conducted an exclusive jailhouse interview with Bernie Madoff, shedding new light on the $65 billion ponzi scheme.
His most recent book is “DIRTBAG BILLIONAIRE: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away.” His 2022 book, “The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America — and How to Undo His Legacy,” was an instant New York Times bestseller. His first book, “Mindful Work: How Meditation is Changing Business from the Inside Out,” was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2015.
.jpg "David Gelles Author")
Before joining the Times in 2013, he spent five years with the Financial Times. At the FT, he covered tech, media and M&A in San Francisco and New York. In 2011 he conducted an exclusive jailhouse interview with Bernie Madoff, shedding new light on the $65 billion ponzi scheme.
His most recent book is “DIRTBAG BILLIONAIRE: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away.” His 2022 book, “The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America — and How to Undo His Legacy,” was an instant New York Times bestseller. His first book, “Mindful Work: How Meditation is Changing Business from the Inside Out,” was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2015.
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