Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away
David Gelles
Dirtbag Billionaire is the inside story of one of the most extraordinary brands in the world. Founded in 1973, Patagonia has grown into a wildly popular producer and retailer of jackets, hats and fleece vests, posting sales of more than a billion dollars a year. For decades, it has also been a beacon for social change and corporate activism.
At the heart of the story is Patagonia’s founder, the legendary rock climber Yvon Chouinard. Guided by his anti-authoritarian streak and his commitment to preserving the natural world, Patagonia exerted a powerful influence on other companies, paving the way for a new era of environmental responsibility. Chouinard started out as a dirtbag – an affectionate term for someone happy to sleep outdoors – and he became a billionaire. But, in the twilight of his career, he gave away Patagonia, renouncing his wealth and committing the company’s profits to fighting the climate crisis.
Drawing on exclusive access to Chouinard and the Patagonia team, bestselling author David Gelles describes the key moments that shaped the company and its leader, creating a new model for corporate life and ethics.
INTERVIEWS and REVIEWS
Bloomberg
Publishers Weekly
andDirtbag Billionaire
‘In Dirtbag Billionaire, David Gelles chronicles the life of Yvon Chouinard in a manner that is as spirited and unflinching as his subject.’
‘A riveting behind-the-scenes look at Patagonia—and how the trailblazing company redefined business and purpose….Essential reading.’
‘Chouinard’s fascinating, daring and contradictory life is unique in the annals of modern business, and Gelles shows us why in vivid, sympathetic detail.’
‘You will want to read David Gelles’s outstanding saga in one sitting. Yvon has made an extraordinary contribution to humankind.’
‘This is a book the world has been waiting for. Its subject is proof that you can have a good time on this earth, and make it a far better place—if you wanted the opposite of Elon Musk, that would be Yvon Chouinard.’
‘A rebel’s guide to giving a damn. Brilliant and real. Excellently written. A must-must read!’
‘Dirtbag Billionaire shares the magic of what happens when visionary business leaders commit to doing well by doing good. Read it if you are interested in reforming capitalism—and especially if you think capitalism is irredeemable.’
‘Dirtbag Billionaire is a powerful reminder that business, at its best, can be a tool for good. Gelles captures the complex, often conflicting pressures founders face—and the courage it takes to lead with conviction. It’s an inspiring call to dream big, do the right thing, and use success as a lever for lasting impact. I couldn’t put it down.’
