Billionaire Brian Chesky’s social-worker parents told him to pick a high-paying career. He went to art school—and started Airbnb with 3 air beds

Before Airbnb grew to more than 9 million listings worldwide, the company began with three inflatable air beds in Brian Chesky’s San Francisco home. The early experiment followed a personal financial problem and a shortage of hotel rooms.

A different path to entrepreneurship

Chesky’s parents, both social workers, encouraged him to choose a career with strong earning potential. Instead, he attended art school. That decision eventually led him toward design and, later, the business that became Airbnb.

A local shortage created the opening

After quitting his job, Chesky packed his belongings into a Honda Civic and moved across the country. He then found himself unable to pay his rent. At the same time, hotels in San Francisco were fully booked because the city was hosting the International Design Conference of the Industrial Designers Society of America.

Chesky noticed the gap between the demand for accommodation and the limited hotel supply. He responded by offering three air beds at his home, creating Airbnb’s first lodging.

From one home to millions of listings

The company was born in 2007, according to the supplied company information. Its early story centers on a simple response to a specific local need: providing space when conventional lodging was unavailable.

Airbnb’s growth from a single San Francisco home to more than 9 million listings gives the three-bed beginning lasting significance in the company’s business history.