How a 34-year-old former bodybuilder became one of the richest young tech founders in America

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Brian Chesky didn't know much about tech before starting Airbnb.

The 34-year-old CEO majored in industrial design in college and dabbled in hockey and bodybuilding in his 20s. But now, he's grown an idea that stemmed from overbooked hotels into a multibillion-dollar startup and become one of Silicon Valley's key players.

Here's how the upstate New York native became one of the richest young tech founders in America.

Chesky grew up in Niskayuna, N.Y., north of Albany. He was into hockey, and he also liked to draw and design new versions Nike sneakers, which turned into an interest in art.

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In 1999, Chesky attended Rhode Island School of Design, where he served as captain of the hockey team and studied industrial design.

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At RISD, Chesky met Joe Gebbia, who would eventually cofound Airbnb.

Airbnb

Gebbia told Fortune that after graduation, he pulled Chesky aside and said: "Before you get on the plane, there’s something I need to tell you. We’re going to start a company one day, and they’re going to write a book about it."

See the rest of the story at Business Insider