Dirtbag Billionaire - by David Gelles (Hardcover)

About the Book

"New York Times reporter and bestselling author David Gelles reveals how Patagonia became a global leader in doing well by doing good and how other companies are adopting its principles"--

Book Synopsis

Named one of Financial Times's Best Books of 2025

New York Times reporter and bestselling author David Gelles reveals how Patagonia became a global leader in doing well by doing good and how other companies are adopting its principles.

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 Quotes

"More than a simple biography of an enigmatic business figure, Dirtbag Billionaire is a case study in the cultural and political potential -- and limitations -- of corporate design and ownership in today's extractive economic system...Gelles presents Chouinard as a revolutionary in sport, commerce and philanthropy -- an imperfect and often paradoxical founder whose story shows that building a sustainable world requires not perfection but persistence." --Washington Post

"Rather than focusing purely on commercial success, Gelles delves into Patagonia's unprecedented, sometimes contradictory evolution under Chouinard--blending investigative reporting and analysis to reveal the ongoing tension between activism and corporate growth." --Gear Patrol

"Chouinard's--and Patagonia's--stories are inspirational, and the reader will come away wishing that more of today's über-rich people and corporations would follow his example." --Booklist

"A riveting behind-the-scenes look at Patagonia--and how the trailblazing company redefined business and purpose. With vivid storytelling, Gelles reveals how Patagonia blended environmentalism and entrepreneurial savvy to create a billion-dollar brand rooted in the belief that capitalism can be a force for good. If you like business, or care about the world, this story of how a dirtbag climber became a billionaire without selling out is essential reading." --Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of Supercommunicators and The Power of Habit

"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." --Sali Christeson, founder and CEO of Argent

"This revelatory biography of Yvon Chouinard presents a polar opposite to Gelles' last subject, GE's Jack Welch. Chouinard's fascinating, daring and contradictory lifeis unique in the annals of modern business, and Gelles shows us why in vivid, sympathetic detail." --John Vaillant, bestselling author of Fire Weather

A rebel's guide to giving a damn. Brilliant and real. Excellently written. A must must-read!"--Nick Bilton, New York Times bestselling author of American Kingpin

"Dirtbag Billionaire is a tale of the most complex human being I have ever encountered. You will want to read David Gelles's outstanding saga in one sitting. Yvon has made an extraordinary contribution to humankind and would brush that notion away like a scuffed shoe. The millions of creatures and habitats his life has conserved and nurtured see it differently. When one finishes the book, one is left with awe and gratitude." --Paul Hawken, author of Carbon

About the Author

David Gelles is an award-winning correspondent for the New York Times. He currently writes for the climate desk and previously wrote for the business section and was the "Corner Office" columnist. His book, The Man Who Broke Capitalism, was an instant New York Times bestseller.