Legendary rock climber Yvon Chouinard - an outdoorsman who was so uninterested in material possessions he would sleep in the dirt - made billions as the founder of clothing apparel company Patagonia.
And in September 2022 he stunned the corporate world by giving it all away.
The careful creation of a so-called "purpose trust" which has to use the funds to advocate for environmental causes now holds the majority of Patagonia's shares, and Chouinard had rid himself of the title of "billionaire" which he hated with a passion.
A minimalist with a love for extreme outdoor pursuits, Chouinard forged rock climbing equipment for himself and friends, and then unable to find suitable clothing for the harsh outdoor conditions, the apparel company Patagonia was born.
But the tension between connecting with the outdoors and harming the environment would be a constant theme - and at times the hypocrisy of running a hugely successful and profitable clothing company, and calling himself an environmentalist was stark.
David Gelles, a journalist for the New York Times, has reported on Patagonia and Chouinard for years.
He has published the story of Yvon Chouinard in the book Dirtbag Billionaire, and talks to Kathryn Ryan.
Photo: 123RF
