Currently, Airbnb stock is priced at $110.40 per share, making Gebbia’s total donation to 890 graduates exceed $2.1 million.
SNELLVILLE, Georgia – A Georgia native and billionaire helps send off the seniors at his former high school in Snellville with a sweet graduation present.
Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, announced that it is offering each 2022 graduate of Brookwood High School 22 shares of its company. Currently, Airbnb stock is priced at $110.40 per share, making Gebbia’s total donation to 890 graduates exceed $2.1 million.
The 40-year-old billionaire revealed the surprise at the high school commencement ceremony on Wednesday.
“I certainly don’t remember the advice I got when I graduated and I don’t expect you to either,” Gebbia told the Class of 2022.
“I thought of a way to help you remember. I would like to give you a piece of my dream to help inspire yours and let you know it’s possible,” he continued. “I’m giving you each some of my Airbnb stock.”
The crowd cheered vehemently.
“It’s more symbolic than anything. Think of it as a very small upfront investment in yourself and your dreams as you enter the next chapter of your life,” he said.
Gebbia said each student will receive the same number of email shares in the coming weeks.
Gebbia is a class of 2,000 Brookwood High alumni. According Forbeshis real-time net worth is estimated at $7.6 billion.
The gift, however, comes with a “small request” from Gebbia.
“When you’re in doubt about yourself, your dreams, or if you’re capable of achieving them, tell yourself, ‘Yes, I can,'” he said.
Gebbia encouraged graduates to take risks when a window of opportunity presents itself – a concept he said he realized during his senior year at Brookwood and applied throughout his life.
“So when you see these stocks years from now, please invest them in your dreams,” he said. “Don’t spend it all on crypto.”
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