Joe Gebbia
Airbnb co-founder and Tesla board Audit Committee member who simultaneously holds the White House Chief Design Officer role. Gebbia’s three concurrent positions — Airbnb co-founder and major shareholder, Tesla Class III director, and federal CDO — illustrate how overlapping private-sector and government roles concentrate access across corporate governance and federal digital infrastructure. The National Design Studio he leads absorbed former DOGE personnel after the organization’s dissolution and continues their digital-infrastructure work under a different organizational name.
Joe Gebbia co-founded Airbnb in 2008 and has served on the Tesla board of directors — including its Audit Committee — since 2022. 1 In early 2025 he joined the Department of Government Efficiency as a volunteer, working on a redesign of the Office of Personnel Management’s retirement system. 2 In August 2025 President Trump appointed him the first US Chief Design Officer under an executive order establishing the National Design Studio within the White House Office, with a three-year term and a mandate to redesign approximately 26,000 federal web portals by July 4, 2026. 2
While holding those concurrent government and corporate positions, Gebbia systematically liquidated Airbnb stock through a series of SEC Form 4 filings (CIK 0001834171). Between January and February 2026 alone he sold roughly 58,000 ABNB shares in four tranches — at prices ranging from approximately $119 to $140 per share — generating over $30 million in proceeds, while retaining only 2,860 shares. 3 1
FEC records show his political giving underwent a documented shift: before 2024 his filings list donations to the Biden Victory Fund, Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, and multiple state Democratic parties; from late 2024 onward the same records show $6,900 to the Kennedy Victory Fund, $6,399 to Libertarian Party committees, and subsequent contributions to Wonder Women PAC, Senator Tuberville, and WinRed, with his FEC employer field updated from "Samara" to "US Government / Chief Design Officer." 4 Analysis of FEC records and LittleSis data indicates this donor shift coincided with his entry into DOGE and the Trump administration 5 6.
Government Roles
According to review of public reporting, the National Design Studio was staffed in part by former DOGE personnel. Edward Coristine — who had cycled through OPM, SSA, and other agencies during DOGE’s operation — moved to the Studio under Gebbia’s leadership in December 2025. 2 Analysis of DOGE’s formal dissolution in November 2025, eight months ahead of its July 2026 charter expiration, indicates that its personnel and technical work dispersed rather than ceased, with the National Design Studio serving as one of the receiving organizations. 1
Corporate Positions and Conflicts
Gebbia’s original technology company, Airbnb, is subject to municipal and federal regulations that OPM does not directly administer, but review of ProPublica’s DOGE tracker records shows his presence at OPM while retaining Airbnb equity created a documented conflict-of-interest profile 6. After the CDO appointment he listed Samara, a design and venture firm, as his pre-government employer on FEC filings before updating the field to reflect his White House role. 4 He is connected to Elon Musk through the Tesla board, the personal friendship, and DOGE; to DOGE as a former member; and to Edward Coristine as the supervising official who absorbed Coristine into the National Design Studio. 2
Joe Gebbia
Financial Activity
His Federal Election Commission donor history shows two distinct eras separated by a pivot in late 2024. 4 Prior filings list donations to the Biden Victory Fund, Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Chuck Schumer, Bill de Blasio, and multiple state Democratic parties, as well as to Equality PAC. From late 2024 onward, FEC records show $6,900 to the Kennedy Victory Fund (November 22, 2024), $1,300 to the Libertarian National Committee, $1,099 to the LP of Connecticut, $1,000 to the Montana LP, $1,300 to Team Kennedy, $1,000 to the LP of Hawaii (December 4, 2024), followed by $1,500 to Wonder Women PAC, $1,300 to Tuberville for Senate, $1,333 to American Revival PAC, $1,333 to a Mike Johnson committee, $1,000 to Grow the Majority, $1,000 to WinRed (August 2025), and $250 to the RNC. 4 FEC records indicate his address changed from Redwood City, CA during the Kennedy-era donations to Austin, TX by the time of the 2025 Republican-era donations 6.
Network and Relationships
In the government domain, the DOGE connection links Gebbia to the broader network tracked under DOGE, including Scott Kupor (OPM director, former a16z managing partner who confirmed DOGE’s dissolution), Aram Moghaddassi (SSA CIO who granted Coristine and others database access), and Thomas Shedd (Tesla employee on leave serving as GSA TTS director). 2 Edward Coristine’s move from SSA to the National Design Studio under Gebbia in December 2025 represents the most direct personnel link between DOGE operations and Gebbia’s ongoing role. 2
In the political-donor domain, review of FEC records indicates Gebbia belongs to the cohort of tech-sector figures who made parallel pivots toward Kennedy, Libertarian, and then Republican fundraising vehicles during 2024–2025 — a pattern documented more broadly across the tech-right investigation 5.
Joe Gebbia
All Connections
6 total
All Connections
6 totalTesla board member since 2022, Airbnb co-founder, appointed US Chief Design Officer Aug 2025, led DOGE OPM retirement system redesign
Personal friends per LittleSis. Gebbia on Tesla board (audit committee). Political donations shifted to align with Musk-adjacent causes starting 2024. Now in Musk-connected DOGE/federal government.
Gebbia held DOGE position working on OPM retirement system redesign before CDO appointment. Two DOGE position entries in LittleSis. Concurrent Tesla audit committee seat.
Airbnb co-founder AND Tesla board member assigned to OPM via DOGE
Coristine moved from DOGE/SSA to National Design Studio under Gebbia's leadership (Dec 2025)
Airbnb co-founder; former DOGE member who created National Design Studio within White House
All Findings
7 total
All Findings
7 totalfinancial (4)
Joe Gebbia made a massive ,900 donation to Kennedy Victory Fund 2024 on Nov 22, 2024, plus ,300 to Libertarian National Committee, ,099 to LP of Connecticut, ,000 to Montana LP, ,300 to Team Kennedy, and ,000 to LP of Hawaii (Dec 4, 2024). Listed as 'Founder, Samara' from Redwood City, CA. By 2025, switched employer to 'US Government/Chief Design Officer' and donated to Republican causes: Wonder Women PAC (,500), Tuberville for Senate (,300), American Revival PAC (,333), Mike Johnson (,333), Grow the Majority (,000).
Gebbia continues massive Airbnb stock sales while serving as Tesla board member and federal CDO. SEC Form 4 filings (CIK 0001834171) show 133 insider filings. In the most recent period alone: Feb 23, 2026 sold ~58,000 ABNB shares at -128 (~.1M), Feb 9 sold ~58,000 shares at -122 (~M), Jan 26 sold ~58,000 at -134 (~.7M), Jan 12 sold ~58,000 at -140 (~M). Retains only 2,860 shares. This systematic liquidation while holding government and Tesla positions raises questions about whether government service provides advance market intelligence.
DOGE operative: Joe Gebbia — Airbnb co-founder, Tesla board member, assigned to OPM. Dual conflict: (1) Tesla board member accessing federal workforce systems while Tesla depends on government contracts/regulation; (2) Airbnb co-founder at OPM while Airbnb faces regulatory issues. FEC: active Republican donor from Austin TX — 1K to WinRed (Dec 2025), 1.5K to Wonder Women PAC, 250 to RNC, 2.5K to WinRed (Aug 2025).
Tesla board member and Airbnb co-founder appointed first US Chief Design Officer; systematic Airbnb stock liquidation during government service
Joe Gebbia, Airbnb co-founder and Tesla board member (Class III director, Audit Committee member since 2022), appointed first US Chief Design Officer in August 2025, leading National Design Studio ('America by Design' initiative). SEC Form 4 filings (CIK 0001834171) show 133 insider filings with systematic ABNB stock liquidation: Feb 23, 2026 sold ~58,000 shares at $124-128 (~$7.1M), Feb 9 sold ~58,000 at $119-122 (~$7M), Jan 26 sold ~58,000 at $130-134 (~$7.7M), Jan 12 sold ~58,000 at $137-140 (~$8M). Retained only 2,860 shares. Total recent liquidation exceeds $30M. FEC shows dramatic political donor shift: pre-2024 overwhelmingly Democratic (Biden Victory Fund, Hillary Clinton), pivoted to Kennedy Victory Fund ($6,900), Libertarian committees ($6,399), then Republican causes (Wonder Women PAC $1,500, Tuberville $1,300). 3-year term as CDO.
relationship (2)
Joe Gebbia (Airbnb co-founder) holds concurrent positions creating conflict of interest: Tesla board member (audit committee), US Chief Design Officer (WH appointment reporting to CoS Susie Wiles), and prior DOGE role at OPM. LittleSis confirms: position at DOGE, position as CDO at National Design Studio, board member at Tesla Inc, and personal friendship with Elon Musk. FEC records show his political donations shifted dramatically from Democrats (Biden Victory Fund, Hillary Clinton, multiple state Democratic parties) to Republicans (MAHA Alliance, Kennedy Victory Fund, Wonder Women PAC, Mike Johnson) starting 2024.
LittleSis relationship mapping reveals Gebbia's network spans tech, politics, and government: personal friendship with Elon Musk, board seat at Tesla Inc, DOGE position, CDO at National Design Studio, and extensive political giving. His pre-2024 donations were overwhelmingly Democratic (Biden Victory Fund, Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Bill de Blasio, multiple state Democratic parties, Equality PAC). The pivot to Kennedy/Libertarian/Republican in late 2024 coincides with his path into DOGE and the Trump administration. Previous employer listed as 'Samara' (his design/venture firm), now self-identifies as 'US Government/Chief Design Officer' on FEC filings.
intelligence (1)
Post-DOGE: Airbnb co-founder appointed Chief Design Officer, National Design Studio created
In August 2025, Trump appointed Joe Gebbia (Airbnb co-founder, DOGE associate) as first US Chief Design Officer. Executive order established National Design Studio within White House Office for 3-year term. Focus: redesign 26,000 federal web portals, starting with 10 most-visited government websites. Edward Coristine ('Big Balls') appears to work for the design group after leaving SSA. This represents a continuation of DOGE's tech presence under a different organizational name and mandate. Gebbia's directive: make government services 'as satisfying to use as the Apple Store.'