If you like good businesses and learning from the best of the best, then you’re surely familiar with Chris Choi, the self-made Airbnb mogul who made his fortune through sub-rental properties, and so became a millionaire. His rapid rise to success also has to do with his ever-growing social media presence, turning himself into a well-known name in the Airbnb business, and mentoring hundreds of people to follow a similar path through his advice on finances, health, self-esteem, and lifestyle.
As such an important figure in the social media niche of business and life advice, Chris also inevitably raises many questions about his personal life, how he got where he is now, and his million-dollar plans.
So, who is Chris Choi, and how rich is he? Keep watching to learn all about it!
Who Is Chris Choi?
Born in South Korea but established in the US, Chris Choi is a businessman, social media influencer, and builder of one of the biggest luxury rental empires in the US. What started with a small investment on his part resulted in him becoming a millionaire at just 26 years of age, and reaching what he describes as ‘financial freedom’ at only 30.
While other businessmen prefer to keep their success secrets under wraps, Chris has attracted considerable attention by being featured in important business-related sites such as Business Insider and Forbes. Though the main reason he attracts interest from such important financial platforms is for his knowledge about real estate, and the prospect of highly profitable rental services, his commitment to help others to succeed and live a better life has turned him into a person worth listening to ,for those who are looking for a mentor. or are simply inspired by his feats. He also uses his social media to promote his other businesses, and highlight his mentees’ achievements.
All in all, Chris’ loyal following of over 2.5 million across Instagram and TikTok isn’t just admiring his now somewhat lavish lifestyle, but also to learn from the valuable advice he freely offers.
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Net Worth
As of mid-2025, Chris Choi has an estimated net worth of $100 million, according to the lifestyle website Flaunt. This figure is estimated based on the details that Chris has shared on his social media and to financial websites, revealing that by the time he turned 30 in 2021, he was a ‘multi-millionaire’.
Chris’ fortune mostly comes from his Airbnb empire, which was also the first business in which he invested in his early 20s. The reason that renting has turned so profitable for him is because of his rental arbitrage strategies, allowing him to legally rent other people’s luxury properties with little initial investment.
Although starting an Airbnb business was what subsequently turned Chris into a mogul, he also affirms that some wise habits – such as keeping a positive mindset and controlling his spending habits – played a big role in building his fortune.
Beginnings
Born in 1991, Chris Choi holds a double degree in Biology and Psychology. He moved to the US tn his early 20s to enroll in Dental School, but once begining his studies ,he realized that being a dentist wasn’t for him. He dropped out of school and used $4000 he had in savings and took another $4000 from his credit card to sub-rent a small apartment to turn it into an Airbnb.
Though it was uncertain that his strategy would pay off, it was a risk worth taking. As Chris said in an interview with Flaunt, it was as if a ‘lightbulb went on in my head’ letting him see ‘a path to greatness’. The strategy was simple: he convinced homeowners and renters to let him sub-rent their properties, which Chris then improved by furnishing or fixing other details about them. It turned out to be quite profitable from the beginning, with Chris passing from the simple properties to luxury ones, to the point when he no longer had to sub-rent.
While the concept of being a dropout-turned-millionaire is hard to believe in other cases, Chris has the means to prove not only that it’s possible, but also that it’s an effective way to pursue one’s life goals. These days he’s a top Airbnb earner, and has expanded his activities from luxury properties to entertainment-related ones too.
Life & Business Advice
Chris Choi’s business philosophy consists of seven rules that he affirms everyone should follow to have a successful path, not only in business but in life in general.
The first of those rules is not living above one’s means. That refers to people who, regardless of their income, spend too much on things they don’t need, leaving little for themselves, drowning in a sea of material possessions while their financial stability is nowhere close to becoming a reality. This is a rule that Chris applies very seriously, as he affirms to have had a very simple life, even at a time when his income was over $500,000 annually.
The second rule is to be careful about the people one spends time and money with, as spending habits and mindset is something that can be influenced by others, for good or bad.
The third rule is to create passive income, as working hard without being smart is the safest path for the entirety of one’s life. According to Chris, it’s important to create sources of money that can work even when you’re asleep.
Chris’ fourth rule is to stop caring about other people’s opinions, which is followed by the fifth rule, which is to take care of one’s appearance, to leave a positive impression and communicate the person you are inside. The sixth rule is to choose carefully in love, meaning that one’s partner also plays a role in people’s success.
Last but not least, Chris’ seventh rule is to act instead of fearing, because there’s never a more perfect time than right now.
What’s in the Future for Chris?
Given the highs and lows of the economy, the future of rental services was a topic on sites such as Business Insider. However, just as Chris Choi told the site in 2023, Airbnb wasn’t ‘going to go away anytime soon’, so it was important to keep investing time in the company, especially those who wanted to expand their business to the luxury side.
Though Airbnb is still Chris’ main source of income, it’s also true that he’s giving a try to other businesses as well. As he revealed to the lifestyle site Flaunt, he’s working on technology development centered on real estate solutions, as well as revealing his plans of starting a five-star hotel chain.
On top of that, Chris has a mentoring business which he promotes on his social media. His commitment to becoming a mentor for people from all walks of life comes from his personal experiences, and his desire to help others, affirming that mentoring, when done correctly,right, is a rapid ‘shortcut to success’.
All in all, it’s clear that Chris Choi is passionate about business and loves sharing his knowledge as much as he can, as long as it helps others to succeed as well.
