Ever heard of someone who traded a million-dollar business suit for a pair of hiking boots? That’s Kris Tompkins, a former CEO of Patagonia turned conservation powerhouse! Today, we’ll dive into Kris Tompkins’s Net Worth in 2023, exploring her inspiring story, her remarkable career journey, and the amazing work she’s doing with Tompkins Conservation.
Forget fancy boardrooms – Kris’s office now boasts breathtaking mountain vistas and the thrill of protecting Chile and Argentina’s wild wonders. She’s traded profit margins for park boundaries, building a legacy far greater than any corporate bottom line.
So, buckle up as we explore Kris’s fascinating path, from business leader to conservation champion, and discover how her passion is shaping the future of South America’s wilderness!
Who is Kris Tompkins?
Kristine McDivitt Tompkins, born in 1950, is an American conservationist and the co-founder and president of Tompkins Conservation. She previously served as the CEO of Patagonia, Inc. and was appointed a UN Patron of Protected Areas from 2018-2022.
Throughout her career, Kristine has dedicated herself to preserving and restoring the natural beauty and biodiversity of Chile and Argentina through creating national parks, wildlife restoration, activism, and promoting economic vitality through conservation efforts.
Kristine, along with her late husband Douglas Tompkins, has successfully protected over 14 million acres of parklands in Chile and Argentina through Tompkins Conservation and its partners, making them one of the most accomplished philanthropists focused on national park conservation in history.
Net Worth of Kris Tompkins
Kristine McDivitt Tompkins is a well-known American businesswoman, born on June 30th, 1950. She is renowned for her work in the conservation of natural resources and the protection of wildlife habitats. In addition to her conservation efforts, Kris Tompkins is also a successful entrepreneur and executive, having served as the CEO of Patagonia, Inc. for several years.
As of 2023, Kristine McDivitt Tompkins has an estimated net worth of $5 million. Her wealth is a result of her successful business ventures and her dedication to the preservation of natural habitats.
Despite her success in the business world, Kris Tompkins is most well-known for her philanthropic work in conservation. Along with her late husband Douglas Tompkins, she has protected over 14 million acres of parklands in Chile and Argentina, making her one of the world’s most successful conservationists.
Her tireless efforts in the field of conservation have earned her numerous accolades, including her appointment as a UN Patron of Protected Areas from 2018-2022.
Net Worth of Kris Tompkins Quick Overview
| Full Name | Kristine McDivitt Tompkins |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 30, 1950 |
| Age | 72 Years |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Place of Birth | Santa Barbara |
| Country | United States |
| Profession | Businesswoman, Conservationist |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
Early Life of Kris Tompkins
Kristine McDivitt was born and raised in Southern California, where she spent much of her formative years on her great-grandfather’s ranch. Her upbringing instilled in her a deep connection to nature and the environment. Kristine also spent some of her early years in Venezuela, where her father worked for an oil company.
At the age of 15, Kristine met and formed a friendship with Yvon Chouinard, a rock-climbing legend and founder of Chouinard Equipment. She went on to work for the company during the summer months. Kristine attended the College of Idaho in Caldwell, where she was a competitive ski racer.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kristine McDivitt Tompkins |
| Date of Birth | June 30, 1950 |
| Age | 72 Years |
| Organization(s) | Patagonia, Tompkins Conservation |
| Height | N/A |
| Weight | N/A |
| Body Measurements | N/A |
| Eye Color | N/A |
| Hair Color | N/A |
| Feet/Shoe Size | N/A |
| Spouse | Doug Tompkins (m. 1993–2015) |
| Place of Birth | Santa Barbara |
| Country | United States |
| Profession | Businesswoman, Conservationist |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
Early Career and Patagonia
After completing her education, Kristine McDivitt returned to California in 1973 and started working for Yvon and Malinda Chouinard, her friends from her teenage years. She played a crucial role in helping Yvon turn his piton business into Patagonia, Inc. Kris became the first CEO of the company and worked alongside the Chouinards to establish Patagonia as a leader in the outdoor apparel industry.
Philanthropy and Environmentalism
Kris’s passion for the environment was also evident during her time at Patagonia. In 1980, the company began donating 10% of its profits to environmental organizations such as Earth First! Four years later, they founded the “One Percent for the Planet Club,” which pledged to donate either 1% of sales or 10% of profits, whichever was greater, to environmental causes. Patagonia’s philanthropic efforts became a model for other businesses in the industry, and Kris’ leadership played a vital role in this.
Conservation and Tompkins Conservation
After leaving Patagonia in 1993, Kris turned her attention toward conservation efforts in Chile and Argentina. In collaboration with her late husband Douglas Tompkins, she founded Tompkins Conservation, an organization dedicated to protecting and restoring wild beauty and biodiversity in these regions.
The couple protected over 14 million acres of parklands through Tompkins Conservation and its partners, making them some of the most successful national park-oriented philanthropists in history. Kris continues to lead Tompkins Conservation as its president and co-founder.
Kristine McDivitt Tompkins’ Post-Patagonia Career
In 1993, Kris Tompkins retired from Patagonia, Inc and married Doug Tompkins, the founder of The North Face and co-founder of Esprit. The couple left their careers as business leaders of iconic American brands to devote their funds, time, and passion to mitigating the climate and extinction crises.
Focus on National Parks
The Tompkins decided to focus their efforts on national parks as they represent the “gold standard” of conservation—offering a unique set of ecological, cultural, and economic benefits, while also guaranteeing long-term conservation.
Conservation Work through Nonprofits
Their conservation work has been carried out through a suite of nonprofits, including Conservation Land Trust and Conservacion Patagonica, all of which have now consolidated under Tompkins Conservation.
Rewilding the Southern Cone
Tompkins Conservation now works to rewild the Southern Cone, working closely with strategic allies and offspring organizations – Rewilding Chile and Rewilding Argentina.
Conservation Efforts in Chile and Argentina
Land Acquisition and Creation of Pumalín Park
In 1991, Doug Tompkins began acquiring private land for conservation purposes in Chile’s Los Lagos Region. With the help of Kris Tompkins and their team, they assembled the world’s largest private nature reserve and managed it as a public-access park in the threatened Valdivian temperate rainforest.
Pumalín Park received official nature sanctuary status in 2005 and was designated a national park in 2018, prompted by Tompkins Conservation’s donation of almost 725,000 acres for the new, roughly 1-million-acre park, Pumalin Douglas Tompkins National Park, named in honor of its founder.
Conservation Efforts in Argentina
The Tompkins’ conservation efforts expanded to Argentina, starting with the Iberá Wetlands of the Corrientes province. In the wetland ecosystem, they launched projects to reintroduce extirpated species, such as the giant anteater, jaguar, red-and-green macaw, and giant river otter. The rewilding work in Ibera, as well as many other projects in the country, is now carried out by Rewilding Argentina, the team assembled by Kris and Doug, led by Sofia Heinonen.
Kristine Tompkins’ Contribution to Conservation
Introduction
Kristine Tompkins is a renowned conservationist who has dedicated her life to protecting and restoring natural ecosystems. Her work in collaboration with various organizations and governments has led to the creation of five new national parks in Chile, expanding three others and adding over 10 million acres of parklands to Chile.
This donation, comprising one million acres of land from Tompkins Conservation and an additional 9 million acres of federal land from Chile, is the largest land donation from a private entity to a country in history.
Tompkins Conservation
As the president of Tompkins Conservation, Kristine Tompkins leads a variety of projects in Chile and Argentina aimed at creating parklands, and marine conservation areas and fighting the extinction crisis through rewilding. Rewilding involves protecting and restoring land and waters, wildlife, and natural systems.
Global Leadership
Tompkins is actively involved in various positions of global leadership in conservation, including as Chair of the National Geographic Society’s Last Wild Places campaign. She was the first conservationist to receive the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2017. In 2018, she was named the United Nations’ Global Patron for Protected Areas.
TED Talk
In her 2020 TED Talk, “Make the World Wild Again,” Tompkins discusses the critical role that everyone has to play in healing the planet. She emphasizes the importance of restoring and protecting ecosystems to ensure the survival of all species, including humans.
Religion and Political Views
There is currently no public information available about Kris Tompkins’ religion or political views. However, given her focus on environmental conservation, it is reasonable to assume that she advocates for policies that prioritize the protection of natural resources and biodiversity.
Personal Life of Kris Tompkins
Kris Tompkins’ Relationship Status and History
Kris Tompkins was married to Douglas Tompkins, the founder of The North Face and Esprit, until he died in 2015. As of January 12, 2023, there is no public information available about her current dating status.
There are no records of any past relationships with Kris Tompkins. However, her focus on environmental conservation suggests that she may have dedicated most of her life to her passion for protecting natural resources and biodiversity rather than pursuing romantic relationships.
How much land does Kris Tompkins own?
Kris Tompkins used to own a lot of land! Through her conservation efforts, she donated nearly one million hectares (2.5 million acres) to the Chilean government, which helped create five new national parks and expand three others. Combined with land she already owned, that means she protected a total of five million hectares (12.35 million acres) of wilderness! That’s a huge area, almost the size of Switzerland!
Awards and honors received by Kristine Tompkins
Honors received by Kristine Tompkins
- 2019 – Selected for WOMEN: The National Geographic Image Collection
- 2009 – Honorary Degree, College of Idaho
Awards received by Kristine Tompkins
- 2023 – American Prairie’s Ken Burns American Heritage Prize
- 2022 – Kyoto Earth Hall of Fame
- 2022 – Senckenberg Prize for Nature Commitment
- 2021 – Rachel Carson Award, National Audubon Society
- 2019 – AFAR Vanguard Award for travel visionaries
- 2019 – Foundation Credicorp Capital 2019 Award (Chile)
- 2018 – Recognition for Lifetime Contribution to the Chilean wilderness, Chilean-North American Business Bureau
- 2018 – Luis Oyarzún Award granted by the Universidad Austral de Chile
- 2017 – Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, Woodrow Wilson Center
- 2017 – Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Legacy Award
- 2017 – Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy
- 2017 – Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal, Garden Club of America
- 2017 – Outdoor Inspiration Award, presented by Adidas Outdoor at Outdoor Retailer
- 2017 – National Geographic Adventurer of the Year (nominee)
- 2016 – Lowell Thomas Award, The Explorers Club
- 2016 – World Tourism Award, World Travel Market
- 2016 – BBVA Foundation Award for Biodiversity Conservation in Latin America
- 2016 – David R. Brower Award, American Alpine Club
- 2016 – Sustainability Leader, “Uniting Global Philanthropy Inspiring Action For The Planet,” East-West Sustainability Summit, IUCN World Conservation Congress
- 2016- Recyclápolis Award, Fundación Recyclápolis (Chile)
Conclusion
Kristine Tompkins’ contribution to conservation is unparalleled. Her work has resulted in the creation of new national parks, the expansion of existing ones, and the protection of millions of acres of land. She is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the critical role we all have to play in protecting and restoring our planet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Answer: She acted as Patagonia’s inaugural CEO for 20 years until she encountered Doug Tompkins, the co-founder of The North Face and Esprit.
Answer: $50,000
After selling The North Face for $50,000 in 1968, Tompkins and Susie founded Esprit, a clothing brand that appears to have formed the bulk of their wealth. By 1986, Esprit’s revenue had surpassed $800 million. However, the couple eventually divorced and disagreed on control of the company.
In 1990, when Doug Tompkins and Susie Russell divorced, Doug sold his share of Esprit to Susie for $150 million. This means that he cashed out of the company he co-founded for a cool $150 million!
Patagonia National Park stretches across a vast area of 640,000 acres (260,000 hectares)! That’s roughly the size of Rhode Island and Delaware combined, or about 10 times the size of Yellowstone National Park. It’s a truly impressive expanse of wilderness!
1993
Kris Tompkins left Patagonia in 1993. She made the conscious decision to step away from her corporate career and dedicate her life to wildlife conservation. It was a significant turning point in her life, marking the beginning of her incredible journey as a conservationist.
