Date of Birth: March 20, 1943
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Date of Death: December 8, 2015
Biography
Douglas Tompkins was an American businessman, conservationist, and environmental activist known for his significant contributions to both the outdoor apparel industry and environmental conservation. Born in Conneaut, Ohio, Tompkins co-founded The North Face, a major outdoor clothing and equipment company, in 1964. He later founded the clothing company Esprit with his then-wife Susie Tompkins Buell, which became internationally successful. In the late 1980s, Tompkins sold his stakes in these businesses and shifted his focus to conservation. He moved to Chile and Argentina, where he bought large tracts of land to preserve and restore. Through his foundations, Conservation Land Trust, Fundación Pumalín, and Conservación Patagónica, Tompkins was instrumental in creating several national parks in South America, contributing to the preservation of millions of acres of wilderness. Tompkins believed deeply in the intrinsic value of nature and was a vocal critic of industrial agriculture and large-scale hydroelectric projects. His conservation efforts have left a lasting legacy, with numerous national parks and protected areas that continue to benefit biodiversity and ecosystems.
5 Interesting Facts about Douglas Tompkins
1. Douglas Tompkins co-founded The North Face in 1964, originally a retail store for outdoor equipment.
2. He also co-founded the clothing brand Esprit, which became a global fashion powerhouse in the 1980s.
3. Tompkins purchased and preserved over 2 million acres of land in Chile and Argentina.
4. He was a passionate advocate for deep ecology, a philosophy that values the inherent worth of all living beings.
5. Tompkins died in a kayaking accident in Chilean Patagonia at the age of 72.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Douglas Tompkins
1. “The best thing you can do in life is to leave the world a little better than you found it.”
2. “We need to shift our focus from growth to quality of life and sustainability.”
3. “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.”
4. “When you buy more than you need, you are not only wasting resources, you are wasting your life.”
5. “The more we exploit nature, the more our options are reduced, until we have only one: to fight for survival.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Douglas Tompkins’ highest net worth was estimated to be around $250 million.
Children
Douglas Tompkins had two daughters from his first marriage to Susie Tompkins Buell: Summer Tompkins Walker and Tamara Tompkins.
Relevant Links
1. [The North Face History](https://www.thenorthface.com/about-us/our-story.html
2. [Esprit History](https://www.esprit.com/company/about-esprit
3. [Douglas Tompkins’ Conservation Efforts](https://www.tompkinsconservation.org
5. [Tompkins Conservation](https://www.tompkinsconservation.org/about_us.php
