Daniel Sisson

A billionaire bought a logging company in the Amazon rainforest just to shut it down. Swedish-British billionaire Johan Eliasch has taken a bold, hands-on approach to fighting climate change, shifting from business leadership to direct environmental action. In 2005, he acquired a logging company in Brazil, gaining control of approximately 400,000 acres (1,600 km²) of Amazon rainforest, which he immediately dedicated to preservation by halting all logging operations. This decisive move transformed a potential deforestation site into a protected carbon sink, safeguarding biodiversity on a vast scale. Eliasch's efforts extend far beyond this landmark purchase. He founded the Rainforest Trust, which has helped protect millions of acres worldwide, and co-founded Cool Earth in 2006—a charity that empowers indigenous communities to conserve endangered rainforests. His influence reaches policy and sports: he advised the UK government on deforestation (authoring the influential Eliasch Review in 2008), and as president of the International Ski Federation (FIS) since 2021, he has driven sustainability initiatives, including committing to the Race to Zero campaign to halve winter sports emissions by 2030. Eliasch exemplifies a rising movement among ultra-wealthy individuals who deploy private resources for immediate, impactful climate solutions—bypassing conventional channels to deliver tangible protection for the planet's vital ecosystems.