Dennis J. 'Chip' Wilson is an American-Canadian businessman, investor, and the self-made founder of Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ: LULU), the company that pioneered the yoga-inspired athletic apparel (athleisure) movement. Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1955, he grew up in an athletic environment, with his father being an ice hockey and football player and his mother a gymnast.

His career began with early exposure to fabrics and sewing (from his mother) and a strong competitive drive honed by competitive swimming. He initially studied and postponed his education to work in the oil industry in Fairbanks, Alaska, before graduating from the University of Calgary in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in Economics. His pivotal realization came in the late 1990s: he saw the massive, untapped potential of the women's sportswear market and recognized that traditional athletic brands lacked the necessary dedication to fashion and comfort that the modern woman desired.

Chip Wilson launched Lululemon Athletica in 1998 in Vancouver, Canada, initially operating out of two rented locations and employing five sewists. His strategic vision was to create a brand that combined fashion and function—high-quality athletic apparel that was also stylish enough to be worn outside the gym. He famously bet the farm on this concept.

Lululemon's success was built on three core pillars: superior product quality (especially fabric technology), community building (organizing yoga classes and creating an inviting in-store atmosphere), and unique branding. Wilson focused on finding executives with the same values and fostering an environment of trust and interactive communication. His philosophy was to train and develop people and then get out of their way. This customer-centric, experiential model propelled Lululemon to global dominance, creating the multi-billion dollar athleisure category and securing Wilson's fortune.

Chip Wilson's social impact is structural, stemming from Lululemon's role in promoting fitness, health, and a yoga-inspired lifestyle globally. The company's focus on creating community in its stores and empowering individuals to live a healthy life is its core social contribution.

His personal philanthropy often supports causes related to health and community development. His career provides an inspirational example of an entrepreneur who successfully blended a personal passion for fitness and design with a massive global business model.

Chip Wilson maintains the practical, athletic, and casual style of a Vancouver-based fitness entrepreneur. His attire is consistently high-quality, favoring his own brand's athleisure wear. His aesthetic is one of confident simplicity, reflecting his focus on the functional superiority of his product.

Residing in Vancouver, Canada, his luxury is the security of his multi-billion dollar fortune and the autonomy to pursue his passions for fitness and design. His life is defined by his commitment to product excellence and the continuous reinvention of the apparel industry.