7 Times We Couldn't Believe Anyone Gave WeWork's Adam Neumann Billions Of Dollars

WeWork’s co-president and chief financial officer Artie Minson and vice-chairman Sebastian Gunningham have been named co-CEOs of the company.

Neumann said in a statement: "While our business has never been stronger, in recent weeks, the scrutiny directed toward me has become a significant distraction, and I have decided that it is in the best interest of the company to step down as chief executive. Thank you to my colleagues, our members, our landlord partners, and our investors for continuing to believe in this great business.”

WeWork delayed its IPO last week after investors expressed concern about the company's falling valuation and Neumann's leadership of the company. The We Company has never been profitable and its valuation fell to $15 billion (possibly lower) after being valued at $47 billion earlier this year.

Since the company was founded in 2010, his "over-the-top" style has drawn criticism, most recently detailed by the Wall Street Journal. Here are some of the cofounder's most WTF moments.

According to the WSJ, "the flight crew found a sizable chunk of the drug stuffed in a cereal box for the return flight [from Israel], according to people familiar with the incident. The jet’s owner, upset and fearing repercussions of trans-border marijuana transport, recalled the plane, leaving Mr. Neumann to find his own way back to New York." The story went on to say "multiple people who have been on planes with him say he often smokes while airborne."

WeWork rebranded as the We Company in January. According to CNBC, "the We Company acquired the trademark to 'We' from We Holdings LLC, an investment vehicle with Neumann and cofounder Miguel McKelvey, and in exchange received an additional stake worth about $5.9 million." Following criticism, Neumann returned the payment.

In 2018, the company banned red meat, poultry, and pork from WeWork offices to “leave a better world for future generations." According to the WSJ, "executives in New York were caught off guard. With little explanation from Mr. Neumann, a group huddled to determine a rationale — they settled on sustainability — and the mechanics of what would be banned and how. They determined employees couldn’t expense meals with meat, but they could eat it in company offices, so long as the company didn’t pay. Former employees say they have since seen Mr. Neumann eat meat."

According to New York magazine, "One former employee says Neumann offered her tequila during her job interview, and liquor was a constant presence at pretty much every company event, another perk for the largely millennial staff. Many employees know the name of Neumann’s favorite tequila, Don Julio 1942, and offices around the country would keep it stocked for when he came to visit."

"Like some high-profile CEOs in tech, he hopes to live forever, according to three people who heard him say this, and has invested in life-extension startup Life Biosciences LLC," the WSJ reported.

According to the WSJ, Neumann said "surfing creates community, the value he says is central to WeWork." New York magazine wrote in June, "Until recently, an executive conference room at WeWork headquarters was decorated with a large photograph of Neumann surfing a wave."

Huet wrote in a story earlier this year, "As WeWork grows and changes, its CEO is learning to listen more, he says in a group interview later. 'Part of growing up is getting comfortable with the world, where people do have an opinion that might not be your opinion,' he says. 'It’s good to listen.' Then, for the third time that day — perhaps because I’ve joined the interview remotely — he calls me Amy, which is not my name. A spokesman says he regrets that."