Greg Glassman and the rise and fall of CrossFit

A new book, ‘The Glass Box: The Shocking True Story of How CrossFit Broke the Rules, Made Millions, and Changed Fitness Forever’ by Calum Marsh, details the trajectory of CrossFit founder Greg Glassman. The book explores Glassman’s journey from a struggling trainer in Santa Cruz in 1995 to the head of a fitness empire that reached an estimated $100 million in annual revenue by 2015.

Marsh describes Glassman’s leadership style and eccentric spending habits, including costly private jet detours for fast food. The narrative examines how the edgy charisma that fueled the company’s rapid growth eventually contributed to Glassman’s downfall.