Ryan Knutson

One of Andy's favorite things to do at Neom was go hiking up in the mountains.

One of Andy's favorite things to do at Neom was go hiking up in the mountains.

One of Andy's favorite things to do at Neom was go hiking up in the mountains.

Sometimes he'd camp overnight. One of his favorite spots was a literal oasis with palm trees jutting out of the desert rock. The hikes irked his boss, Nodmi.

Sometimes he'd camp overnight. One of his favorite spots was a literal oasis with palm trees jutting out of the desert rock. The hikes irked his boss, Nodmi.

Sometimes he'd camp overnight. One of his favorite spots was a literal oasis with palm trees jutting out of the desert rock. The hikes irked his boss, Nodmi.

Andy was quickly souring on Neom. The plans for Neom Mountain just didn't make sense to him. And he was increasingly worried about their impact on Neom's pristine mountains.

Andy was quickly souring on Neom. The plans for Neom Mountain just didn't make sense to him. And he was increasingly worried about their impact on Neom's pristine mountains.

Andy was quickly souring on Neom. The plans for Neom Mountain just didn't make sense to him. And he was increasingly worried about their impact on Neom's pristine mountains.

Andy spent much of his career running ski resorts, so he's definitely not the kind of environmentalist who wants to shut people out of nature. He wants them in it, but not at the expense of destroying a place. He believes development can and should be balanced with conservation. And he was not seeing that balance at Neo Mountain.

Andy spent much of his career running ski resorts, so he's definitely not the kind of environmentalist who wants to shut people out of nature. He wants them in it, but not at the expense of destroying a place. He believes development can and should be balanced with conservation. And he was not seeing that balance at Neo Mountain.

Andy spent much of his career running ski resorts, so he's definitely not the kind of environmentalist who wants to shut people out of nature. He wants them in it, but not at the expense of destroying a place. He believes development can and should be balanced with conservation. And he was not seeing that balance at Neo Mountain.

And then Andy learned that MBS himself knew these mountains.

And then Andy learned that MBS himself knew these mountains.

And then Andy learned that MBS himself knew these mountains.

Andy's proposal was essentially to throw out the master plan for Neom Mountain. There would be no vault, no lake. Instead, they'd play up the natural beauty of what they had. The plan would be much cheaper, and in Andy's view, still achieve Neom's goals. He began developing his pitch in secret. And then he says, Nodney got wind of it.

Andy's proposal was essentially to throw out the master plan for Neom Mountain. There would be no vault, no lake. Instead, they'd play up the natural beauty of what they had. The plan would be much cheaper, and in Andy's view, still achieve Neom's goals. He began developing his pitch in secret. And then he says, Nodney got wind of it.

Andy's proposal was essentially to throw out the master plan for Neom Mountain. There would be no vault, no lake. Instead, they'd play up the natural beauty of what they had. The plan would be much cheaper, and in Andy's view, still achieve Neom's goals. He began developing his pitch in secret. And then he says, Nodney got wind of it.

At you.

At you.