Historical Figure
Phil Knight
b. 1938
American billionaire business magnate (born 1938)
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Biography
Philip Hampson Knight is an American billionaire businessman who is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc., a global sports equipment and apparel company. He was previously its chairman and CEO. As of October 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$35.4 billion. He is also the owner of the stop motion film production company Laika. Knight is a graduate of the University of Oregon and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He was part of the track and field club under coach Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon with whom he would later co-found Nike.
Timeline
The story of Phil Knight, told in moments.
Wrote a Stanford MBA paper arguing that cheap Japanese running shoes could compete with German brands like Adidas. He flew to Japan and cut a deal with Onitsuka Tiger.
Co-founded Blue Ribbon Sports with Bowerman. They each put in $500. Knight sold shoes out of the trunk of his green Plymouth Valiant at track meets.
Renamed the company Nike. A Portland State design student, Carolyn Davidson, created the Swoosh logo. She was paid $35. Knight later gave her stock and a diamond ring.
Signed Michael Jordan to a $2.5 million deal. Air Jordan shoes earned $126 million in the first year. The brand eventually grew to over $5 billion annually.
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