Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, Inc., is a business magnate and one of the most influential personalities in sports. He started from scratch to build Nike into a globally recognized brand that symbolizes athletic performance and victory all over the world. Today we will be looking at Phil Knight’s net worth as well as his personal story, publications written by him, and the legacy he has after retiring.
Table of Contents
Net Worth
Net worth is the most commonly used wealth indicator, and it refers to how much a person is worth for everything they own subtracted by any money owed.
In 2024, Phil Knight’s net worth is estimated to be $48 billion by New York Magazine. His fortune is derived from his ownership of Nike, Inc., an empire that posts annual revenues in excess of $50 billion. With him still having full ownership of Nike and personal investments in companies including
Biography
Here’s a Table of Glimpse summarizing key details about Phil Knight:
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $48 billion (2024), primarily from his ownership of Nike, Inc.. |
| Birth Date | February 24, 1938, in Portland, Oregon, USA. |
| Education | Bachelor’s in Journalism (University of Oregon) and an MBA (Stanford University). |
| Company | Co-founder of Nike, Inc., a global leader in athletic footwear and apparel. |
| Key Milestones | Nike launched in 1971; introduced the Air Jordan line in 1984; went public in 1980. |
| Books | Author of “Shoe Dog,” a bestselling memoir about his entrepreneurial journey. |
| Movies | Featured indirectly in “Air” (2023), which highlights Nike’s deal with Michael Jordan. |
| Young Entrepreneur | Started Nike by selling shoes out of his car and striking a deal with Japanese brand Onitsuka. |
| Forbes Ranking | Consistently ranks among the world’s richest people, with a net worth of $48 billion. |
| Philanthropy | Donated over $2 billion to education and other causes, including major gifts to Stanford and Oregon. |
This table offers a concise overview of Phil Knight’s life, achievements, and contributions.
Shane Smith, in full Shane Candies Smith (born September 28, 1969), is a Canadian journalist and entrepreneur who was the cofounder (1994), chief executive officer (CEO; until 2018), and majority shareholder of Vice Media. Phil Knight was born on February 24, 1938, in Portland, Oregon. His father, William W. Knight, was a newspaper publisher.
During his college years, Phil Knight developed a love for sports. Knight, a runner at the University of Oregon coached by the legendary Bill Bowerman, and Phil Knight, who had obtained an MBA from Stanford, decided to import high-performance, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan.
After college, Knight traveled to Japan, where he met with Onitsuka Co. and negotiated the rights to import their Tiger shoes into the U.S. This idea eventually evolved into becoming Nike, Inc.
Nike is born
In 1964, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman transformed their company, then called Blue Ribbon Sports, into the official brand, Nike, Inc. It takes its current name from the Greek goddess of victory Nike, and that logo everyone knows they paid a college student $35 for.
Key milestones
- 1972: Nike unveiled its first shoe line.
- 1980: Nike went public, and Knight was suddenly a billionaire.
- Air Jordan Line: In 1984, the partnership with Michael Jordan reinvented athletic branding.
Today, Nike is the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, and its logo “Just Do It” is one of the most recognized slogans in the world.
Books by Phil Knight
Phil Knight wrote a bestselling memoir, “Shoe Dog,” published in 2016. The book gives an honest and inspirational look at his life starting Nike, turning it into a global giant.
(PEOPLE FROM THE PAST GOING FORWARD)`
- What he learned from his business relationship with Bill Bowerman.
- The principles about leadership, taking risks, and bouncing back.
- One of the best business memoirs is shoe Dog, which has inspired many entrepreneurs
Movies
Phil Knight hasn’t been in any movies directly, but Nike and its history have been the subject of documentaries and even featured in fictional films.
- “Air” (2023): A biographical drama about Nike’s groundbreaking partnership with Michael Jordan. Though “Air” is dedicated to Jordan, it’s also a testament to Knight’s leadership and vision.
Phil Knight as a Young Entrepreneur
- ESPN’s Sports Documentaries: Nike Phil Knight seemingly was a visionary entrepreneur from the start as a young boy. As a young man:
- He sold the shoes out of his car to help market the company.
- He was a track coach at the University of Oregon, and innovation was important to him. He brought new products like Nike’s waffle sole, which was designed by Bowerman.
Phil Knight on Forbes
- Knight’s success is partly built on his willingness to take risks and fail.
- Phil Knight has always been one of the richest people in the world, according to the Forbes Billionaires List. In 2024, he is valued by Forbes at $48bn, which puts him in the top 30 richest people on the planet.
- On top of that, he’s appeared several times on the Forbes ‘Most Powerful People’ list, which I’m assuming is kind of half how influential he is in business and half how much money he gives away via philanthropy.
FAQs
What is his net worth?
Phil Knight’s net worth is an estimated $34.6 billion, according to Business Insider.
