From the Editor
- Phil Knight, cofounder of shoe giant Nike, retired as chairman in 2016 after 52 years at the company.
- Knight ran track at the University of Oregon and created Nike shoes with his former track coach, Bill Bowerman.
- In 1964, they each put up $500 to start Blue Ribbon Sports. Knight & family still own 20% of the $51 billion (fiscal 2024 revenue) company now known as Nike.
- Knight and his wife Penny have given $3.6 billion to charity so far--mainly through their Knight Foundation. They rank among America's top philanthropists.
- The Knights have pledged over $500 million in donations to each of the University of Oregon and Stanford University, Phil's alma maters.
- The couple pledged another $400 million to help rebuild Portland, Oregon's historically Black Albina neighborhood in 2023.
Wealth History
HOVER TO REVEAL NET WORTH BY YEAR
Forbes Lists
The Richest Person In Every State (2024)
#30
Billionaires (2024)
#18
Forbes 400 (2023)
The Richest Person In America’s 50 Largest Cities (2016)
Personal Stats
- Age
- 86
- Source of Wealth
- Nike, Self Made
- Self-Made Score
- 8
- Philanthropy Score
- 3
- Residence
- Hillsboro, Oregon
- Citizenship
- United States
- Marital Status
- Married
- Children
- 3
- Education
- Master of Business Administration, Stanford Graduate School of Business; Bachelor of Arts/Science, University of Oregon
Did you know
Before cofounding Nike, Knight sold Japanese running shoes from the trunk of his car.
Knight paid a Portland State University student $35 to design Nike's iconic "Swoosh" logo.
In Their Own Words
It is hard enough out there. Get all the help you can. Getting help really is just a part of that lifelong search for wisdom.
Phil Knight & family
Related People & Companies
Nike
Holds stake in Nike
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Attended the school
Paul Fireman
Competitor
Tim Cook
Related by financial asset: Nike
University of Oregon
Attended the school
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