Last updated on: November 26, 2023
Phil Knight is an American businessman. He is the co-founder, ex-CEO, and ex-chairman of Nike Inc.
Phil was born on February 24, 1938, in Portland, Oregon. He grew up loving sports and later ran track at the University of Oregon. His coach there, Bill Bowerman, became his business partner. Together, they started Nike in 1964. First, it was called Blue Ribbon Sports. They changed the name to Nike in 1971, after the Greek victory goddess.
Knight also served in the Army and studied business at Stanford. Before Nike, he worked as an accountant and a college teacher. His big idea was to sell high-quality, affordable Japanese running shoes in America. This idea helped start Nike.
Nike grew a lot under Knight. He worked with famous athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Knight also got into movies, buying a film studio called Laika. It made successful films like “Coraline.”
Knight has been very generous, especially to his schools. He gave over $2 billion to the University of Oregon, Stanford, and a health university. He helped Stanford start a program for global problems like climate change. He also supported Oregon sports a lot.
Knight wrote a book called “Shoe Dog” about his Nike journey. He retired from Nike in 2016 but is still involved.
As of December 2024, Phil Knight is 86 years and 9 months old, his estimated net worth is $42 billion, and he stands at a height of 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm or 1.75 m) tall.
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Bio/Wiki
Full Name
Philip Hampson Knight
Nickname
Phil Knight
Profession
Businessman
Career
Debut
1963 – Apparels
Best Known for
Phil Knight is like, super famous for starting Nike, Inc., which is, like, a huge deal in the world of sports shoes, clothes, and gear. He’s known for totally changing Nike into one of the coolest and most successful brands ever in sports and fashion.
Personal life
Date of Birth
February 24, 1938
Age
As of today, Phil is 86 years and 9 months old.
Zodiac sign
Pisces
Signature
Nationality
American
Birth Place
Portland, Oregon, United States of America
Residence
Portland, Oregon, United States of America
School / College / University
High School
He went to Cleveland High School in Portland, Oregon.
College
Knight studied at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he was a member of the track and field team.
University
After graduating from the University of Oregon with a business degree, Knight enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he earned a degree in MBA.
Religion
Christianity (Our Assumption)
Phil Knight has largely kept his personal religious views private. He has mentioned that his father, despite being a traditional Episcopalian who believed in Jesus Christ, also worshipped other deities. Additionally, Knight has occasionally mentioned attending mass, but he hasn’t elaborated extensively on his own faith or religious practices.
Race / Ethnicity
Caucasian
Food Habits
Non-vegetarian
Hobbies
Reading, Running, Watching Sports, and Movies.
Tattoo
No tattoos on his body.
Physical Stats & More
Height
- In feet: 5′ 9″
- In Centimeters: 176 cm
- In meters: 1.76 m
Weight
- In kilograms: 82 kg
- In Pounds: 180 lbs
Body Measurements
- Chest Size: 40″
- Biceps Size: 11″
- Waist Size: 34″
Shoe size
9 (US)
Eye color
Black
Hair Color
Brown
Family
Phil Knight was born in Portland, Oregon, on February 24, 1938. His parents were Bill and Lota Knight. His dad was a lawyer and also ran a newspaper. Phil learned a lot from his dad about working hard.
Phil married Penny Parks on September 13, 1968. They have been together for a long time. Penny has always been there for Phil, especially during his busy days with Nike.
They had two sons, Matthew and Travis, and a daughter named Christina Knight. Sadly, Matthew passed away in 2004 in a scuba diving accident. He was only 34. This was very hard for the family. Their other son, Travis, works in movies. He works as the CEO of Laika, a company that makes films. Travis is good at this, making films that many people like.
Wife
Penny Knight (1968—Present)
Father
Mother
Siblings
Jeanne Knight (Sister)
Joanne Knight (Sister)
Children
Travis Knight (Son) (Born on September 13, 1973)
Matthew Knight (Son) (Died in 2004 in a scuba diving accident)
Christina Knight (Daughter)
Relationship & More
Marital Status
Married to Penny Knight
Marriage Date
September 13, 1968
Relationships
Penny Knight (1968—Present)
Favorite Things
Unknown
Net worth 2024
$42 billion
As of December 2024, Phil Knight’s estimated net worth is $42 billion. He has amassed his wealth primarily through his association with Nike.
Initially, Nike was founded in 1962 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Knight and his track coach, Bill Bowerman. The company began by distributing running shoes before designing its own, focusing on high performance and affordability. By 1978, after changing its name to Nike, the company’s shoes were being worn by athletes at major events like the Boston Marathon, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. In the 1980s, Nike shifted its focus to include powerful marketing along with footwear innovations, leading to significant revenue growth. Iconic campaigns and partnerships with athletes like Michael Jordan have been central to Nike’s success.
Knight personally owns a substantial number of shares in Nike. As of 2020, he owned over 31.4 million Class A shares and over 3.3 million Class B shares. The Knight family’s Swoosh limited liability company holds 257 million Nike shares, making it Nike’s largest institutional shareholder. This shareholding structure guarantees the Knight family’s significant control over the company.
Knight has diversified beyond Nike into other asset classes. His stock portfolio includes high-growth tech and established companies. He prioritizes companies with solid foundations, innovative products, and growth potential. His stock market investments, such as Apple and Intel Corporation, have increased his wealth.
Knight’s investment interests also extend to real estate. He has made strategic acquisitions in both commercial and residential sectors. Notable investments include properties in Oregon and significant real estate ventures such as the purchase of a plot of land in La Quinta’s exclusive Madison Club.
His commitment to philanthropy and community development is reflected in significant donations, such as a 400 million investment in Portland to support the Rebuild Albina project, which aims to empower the Black community in the Albina area.
Net worth Growth
| Net worth in 2023 | $42 billion |
| Net worth in 2022 | $47.3 billion |
| Net worth in 2021 | $49.9 billion |
| Net worth in 2020 | $29.5 billion |
| Net worth in 2019 | $33.4 billion |
Salary
| Yearly Earnings | $2 billion + |
| Monthly Earnings | $166 million + |
| Weekly Earnings | $41.5 million + |
Car collection
- Audi R8 ($120,000)
- GULFSTREAM G650 ($65 million)
House
Phil Knight owns several properties. He lives in Hillsboro, Oregon. The house on the west side of Portland has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and over 6,800 square feet of space. In addition to this, Phil and his wife Penny Knight also enjoy time at Coyote Rock Ranch, a tranquil high desert retreat. This location serves as a peaceful getaway for the couple, providing a break from their busy schedules and allowing for family time.
Lesser Known Facts
Track Athlete Turned Entrepreneur:
Before starting Nike, Knight was a middle-distance runner at the University of Oregon, under the coaching of Bill Bowerman, who would later co-found Nike with him.
CPA Before Nike:
Before his success with Nike, Knight worked as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with firms like Coopers & Lybrand and Price Waterhouse, and he was also an accounting professor at Portland State University.
World Tour Inspiration:
After graduating from Stanford, Knight traveled around the world, including a stop in Japan, where he discovered Tiger brand running shoes, which later became part of the initial offerings of Blue Ribbon Sports, Nike’s predecessor.
Philanthropy:
Knight has donated billions to his alma mater and other causes. His donations include large sums to the University of Oregon and Stanford University, supporting various programs and facilities.
Memoir Author:
Knight wrote a memoir titled “Shoe Dog,” which details the journey of building Nike from a startup to a global brand.
Unique Approach to Advertising:
Under Knight’s leadership, Nike’s advertising strategies, including the famous “Just Do It” slogan, revolutionized sports marketing and helped make the brand a household name.
Social Media Profiles
Phil Knight is not available on social media platforms.
