Phil Knight & family

$28.85 B

Ranked #78 in World

About Phil Knight & family

Philip Hampson Knight, the co-founder and chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc., has an estimated net worth of $45.0 billion as of December 2023. He is also the owner of the stop motion film production company, Laika. Knight graduated from the University of Oregon and Stanford Graduate School of Business. He was the former chairman and CEO of Nike. Knight's career includes working as a Certified Public Accountant, an accounting professor at Portland State University, and serving in the Army. He co-founded Athletics West and played a key role in the formation and success of Nike. Knight has also made significant philanthropic contributions to institutions such as Stanford University and the University of Oregon. He released his memoir, Shoe Dog, which details the building of the Nike brand. Knight has been involved in politics, primarily supporting Republican candidates in Oregon.

Born

February 24, 1938 in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Age

88 years

Source Of Wealth

Nike

Industries

Fashion & Retail

Citizenship

United States

Residence

Hillsboro, Oregon

Education

Master of Business Administration, Stanford Graduate School of Business; Bachelor of Arts/Science, University of Oregon

Spouse

Penny Parks (Married: 1968)

Children

2, including Travis Knight

Parent

William W. Knight (father)

Philip Hampson Knight was born on February 24, 1938, in Portland, Oregon. He grew up in Portland and attended Cleveland High School. Knight earned a business degree (B.B.A.) from the University of Oregon in just three years. During his time at the University of Oregon, he was a member of the track team and won varsity letters for his performances in 1957, 1958, and 1959. Knight also served in the Army Reserve and was a "Distinguished Military Graduate" in 1959.

Phil Knight & family: Family

Philip Knight is married to Penelope "Penny" Parks since September 13, 1968. They have two sons, Matthew and Travis. Matthew tragically died in a scuba diving accident in El Salvador in 2004. Travis Knight is the president and CEO of Laika, the stop-motion film production company owned by Philip Knight.

Phil Knight & family: Career Highlights

After graduating from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1962, Knight traveled around the world and discovered Tiger brand running shoes in Kobe, Japan. He secured Tiger distribution rights for the western United States and partnered with Bill Bowerman to form Blue Ribbon Sports, which later became Nike, on January 25, 1964. Knight made his first sales out of a green Plymouth Valiant automobile at track meets across the Pacific Northwest. He left his accountant job in 1969 to work full-time for Blue Ribbon Sports.

Under Knight's leadership, Nike grew into one of the most successful sports apparel and footwear companies in the world. He developed personal relationships with athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, which helped to boost Nike's brand recognition and sales. Knight also played a key role in the development of Nike's iconic "swoosh" logo, which was commissioned for $35 from graphic design student Carolyn Davidson in 1971.

Phil Knight & family: Companies

Philip Knight is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc.

He is also the owner of the stop-motion film production company Laika.

Phil Knight & family: Major Achievements

Knight's major achievements include building Nike into a global sportswear giant, developing the iconic Nike "swoosh" logo, and establishing Laika, a successful stop-motion film production company. He has also made significant contributions to various educational institutions and charitable organizations.

Phil Knight & family: Awards & Achievements

Knight has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the sports industry and philanthropy. Some of his notable awards include induction into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2012, and the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 1989. He was also elected to the 2015 American Academy of Arts and Sciences membership class.

Phil Knight & family: Personal Life & Legacy

Philip Knight is a registered Republican and has been a frequent contributor to Republican political candidates in Oregon. He is married to Penelope "Penny" Parks and has two sons, Matthew and Travis. Knight is known for his philanthropy and has made significant donations to various educational institutions and charitable organizations. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the sports industry and has left a lasting legacy through his contributions to Nike and other ventures.

Phil Knight & family: Trivia

Here are some interesting facts about Philip Knight:

Knight's personal best in 1 mile (1.6 km) was 4 minutes, 13 seconds.
He co-founded Athletics West, an American running team, in 1977 with Bill Bowerman and Geoff Hollister.
Knight assumed a 15 percent stake in Will Vinton Studios in 1998, which later became Laika.
His son Travis joined the studio as an animator and was later promoted to CEO and president of Laika.
Knight released his memoir, Shoe Dog, in 2016, which details the building of the Nike brand.

He has a net worth of $60.8 billion as of July 2021 and is the most generous philanthropist in Oregon history, with lifetime gifts approaching $2 billion.
Knight has made significant donations to Stanford University, the University of Oregon, and other educational institutions.
He has been involved in controversies related to labor practices and political contributions.
Knight owns a home in La Quinta, California, and resides in a rural area outside Hillsboro, Oregon.
He owns a personal flight hangar along with two private jets at the Hillsboro Airport.

Wealth History

Timeline

February 24, 1938

Philip Hampson Knight is born in Portland, Oregon.

1957, 1958, 1959

Knight wins varsity letters for track performances at the University of Oregon.

1959

Knight receives Army Reserve Commission and graduates as a "Distinguished Military Graduate" from the University of Oregon.

1962

Knight graduates with a master's degree in business administration from Stanford.

1964

Knight partners with Bill Bowerman to form Blue Ribbon Sports, which later becomes Nike.

1969

Knight leaves his accountant job to work full-time for Blue Ribbon Sports.

1971

Nike's "swoosh" logo is commissioned for $35 from graphic design student Carolyn Davidson.

1977

Knight co-founds Athletics West, an American running team, with Bill Bowerman and Geoff Hollister.

1989

Knight receives the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.

1990

Knight founds the Philip H. Knight Charitable Foundation Trust.

1998

Knight assumes a 15 percent stake in Will Vinton Studios.

2000

Knight is inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame for his Special Contribution to Sports in Oregon.

2004

Knight's son Matthew dies in a scuba diving accident in El Salvador.

November 18, 2004

Knight resigns as Nike CEO but retains the position of chairman of the board.

2006

Knight donates $105 million to Stanford Graduate School of Business, the largest individual donation to a U.S. business school at the time.

2007

Knight donates $100 million to found the UO Athletics Legacy Fund.

2008

Knight pledges $100 million to the OHSU Cancer Institute, the largest gift in the history of Oregon Health & Science University.

2009

Knight releases his memoir, Shoe Dog.

2009-2010

Knight is the largest single contributor to the campaign to defeat Oregon Ballot Measures 66 and 67.

2010

Knight donates several million dollars to the Catlin Gabel School to establish a scholarship.

2011

Matthew Knight Arena at the University of Oregon is named in his son's honor.

2012

Knight is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor.

2012

Knight contributes $65,000 to a higher education Political Action Committee (PAC) formed by Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle.

2013

Knight announces intention to donate $500 million to OHSU for research if OHSU could match it over the subsequent two years.

2013

Knight finances the UO's $68 million gridiron football facility.

2014

Knight donates $250,000 to John Kitzhaber's re-election campaign.

2015

Knight donates $500 million to OHSU after they met the $500 million goal, bringing the total to $1 billion raised.

June 2015

Knight steps down as Nike's chairman, succeeded by president and CEO Mark Parker.

November 2015

Knight donates $19.2 million towards a new sports complex project at the University of Oregon.

June 2016

Knight's retirement from the Nike board takes effect.

September 2017

Knight comes out of retirement to put black back in the UNC jerseys for the Phil Knight Classic in Portland, Oregon.

2018

Knight's memoir, Shoe Dog, is rated fifth on The New York Times Best Seller list for business books.

2018

Knight donates $3.5 million to Republican Knute Buehler during the 2018 Oregon gubernatorial election.

2021

Knight helps to fund the renovation of Hayward Field, a track and field stadium at the University of Oregon.

May 2022

Knight gifts Stanford $75 million to establish the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience.

2022

Knight is a major donor during the 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election, giving $3.75 million to independent candidate Betsy Johnson and later switching to backing Republican Christine Drazan.

2022

Knight donates $2 million to a political action committee seeking to elect Republican state legislators in Oregon.

April 2023

Knight contributes $2 million more to the same conservative PAC.

Phil Knight & family : FAQs

What is Phil Knight's current net worth?

Phil Knight's current net worth is $28.85 billion.

What is Phil Knight's current global rank among billionaires?

Phil Knight holds the 78th position globally among billionaires.

What is Phil Knight's current ranking within the United States?

Phil Knight holds the 37th position in United States.

What was the change in Phil Knight's net worth compared to the previous year?

Phil Knight's net worth decreased by 2.74 billion dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 31.58 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Phil Knight's net worth?

Phil Knight's net worth increased by 227.08 million dollars recently, a 0.79% increase, with his net worth standing at 28.85 billion dollars.

What are Phil Knight's main sources of wealth?

Phil Knight's main source of income comes from Nike.

In which industry does Phil Knight primarily operate?

Phil Knight is primarily involved in the Fashion & Retail industry.

What is Phil Knight educational background?

Phil Knight holds a Master of Business Administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts/Science from the University of Oregon.

How old is Phil Knight?

Phil Knight is 88 years old.

How many children does Phil Knight have?

Phil Knight has 3 children.

When was Philip Hampson Knight born?

Philip Hampson Knight was born on February 24, 1938, in Portland, Oregon.

What is the name of the stop motion film production company owned by Philip Hampson Knight?

Philip Hampson Knight owns the stop motion film production company Laika.

What is the title of the memoir written by Philip Hampson Knight?

The memoir written by Philip Hampson Knight is titled Shoe Dog.

What is the largest individual donation Philip Hampson Knight made to Stanford University?

The largest individual donation Philip Hampson Knight made to Stanford University was $105 million to the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2006.