Phil Knight, born on February 24, 1938, is an American billionaire businessman and the co-founder of Nike, Inc. He is currently the Chairman Emeritus of Nike. Knight, a University of Oregon and Stanford Graduate School of Business alumnus, was a middle-distance runner under coach Bill Bowerman, with whom he later co-founded Nike. Before Nike's rise, Knight was a certified public accountant and accounting professor.
Knight transformed a modest shoe distribution business into a global sports and apparel powerhouse. He served as Nike's President from 1968 to 1990 and again from 2000 to 2004. Knight retired as chairman in 2016 after 52 years with the company, though he and his family still own 21% of Nike. In 2025, Knight was inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. Known for his philanthropy, Knight and his wife have donated billions to charity, including significant contributions to the University of Oregon and Stanford University. In August 2025, they pledged $2 billion to the Oregon Health & Science University's Knight Cancer Institute.
