P hil Knight is the visionary co-founder of Nike, Inc., the global behemoth in athletic footwear and apparel. A native of Oregon, Knight was a talented middle-distance runner at the University of Oregon under the legendary track coach Bill Bowerman. After graduating, he served in the army and then enrolled at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. It was there, for a class paper, that he conceived the idea of importing high-quality, low-cost running shoes from Japan to compete with the dominant German brands. This academic exercise would become the blueprint for one of the world's most iconic brands.

In 1964, Knight partnered with his former coach, Bill Bowerman, each investing $500 to start Blue Ribbon Sports, the company that would eventually become Nike. Initially, they operated out of the trunk of Knight's car, selling Japanese-made Onitsuka Tiger shoes at track meets. Bowerman's innovative shoe designs, combined with Knight's business acumen and marketing savvy, propelled the company's growth. In 1971, they rebranded as Nike, adopting the famous 'Swoosh' logo. Knight's strategy of signing high-profile athletes, most notably Michael Jordan, revolutionized sports marketing and transformed Nike into a cultural phenomenon. Knight served as CEO until 2004 and remained chairman until his retirement in 2016. A major philanthropist, he has donated over $2 billion to his alma maters, Stanford University and the University of Oregon.