Philip 'Phil' Hampson Knight is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Co-founder and former Chairman/CEO of Nike, Inc. (NYSE: NKE), the global athletic apparel and footwear giant. Born in Portland, Oregon, in 1938, his career is rooted in elite finance, sports, and brand disruption.

Knight holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Oregon (1959) and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business (1962). His philosophical approach centers on athletic excellence, disruptive innovation, and vertical integration (controlling the entire supply chain from design to retail). The idea for Nike began with his Stanford MBA thesis (proposing the manufacturing of high-quality, low-cost running shoes in Japan).

• Nike, Inc. (Co-founder & Former Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, the dominant global athletic apparel and footwear brand. He controls a substantial voting stake.
• Brand Pioneer: His success is built on leveraging athlete endorsements and innovating athletic technology (e.g., Air technology).
• Academic Background: He holds an MBA from Stanford and a B.A. from the University of Oregon.
• Philanthropy: He and his wife, Penny, are major donors to Oregon University (funding the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact).

Phil Knight's strategic genius was his commitment to brand storytelling and innovation. He co-founded Blue Ribbon Sports (the precursor to Nike) with his former track coach, Bill Bowerman, in 1964 (initially importing Onitsuka Tiger shoes from Japan). 1971: Nike. The company launched the Nike brand (named after the Greek goddess of victory). His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the massive commercialization and globalization of the athletic footwear and apparel sector.

The company successfully executed its IPO in 1980. He stepped down as Chairman in 2016 (remaining a major controlling shareholder). His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global athletic apparel and footwear sector.

Phil Knight is a major global philanthropist. His structural social impact is tied to Nike's role in pioneering the athletic lifestyle movement and driving the global sports economy. His philanthropic commitment to education and scientific research is massive: he committed $1 billion to Stanford University (the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program) and $500 million to the University of Oregon (for science). His structural contribution is tied to his belief in innovation and the power of sports to transcend cultural boundaries.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Phil Knight maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global industrial sector.

Residing in La Jolla, California, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to corporate governance, brand management, and high-impact philanthropy.