Origins & Early Life

Philip Hampson Knight (born February 24, 1938) is an American billionaire businessman who is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc., a global sports footwear, equipment and apparel company. He was previously its chairman and CEO. As of October 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$35.4 billion. He is also the owner of the stop motion film production company Laika.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Knight is a graduate of the University of Oregon and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He was part of the track and field club under coach Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon with whom he would later co-found Nike. Knight has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to each of his alma maters, as well as Oregon Health & Science University. Phil Hampson Knight was born on February 24, 1938, in Portland, Oregon, to Bill Knight, a lawyer turned newspaper publisher, and his wife, Lota Cloy (née Hatfield) Knight. He grew up in the Portland neighborhood of Eastmoreland, and attended Cleveland High School.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

According to one source, "When his father refused to give him a summer job at his newspaper [the now defunct Oregon Journal], believing that his son should find work on his own,"...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Bond — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Australian businessman known for high-profile dealings, the America's Cup, and founding Bond University.
• Albert Fert — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Pioneering physicist known for the discovery of giant magnetoresistance.
• Behrouz Vossoughi — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Esteemed Iranian actor, celebrated for his intense performances across film and theatre.
• Alberto Sordi — Shared historical date (02-24 · Died) (2003): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• Anthony Gordon (footballer) — Shared historical date (02-24 · Born) (2001): English professional footballer known for his time at Everton, Newcastle, and Barcelona.
• Ben E. King — Historical peer (Born in 1938) (1938): Iconic American soul and R&B singer, celebrated for group hits and solo anthems.
• Bernadette Lafont — Historical peer (Born in 1938) (1938): Iconic French actress, celebrated for her role in the New Wave movement.
• Alfred Brendel — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Czech-born Austrian pianist, composer, and scholar renowned for Beethoven.
• Assata Shakur — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Black American activist, revolutionary, and fugitive known for her political militancy.
• Bobby Moore — Shared historical date (02-24 · Died) (1993): Legendary English defender, captain of the 1966 World Cup-winning England team.
• 1938 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1938
• February 24 (02-24) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 24