Phil Knight’s net worth over time
Only dates with a published estimate are shown. Nothing is filled in between. Tap or hover a bar to see the source.
See the numbers as a table
| Date | Estimate | Source |
| 2019 | $33.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2020 | $29.5 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020 |
| 2021 | $49.9 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021 |
| 2022 | $47.3 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022 |
| 2023 | $45.1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023 |
| 2024 | $40.9 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $35.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $31.1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $25.7 billion | Forbes Real-Time Billionaires · Forbes real-time estimate |
Where the money comes from
These are the main sources of wealth named in the reporting we cite. No published source breaks the total into exact amounts, so we do not show percentages.
Phil Knight’s fortune in real-life terms
Based on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimate above. Median full-time U.S. pay is $65,416 a year ($1,258 a week, BLS, Q2 2026), before taxes. Typical (median) U.S. family net worth is $216,100 (Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances).
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Phil Knight has an estimated net worth of $25.7 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Phil Knight profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is down from a peak of $49.9 billion.
Phil Knight is an American businessman best known for cofounding Nike. He ran track at the University of Oregon and later built the company with his former coach, Bill Bowerman. Before Nike took off, he sold Japanese running shoes from the trunk of his car. In 1964, Knight and Bowerman each put up $500 to start Blue Ribbon Sports, the business that later became Nike. He also owned the stop motion studio Laika.
Knight became rich through Nike, where he spent 52 years before retiring as chairman in 2016. Knight and family still own 21% of the company, which had $46 billion in fiscal 2026 revenue. He also helped shape Nike’s early identity, including paying a Portland State University student $35 to create the Swoosh logo. Forbes puts his net worth at $25.7 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker as of October 20, 2026.
How Phil Knight built his fortune
Knight’s wealth comes mainly from Nike, the sportswear company he started with Bowerman. The business began as Blue Ribbon Sports after the 2 partners each invested $500 in 1964. Before that, Knight sold imported running shoes himself, often from his car at track meets. Nike later became the company’s name, and its growth turned Knight into one of the best-known figures in fashion and retail.
Nike remains the core of his fortune because Knight and family still own 21% of the business. Forbes places him in Fashion & Retail and describes him as self-made. His work also reached beyond footwear. He later owned Laika, a stop motion film studio that he rebranded and backed with $180 million. Even so, the largest share of his wealth is tied to Nike, not entertainment.
Forbes net worth timeline
Forbes tracked large swings in Knight’s fortune across the years. It estimated him at $33.4 billion in 2019, then $29.5 billion in 2020. The estimate jumped to $49.9 billion in 2021 before easing to $47.3 billion in 2022 and $45.1 billion in 2023. Those changes followed the value of his Nike stake, which is the main driver of his wealth.
More recently, Forbes estimated Knight at $40.9 billion in 2024, $35.4 billion in 2025, and $31.1 billion in 2026. As of October 2026, Forbes showed $25.7 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker. Knight has also directed major sums to philanthropy. He and his wife Penny have given $4.5 billion so far, with gifts that include over $500 million to both Oregon and Stanford and $2 billion to a cancer institute in 2025.
Career and money timeline
- 1964
Knight and Bill Bowerman each invested $500 to start Blue Ribbon Sports.
- 1971
Blue Ribbon Sports became Nike, and the Swoosh was designed for $35.
- 2009
Laika released Coraline after Knight invested $180 million in the studio.
- 2016
He retired as Nike chairman after 52 years at the company.
- 2023
The Knights pledged $400 million for Portland’s Albina neighborhood.
- 2025
They pledged another $2 billion to OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute.
Phil Knight net worth FAQ
What is Phil Knight's net worth?
Phil Knight's net worth is an estimated $25.7 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Phil Knight profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did Phil Knight get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Nike.
Is Phil Knight a billionaire?
Yes. Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimates Phil Knight is worth $25.7 billion.
How has Phil Knight's net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $33.4 billion (2019, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019). The latest is $25.7 billion (October 20, 2026).
What company made Phil Knight rich?
Nike made Phil Knight rich. Forbes ties his wealth to his longtime stake in the company.
Did Phil Knight work outside Nike?
Yes. He owned Laika, the stop motion studio behind Coraline. He also worked as an accountant before Blue Ribbon Sports grew.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Phil Knight profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, Phil Knight profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020, Phil Knight profile (April 8, 2020)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021, Phil Knight profile (April 6, 2021)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022, Phil Knight profile (April 5, 2022)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023, Phil Knight profile (April 4, 2023)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, Phil Knight profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, Phil Knight profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, Phil Knight profile (March 10, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings (Q2 2026) (July 2026)
- Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances (median family net worth, Table 4) (October 2026)
- Background facts: Wikipedia, Phil Knight (accessed October 20, 2026). Used for career facts only, never for figures.
Photo: Neon Tommy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Every number on this page is an estimate published by the source named next to it. We never fill in years with our own guesses. How we handle estimates.