Phil Knight Net Worth

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.