Jump to content

Phil Knight: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
alma mater
Personal life: Added pertinent information about subject’s wife when they met.
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American billionaire business magnate (born 1938)}}
{{About|the businessman|other people}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Phil Knight
| name = Phil Knight
| image = philknightfootball.jpg
| image = philknightfootball.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| image_size = 200px
| caption =
| caption = Knight in 2010
| birth_name = Philip Hampson Knight
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1938|2|24|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1938|2|24}}
| birth_place = [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| occupation = Co-founder and [[chairman]] of [[Nike, Inc.]]
| birth_place = [[Portland, Oregon]], U.S.
| death_date =
| alma_mater = [[University of Oregon]] <br />
| death_place =
[[Stanford University]]
| education = {{ubl|[[University of Oregon]] ([[Bachelor of Business Administration|BBA]])|[[Stanford University]] ([[Master of Business Administration|MBA]])}}
| networth = {{profit}} US$14.4 billion <small>(2012)</small><ref name="Forbes profile page on Phil Knight">[http://www.forbes.com/profile/Phil-Knight Forbes profile page on Phil Knight] Forbes.com. Accessed 2010.</ref>
| spouse = Penny Knight
| occupation = Businessman
| spouse = {{marriage|Penny Parks|September 13, 1968}}
| children = Three (one deceased)
| children = 2, including [[Travis Knight]]
| website = [http://www.nikebiz.com Nike Corporation]
| father = [[William W. Knight (publisher)|William W. Knight]]
| footnotes =
| website =
}}
}}
'''Philip Hampson "Phil" Knight''' (born February 24, 1938) is an American [[business magnate]]. A native of [[Oregon]], he is the co-founder and [[chairman]] of [[Nike, Inc.]], and previously served as the chief executive officer of Nike. By 2011, Knight's stake in Nike gave him an estimated net worth of [[US$]]14.4 [[1000000000 (number)|billion]], making him the 47th richest person in the world and the 19th richest American.<ref name="Forbes profile page on Phil Knight"/><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.forbes.com/profile/phil-knight/ | work=Forbes}}</ref>


'''Philip Hampson Knight''' (born February 24, 1938) is an American billionaire [[businessman]] and philanthropist who is the co-founder and chairman ''[[emeritus]]'' of [[Nike, Inc.]], a global [[sports equipment]] and [[apparel]] company. He was previously its chairman and CEO.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/13176681/nike-phil-knight-77-handing-chairman-duties|title=Nike's Knight, 77, handing off chairman duties|date=June 30, 2015|access-date=July 1, 2015|archive-date=July 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730090839/http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/13176681/nike-phil-knight-77-handing-chairman-duties|url-status=live}}</ref> As of December 2024, ''[[Forbes]]'' estimated his net worth at $35.1 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/phil-knight/?list=rtb#7d0646041dcb |title=Phil Knight & family |work=Forbes |access-date=July 23, 2020 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724023506/https://www.forbes.com/profile/phil-knight/?list=rtb#7d0646041dcb |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/phil-knight/| title=Forbes 400: Phil Knight| access-date=August 13, 2018| work=[[Forbes]]| archive-date=December 20, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220194142/http://www.forbes.com/profile/phil-knight/| url-status=live}}</ref> He is also the owner of the [[stop motion]] film production company [[Laika (company)|Laika]]. 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.
A graduate of the [[University of Oregon]] and [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]], he has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the schools; Knight gave the largest donation in history at the time to Stanford's business school in 2006. A native Oregonian, he ran track under coach [[Bill Bowerman]] at the University of Oregon, with whom he would co-found Nike.


Knight has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to each of his ''alma maters'', as well as [[Oregon Health & Science University]]. He has donated over $2 billion to these three institutions.<ref name="total gifts to charity and oregon super gift">{{cite news|last1=Rogoway|first1=Mike|title=Phil and Penny Knight's charitable contributions top $2 billion|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2016/10/phil_and_penny_knights_charita.html|access-date=11 July 2017|newspaper=The Oregonian|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918064811/http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2016/10/phil_and_penny_knights_charita.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Early years==
Phil Knight is the son of a lawyer and newspaper publisher.<ref name=stanford>{{cite journal|last=Krentzman|first=Jackie|year=1997|title=The Force Behind the Nike Empire|journal=''Stanford Magazine''|url=http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/1997/janfeb/articles/knight.html|accessdate=2008-05-28}}</ref> He attended [[Cleveland High School (Portland, Oregon)|Cleveland High School]] in Portland, and then the University of Oregon in [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], where he was a member of [[Phi Gamma Delta]] ("FIJI") fraternity and earned a journalism degree in 1959.<ref name=stanford/> As a middle-distance runner at the school, his personal best was 4:10 mile,<ref>{{cite web | title = Notable Oregonians: Phil Knight&nbsp;— Innovator, Business Leader | publisher = ''Oregon Blue Book'' | url = http://bluebook.state.or.us/notable/notknight.htm | accessdate = 2008-06-01}}</ref> winning [[varsity letter]]s for track in 1957, 1958, and 1959.


==Early life and education==
===Budding entrepreneur===
[[File:Track runners 1958 - Phil Knight second from right.jpg|thumb|Knight (second from right) running track in 1958]]
Phil Hampson Knight was born on February 24, 1938, in [[Portland, Oregon]], to [[William W. Knight (publisher)|Bill Knight]], a lawyer turned newspaper publisher, and his wife, Lota Cloy (née Hatfield) Knight.<ref name=stanford>{{cite journal|last=Krentzman|first=Jackie|year=1997|title=The Force Behind the Nike Empire|journal=Stanford Magazine|url=http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/1997/janfeb/articles/knight.html|access-date=May 28, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625221415/http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/1997/janfeb/articles/knight.html|archive-date=June 25, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=answers>[http://www.answers.com/topic/phil-knight "Phil Knight".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828231339/http://www.answers.com/topic/phil-knight |date=August 28, 2017 }} Accessed May 13, 2012.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://umpquavalleymuseums.pastperfectonline.com/photo/EDDA96B9-D3E3-44D7-AF35-694743329904|title=N13657 - REMARKS:Elijah "Lige" Hatfield holding his great-grandson Phillip Hanson Knight (Who became the president of Nike Corp.); Harry F. Hatfield is at right and his daughter, Lota Clay Hatfield Knight, is at left. Four generations at Dixonville, Oregon, 1938. &#124; Douglas County Museum of History & Natural History|access-date=December 12, 2020|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214172159/https://umpquavalleymuseums.pastperfectonline.com/photo/EDDA96B9-D3E3-44D7-AF35-694743329904|url-status=live}}</ref> He grew up in the Portland neighborhood of [[Eastmoreland, Portland, Oregon|Eastmoreland]], and attended [[Cleveland High School (Portland, Oregon)|Cleveland High School]]. 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," Knight "went to the rival ''[[The Oregonian|Oregonian]]'', where he worked the morning shift tabulating sports scores and every morning ran home the full seven miles."<ref>Susan Hauser (4 May 1992). [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20112607,00.html "Must Be the Shoes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084501/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20112607,00.html |date=March 4, 2016 }}. ''People''. Accessed 12 January 2018.</ref>


Knight continued his education at the [[University of Oregon]] in [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], where he ran for the famed Oregon track and field program, was a sports reporter for the ''[[Oregon Daily Emerald]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phigam.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=1995|title=Phi Gamma Delta|website=www.phigam.org|access-date=2019-02-01|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202042407/https://www.phigam.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=1995|url-status=live}}</ref> and was a member of [[Phi Gamma Delta]] fraternity. Knight earned a business degree (B.B.A.) in 1959 in just three years.<ref name="Knight's B.B.A. degree">{{cite web |title=Eighty-Second Commencement |url=https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/13368/UOCAT_Jun_1959_Comm.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |website=scholarsbank.uoregon.edu |publisher=University of Oregon |access-date=5 April 2022 |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814062414/https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/13368/UOCAT_Jun_1959_Comm.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year, Knight also received his Army Reserve Commission and was a [[Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps#Distinguished Military Graduate Award|"''Distinguished Military Graduate''"]].<ref name="Knight's B.B.A. degree" />
Immediately after graduating from Oregon, Knight enlisted in the Army and served one year on active duty and seven years in the [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]].<ref name=stanford/> After the year of active duty, he enrolled at [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]].<ref name=stanford/> In Frank Shallenberger's Small Business class, Knight developed a love affair with something besides sports&nbsp;— he discovered he was an entrepreneur. Knight recalls in a ''Stanford Magazine'' article:<ref name=stanford/> "That class was an 'aha!' moment ... Shallenberger defined the type of person who was an entrepreneur--and I realized he was talking to me. I remember after saying to myself: 'This is really what I would like to do.' " In this class, Knight needed to create a business plan. His paper, "Can Japanese Sports Shoes Do to German Sports Shoes What Japanese Cameras Did to German Cameras?," essentially was the premise to his foray into selling running shoes. He graduated with a master's degree in business administration from the school in 1962.<ref name=stanford/>


As a middle-distance runner at Oregon, his personal best was {{convert|1|mi|km}} in 4 minutes, 13 seconds,<ref>{{cite web | title = Notable Oregonians: Phil Knight&nbsp;— Innovator, Business Leader | publisher = Oregon Blue Book | url = https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/explore/notable/knight.aspx | access-date = June 1, 2008 | archive-date = October 26, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181026025052/https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/explore/notable/knight.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref> and he won [[varsity letter]]s for his track performances in 1957, 1958, and 1959. In 1977, together with Bowerman and Geoff Hollister, Knight founded an American running team called [[Athletics West]].<ref name=history>{{cite web|author1=Jeed S|title=History of Athletics West|url=https://jeeeed.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/history-of-athletics-west/|website=A Pride As An Asian|publisher=Wordpress|access-date=December 12, 2014|date=November 4, 2010|archive-date=August 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812181904/https://jeeeed.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/history-of-athletics-west/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Knight set out on a trip around the world after graduation, during which he made a stop in [[Kobe]], [[Japan]], in November 1962. It was there he discovered the Tiger-brand running shoes, manufactured in Kobe by the Onitsuka Co. So impressed with the quality and low cost, Knight made a cold call on Mr. Onitsuka, who agreed to meet with him. By the end of the meeting, Knight had secured Tiger distribution rights for the western United States.{{citation needed|date=October 2009}}


==Career==
The first Tiger samples would take more than a year to be shipped to Knight, during which time he found a job as an accountant in Portland. When Knight finally received the shoe samples, he mailed two pairs to Bill Bowerman in Eugene hoping to gain a sale and an influential endorsement. To Knight's surprise, Bowerman not only ordered the Tiger shoes but also offered to become a partner with Knight and would provide some design ideas for better running shoes. The two men shook hands on a partnership on January 25, 1964, the birth date of Blue Ribbon Sports, forerunner to Nike.<ref>www.nikebiz.com</ref>
===Early career===
Before Blue Ribbon Sports—later Nike—flourished, Knight worked as a [[Certified Public Accountant]], first with [[Coopers & Lybrand]], and then [[Price Waterhouse]]. Knight then became an accounting professor at [[Portland State University]].<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002095212_nike19.html Anne M. Peterson, "Nike's Phil Knight resigns as Coo," ''Seattle Times'', November 19, 2021.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705011758/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002095212_nike19.html |date=July 5, 2012 }} Accessed May 13, 2022.</ref>


==Nike's origin==
===Nike Inc.===
Immediately after graduating from the University of Oregon, Knight enlisted in the Army and served one year on active duty and seven years in the [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]].<ref name=stanford/> He next enrolled at [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]],<ref name=stanford/> where, for his small business class, Knight produced a paper, "Can Japanese Sports Shoes Do to German Sports Shoes What Japanese Cameras Did to German Cameras?", that essentially foretold his eventual foray into selling running shoes. His ambition was to import high-quality and low-cost running shoes from Japan into the American market. He graduated with a master's degree in business administration from Stanford in 1962.<ref name=stanford/>
Knight's first sales were made out of a now legendary green [[Plymouth Valiant]] automobile at track meets across the [[Pacific Northwest]]. By 1969, these early sales allowed Knight to leave his accountant job and work full time for Blue Ribbon Sports.


Knight set out on a trip around the world after graduation, during which he made a stop in [[Kobe, Japan]], in November 1962. It was there that he discovered [[Onitsuka Tiger|Tiger brand]] running shoes, manufactured in Kobe by the [[Onitsuka Tiger Corsair|Onitsuka Co.]], now known as [[Asics]]. Impressed by the quality and low cost of the shoes, Knight called Mr. Onitsuka, who agreed to meet with him. By the end of the meeting, Knight had secured Tiger distribution rights for the western United States.<ref name="uv">{{cite web|url=http://xroads.virginia.edu/~class/am483_97/projects/hincker/nikhist.html|work=University of Virginia|title=Nike History and Timeline|access-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009144413/http://xroads.virginia.edu/~class/am483_97/projects/hincker/nikhist.html|archive-date=October 9, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Jeff Johnson, a friend of Knight, suggested calling the firm Nike, named after the Greek [[Nike (mythology)|winged goddess of victory]]. Nike's logo, now considered one of the most powerful logos in the world more for its ubiquity than its aesthetic merits, was commissioned for a mere $35 from [[Carolyn Davidson]] in 1971.<ref>{{cite news

The first Tiger samples would take more than a year to be shipped to Knight; during that time he found a job as an accountant in Portland. When Knight finally received the shoe samples, he mailed two pairs to Bowerman at the University of Oregon, hoping to gain both a sale and an influential endorsement. To Knight's surprise, Bowerman not only ordered the Tiger shoes, but also offered to become a partner with Knight and provide product design ideas. The two men agreed to a partnership by handshake on January 25, 1964, the birth date of [[Blue Ribbon Sports]], the company that would later become Nike.<ref name="His">{{cite web|title=History & Heritage|url=http://nikeinc.com/pages/history-heritage|work=Nike, Inc|publisher=Nike|access-date=May 19, 2014|year=2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515080658/http://nikeinc.com/pages/history-heritage|archive-date=May 15, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Knight's first sales, were made out of a now storied green [[Plymouth Valiant]] automobile at track meets across the [[Pacific Northwest]]. By 1969, these early sales allowed Knight to leave his accountant job and work full-time for Blue Ribbon Sports.<ref name="uv"/>

Jeff Johnson, Nike's first employee, suggested calling the firm "Nike," named after the Greek [[Nike (mythology)|winged goddess of victory]],<ref name="Shoe Dog">{{cite book|first=Phil|last=Knight|title=Shoe Dog: Young Readers Edition|publisher=[[Simon and Schuster]]|year=2017|pages=229–230|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q4Q2DwAAQBAJ&q=Falconbengaldimensionsix&pg=PA228|isbn=9781534401181|access-date=October 22, 2020|archive-date=February 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219041928/https://books.google.com/books?id=Q4Q2DwAAQBAJ&q=Falconbengaldimensionsix&pg=PA228#v=onepage&q=Falconbengaldimensionsix&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> and Blue Ribbon Sports was subsequently renamed Nike in 1971.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2017/06/30/phil-knights-net-worth-jumps-1-9-billion-after-announcement-of-nike-deal-with-amazon/#6c8018255f45|title=Phil Knight's Net Worth Jumps $1.9 Billion After Announcement Of Nike Deal With Amazon|last=Vinton|first=Kate|work=Forbes|access-date=2017-10-01|language=en|archive-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001165811/https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2017/06/30/phil-knights-net-worth-jumps-1-9-billion-after-announcement-of-nike-deal-with-amazon/#6c8018255f45|url-status=live}}</ref>

Nike's "[[swoosh]]" logo, now considered one of the most valuable logos in the world, was commissioned for $35 from graphic design student [[Carolyn Davidson (graphic designer)|Carolyn Davidson]] in 1971.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3527512.stm
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3527512.stm
| title = Nike gives board seniors the boot
| title = Nike gives board seniors the boot
| date = 2004-08-02
| date = August 2, 2004
| publisher = BBC
| publisher = BBC
| accessdate = 2009-06-28
| access-date = June 28, 2009
| archive-date = December 8, 2017
}}</ref> According to Nike's Web site, Knight stated: "I don't love it, but it will grow on me." In september 1983, Davidson was given an undisclosed amount of Nike stock for her contribution to the company's brand. On the Oprah TV program in April 2011, Knight claimed he gave her "a few hundred shares" when the company went public.
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171208231634/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3527512.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> According to Nike's website, Knight said at the time: "I don't love it, but it will grow on me." In September 1983, Davidson was given an undisclosed amount of Nike stock for her contribution to the company's brand. On the ''[[Oprah Winfrey|Oprah]]'' television program in April 2011, Knight said he gave Davidson "a few hundred shares" when the company went public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.magneticstate.com/blogdept/what-does-the-nike-logo-mean/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324070144/http://www.magneticstate.com/blogdept/what-does-the-nike-logo-mean/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2015|title=What Does the Nike Logo Mean?|access-date=September 6, 2016}}</ref>


At Nike, Knight developed personal relationships with some of the world's most recognizable athletes, including [[Michael Jordan]] and [[Tiger Woods]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/nike-founder-phil-knight-talks-working-with-mj-tiger-woods-more-news.34417.html|title=Nike Founder Phil Knight Talks Working With MJ, Tiger Woods +More|work=HotNewHipHop|access-date=2018-07-12|archive-date=July 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712184138/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/nike-founder-phil-knight-talks-working-with-mj-tiger-woods-more-news.34417.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/phil-knight-talks-about-why-nike-is-standing-behind-tiger-woods|title=Phil Knight talks about why Nike is standing behind Tiger Woods|date=2009-12-14|work=Washington Examiner|access-date=2018-07-12|language=en|archive-date=July 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712182904/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/phil-knight-talks-about-why-nike-is-standing-behind-tiger-woods|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Labor issues===
Knight was named a "corporate crook" in [[Michael Moore]]'s 1996 book ''[[Downsize This!]]''. The book cited the harsh conditions in [[Indonesia]]n [[sweatshop]]s, where pregnant women and girls as young as age 14 sewed shoes for factories that the company contracted to make its products. Moore went to Knight in the hopes of convincing him to fix this problem. The interview can be seen in Moore's film ''[[The Big One (film)|The Big One]]''&nbsp;. Of the nearly 20 CEOs whom Moore wished to interview for his movie, only Knight agreed to speak with Moore.


===Vinton Studios becomes Laika===
When questioned by Moore as to why no shoes were made in the United States, Knight responded that he was convinced Americans weren't interested in producing shoes. Moore responded with a challenge. If Moore could find 500 residents from his hometown of Flint, Michigan, who were willing to work in a Nike factory, would Nike then create a factory there. Knight accepted the challenge by saying he would seriously consider it. However, when Moore provided video evidence showing residents of Flint enthusiastically promising to work for a Nike factory, Knight backed down saying he would never seriously consider opening a factory there. Knight informed Moore that Nike does not own any of the factories that make its products. Knight told Moore if he were willing to invest in and build a factory in the U.S. that could match the price of footwear made overseas, Nike would consider buying shoes from him.
Following mainstream success in the late 1990s, [[Will Vinton]] Studios animation company sought external investors due to rapid growth. Knight assumed a 15 percent stake in the company in 1998, and his son [[Travis Knight (animator)|Travis]]—who had graduated from Portland State following an unsuccessful attempt at a rap music career—went to work at the studio as an animator.<ref name="Price">{{cite web|title=How the Father of Claymation Lost His Company|url=http://priceonomics.com/how-the-father-of-claymation-lost-his-company/|work=Priceonomics|access-date=May 19, 2014|author=Zachary Crockett|date=May 9, 2014|archive-date=May 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519062753/http://priceonomics.com/how-the-father-of-claymation-lost-his-company/|url-status=live}}</ref>


Citing mismanagement, Knight eventually purchased Will Vinton Studios and assumed control of the company's board with the cooperation of Nike executives. In late 2003, Knight appointed his son to the board and, after Vinton had stepped down—prior to leaving the company with a severance package—Knight rebranded the company [[Laika (company)|Laika]]. He then invested $180 million into Laika, and the studio released its first feature film, ''[[Coraline (film)|Coraline]]'', in [[stop motion]], in 2009. ''Coraline'' was a financial success and Travis Knight was then promoted into the roles of Laika CEO and president.<ref name="Price" /><ref name="Fast">{{cite magazine | first = Chuck | last = Salter | title = The Knights' Tale | magazine = Fast Company | date = December 19, 2007 | url = http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/117/features-the-knights-tale.html | access-date = October 27, 2009 | archive-date = December 1, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091201050843/http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/117/features-the-knights-tale.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
In 1998, Knight pledged to impose more stringent standards for the factories that Nike engages to manufacture its goods, including minimum age standards, factory monitoring, and greater external access to Nike's practices.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

===Death of Matthew Knight===
In May 2004, two years after Knight bought Vinton, his son Matthew, aged 34 years, traveled to [[El Salvador]] to film a fund-raising video for Christian Children of the World, a Portland [[nonprofit organization]]. However, while scuba diving with his colleagues Vincenzo Iannuzzelli and Robert McDonell in [[Lake Ilopango]], near [[San Salvador]], he died from a heart attack {{convert|150|ft|m}} underwater due to an undetected congenital heart defect.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-05-26 |title=Nike heir dies in diving accident |url=https://www.theage.com.au/world/nike-heir-dies-in-diving-accident-20040526-gdxx4o.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref> Knight and Travis traveled to El Salvador to return Matthew's body to the US.<ref name="Fast" /> Laika Studio's 2005 short film ''Moongirl'' was dedicated to Matthew's memory.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/19/the-rise-of-travis-knight-the-son-of-nikes-founder-who-built-an-animation-powerhouse/|title=The rise of Travis Knight, the son of Nike's founder who built an animation powerhouse|last=Cavna|first=Michael|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2017-10-01|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418165054/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/19/the-rise-of-travis-knight-the-son-of-nikes-founder-who-built-an-animation-powerhouse/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Knight resigned as Nike CEO on November 18, 2004, several months after Matthew's funeral <ref name="Fast" /> but retained the position of chairman of the board.<ref>{{cite news | first = Anne M. | last = Peterson | title = Nike's Phil Knight resigns as CEO | newspaper = The Seattle Times | date = November 19, 2004 | url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002095212_nike19.html | access-date = June 1, 2008 | archive-date = July 5, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120705011758/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002095212_nike19.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = Eric | last = Dash | title = Founder of Nike to Hand Off Job to a New Chief | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | date = November 19, 2004 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/19/business/19nike.html | access-date = June 1, 2008 | archive-date = May 28, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150528052651/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/19/business/19nike.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Knight's replacement was [[William Perez]], former CEO of [[S.C. Johnson & Son]], Inc., who was eventually replaced by [[Mark Parker]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = Barbaro | author2 = Dash, Eric | title = Another Outsider Falls Casualty to Nike's Insider Culture | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | date = January 24, 2006 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/24nike.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | access-date = June 2, 2008 | archive-date = October 18, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151018135843/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/24nike.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | url-status = live }}</ref>

In 2011, the [[Matthew Knight Arena]] at the University of Oregon was named in his honor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2011/01/oregon_basketball_ducks_phil_k.html|title=Oregon basketball: Emotions high as Phil Knight opens Matthew Knight Arena|work=OregonLive.com|access-date=2017-04-03|language=en-US|archive-date=March 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311080310/http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2011/01/oregon_basketball_ducks_phil_k.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Post-Nike CEO role===
During the 2009–2010 period, Knight was the largest single contributor to the campaign to defeat [[Oregon Ballot Measures 66 and 67 (2010)|Oregon Ballot Measures 66 and 67]], which, once passed, increased income tax on some corporations and high-income individuals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/the_closing_tally_on_measures.html|title=The closing tally on the Measures 66 and 67 campaigns: $12.5 million|date=March 4, 2010|access-date=January 4, 2011|archive-date=August 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801223017/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/the_closing_tally_on_measures.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2015, Knight and Nike announced that he would step down as the company's chairman, with president and CEO Mark Parker to succeed him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ballerstatus.com/2015/06/30/phil-knight-to-step-down-as-nikes-chairman/ |title=Phil Knight To Step Down As Nike's Chairman |publisher=BallerStatus.com |date=June 30, 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/13176681/nike-phil-knight-77-handing-chairman-duties |title=Phil Knight, 77, to step down from chairman role of Nike |work=ESPN |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=July 1, 2015 |archive-date=July 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730090839/http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/13176681/nike-phil-knight-77-handing-chairman-duties |url-status=live }}</ref> Knight's retirement from the Nike board took effect at the end of June 2016. In September 2017, Knight decided to come out of retirement to put black back in the UNC jerseys for the Phil Knight Classic in Portland, Oregon.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sell|first=Sarah Skidmore|title=Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight Retires From Board|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/nike-founder-phil-knight-retires-board-40260663|access-date=July 1, 2016|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|agency=Associated Press|date=June 30, 2016|archive-date=July 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705142047/http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/nike-founder-phil-knight-retires-board-40260663|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wsj-2016jun30">{{cite news|last=Stynes|first=Tess|title=Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight Officially Retires as Chairman|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/nike-co-founder-officially-retires-as-chairman-1467320857|access-date=July 1, 2016|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=June 30, 2016|archive-date=April 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401185159/https://www.wsj.com/articles/nike-co-founder-officially-retires-as-chairman-1467320857|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Memoir===
Knight's memoir, ''[[Shoe Dog (book)|Shoe Dog]]'', was released on April 26, 2016, by [[Simon & Schuster]], was rated fifth on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]] for business books in July 2018,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2018/07/15/business-books/ |title=Books Best Sellers - Business |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=16 October 2018 |archive-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017002000/https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2018/07/15/business-books/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and details the building of the Nike brand, from importing Japanese shoes to being part of a federal investigation.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Riley|title=Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight's Memoir Just Got a Release Date|url=http://www.complex.com/sneakers/2016/01/phil-knight-shoe-dog-release-date|website=Complex.com|publisher=Complex|access-date=February 17, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202152000/http://www.complex.com/sneakers/2016/01/phil-knight-shoe-dog-release-date|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Shoe-Dog|title=An Honest Tale of What It Takes to Succeed in Business|last=Gates|first=Bill|work=gatesnotes.com|access-date=2017-04-14|language=en-US|archive-date=June 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607182352/https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Shoe-Dog|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Philanthropy==
==Philanthropy==
As of July 2021, Knight has a net worth of $60.8 billion.<ref name="philk_net">{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/phil-h-knight/ |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Phil Knight |website=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219041827/https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1990, Knight founded the Philip H. Knight Charitable Foundation Trust.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kish|first=Matthew|date=2018-11-15|title=What 20 years of tax records tell us about Phil Knight's giving|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2018/11/15/what-20-years-of-tax-records-tell-us-about-phil.html|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=December 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206112731/https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2018/11/15/what-20-years-of-tax-records-tell-us-about-phil.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2016, according to ''[[Portland Business Journal]]'', "Knight is the most generous philanthropist in Oregon history. His lifetime gifts now approach $2 billion."<ref>[https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2016/12/28/as-philanthropy-ramps-up-phil-knight-gifts-112.html Kish, Matthew] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510164329/http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2016/12/28/as-philanthropy-ramps-up-phil-knight-gifts-112.html |date=May 10, 2017 }} ''Portland Business Journal'': "As philanthropy ramps up, Phil Knight gifts $112 million in Nike stock", 28 December 2016.</ref> In 2023, Knight was America's second largest donor with $1.2 billion in giving.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Di Mento |first=Maria |date=5 March 2024 |title=Philanthropy 50 |url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/the-philanthropy-50/#id=details_376_2023 |access-date=3 May 2024 |work=Chronicle of Philanthropy}}</ref>
In 2000, Knight was inducted into the [[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]] for his Special Contribution to Sports in Oregon.<ref name=oshof>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonsportshall.org/philip_knight.html|publisher=Oregon Sports Hall of Fame|title=Philip H. Knight - Special Contribution |accessdate=June 28, 2011}}</ref> He is believed to have contributed approximately $230 million to the University of Oregon, the majority of which was for athletics.<ref>{{cite web | first = Rachel | last = Bachman | coauthors = Hunsberger, Brent | title = Phil Knight's influence transforms University of Oregon athletics | publisher = The Oregonian | date = May 4, 2008 | url= http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1209711308201850.xml&coll=7&thispage=2 | accessdate = 2008-06-01 }}</ref> On August 18, 2007, Knight announced that he and his wife, Penny, would be donating an additional $100 million to the University of Oregon Athletics Legacy Fund.<ref>{{cite web | first = Ron | last = Bellamy | title = Knights to give major gift to UO | publisher = ''Eugene Register Guard'' | date = August 20, 2007 | url = http://www.registerguard.com/rgn/index.php/sports_updates/more/knights_to_give_major_gift_to_uo/ | accessdate = 2008-06-01}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> This donation is reportedly the largest in the University's history.


===Stanford University===
His significant contributions have granted him influence and access atypical of an athletic booster. In addition to having the best seats in the stadium for all University or Oregon athletic event, he has his own locker in the football team's locker room. An athletic building is named for him, the library for his mother, the law school for his father, and the basketball teams' home, [[Matthew Knight Arena]], is named for his late son, who died in a diving accident.
In 2006, Knight donated US$105 million to the [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]], which, at the time, was the largest ever individual donation to a U.S. business school. The campus was named "The Knight Management Center," in honor of Knight's philanthropic service to the school.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/newsroom/school-news/nike-founder-phil-knight-give-105-million-stanford-gsb|title=Nike Founder Phil Knight to Give $105 Million to Stanford GSB|newspaper=Stanford Graduate School of Business|language=en|access-date=January 24, 2017|archive-date=June 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611001044/https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/newsroom/school-news/nike-founder-phil-knight-give-105-million-stanford-gsb|url-status=live}}</ref>


In 2016, it was announced that Knight contributed $400 million to start the [[Knight-Hennessy Scholars]] graduate-level education program inspired by the [[Rhodes Scholarship]].<ref name="knight scholar">{{cite news|last1=Stanley|first1=Alessandra|title=Philip Knight of Nike to Give $400 Million to Stanford Scholars|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/24/business/philip-knight-of-nike-to-give-400-million-to-stanford-scholars.html|access-date=February 24, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 24, 2016|archive-date=October 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030115203/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/24/business/philip-knight-of-nike-to-give-400-million-to-stanford-scholars.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Graduates are charged to tackle global challenges, such as [[climate change]] and [[poverty]]. The first class of 51 scholars from 21 countries was scheduled to arrive at Stanford in the fall of 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Garcia|first1=Ahiza|title=Nike's Phil Knight gives $400 million to Stanford University|url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/02/24/news/nike-phil-knight-stanford-donation/|work=CNNMoney|access-date=February 24, 2016|date=February 24, 2016|archive-date=December 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213134817/https://money.cnn.com/2016/02/24/news/nike-phil-knight-stanford-donation/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Amini |first1=Mariam |title=Alphabet's John Hennessy talks about helping international students with scholarships |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/03/alphabets-john-hennessy-talks-about-helping-international-students-with-scholarships.html |publisher=CNBC |date=3 Mar 2018 |access-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210412/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/03/alphabets-john-hennessy-talks-about-helping-international-students-with-scholarships.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/faq FAQ for Knight-Hennessy Scholars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810195134/https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/faq |date=August 10, 2016 }} Stanford. Retrieved February 24, 2016</ref>
However, Knight's contributions to the athletic department at the University of Oregon have encouraged controversy.<ref>{{cite web | first = Mike | last = Fish | title = Just do it! | publisher = ESPN.com
| date = January 13, 2006 | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2285500 | accessdate = 2008-06-01}}</ref>


In May 2022, it was announced that Phil and Penny Knight gifted Stanford $75 million to establish the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience. The initiative will be housed at Stanford's Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and is set to study the cognitive decline and degenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.<ref>{{cite journal|date=2 May 2022|url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/phil-and-penny-knight-give-stanford-75-million-to-study-the-causes-of-cognitive-decline|title=Phil and Penny Knight Give Stanford $75 Million to Study the Causes of Cognitive Decline|journal=The Chronicle of Philanthropy|access-date=5 May 2022|archive-date=May 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502151323/https://www.philanthropy.com/article/phil-and-penny-knight-give-stanford-75-million-to-study-the-causes-of-cognitive-decline|url-status=live}}</ref>
Public outcry surrounding Nike's labor practices precipitated protests in 2000, which were led by a group of students calling themselves the Human Rights Alliance. Protests included a ten-day tent-city occupation on the lawns in front of Johnson Hall, the main administration building, demanding that the university join the [[Worker Rights Consortium]] (WRC) which was founded by [[United Students Against Sweatshops]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2000/04/05/News/Were-Not.Going.To.Leave-1971980.shtml |title= We're not going to leave |accessdate=March 24, 2009 |last=Ripke |first=Simone |date=2000-04-05 |publisher=''Oregon Daily Emerald''}}</ref>


===University of Oregon===
University President [[Dave Frohnmayer]] signed a one-year contract with the WRC. Knight's reaction was to withdraw a previous US$30 million commitment toward the Autzen Stadium expansion project and to offer no further donations to the university.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2001/04/04/News/Old-Issues.New.Strategies-1973596.shtml |title= Old issues, new strategies |accessdate=March 24, 2009 |last=Lang |first=Jeremy |date=2001-04-04 |publisher=''Oregon Daily Emerald''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2000/04/24/News/Knight.Pulls.All.Money-1963987.shtml |title= Knight pulls all money |accessdate=March 24, 2009 |last=Romano |first=Ben |date=2000-04-24 |publisher=''Oregon Daily Emerald''}}</ref> Nike had endorsed the industry-supported [[Fair Labor Association]], instead.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2000/04/25/News/Nike-Backs.Worker.Rights.Through.Fla.But.Not.Wrc-1963988.shtml |title= Nike backs worker rights through FLA, but not WRC |accessdate=March 24, 2009 |last=Romano |first=Ben |date=2000-04-25 |publisher=''Oregon Daily Emerald''}}</ref> In a public statement, Knight criticized the WRC for having unrealistic provisions and called it misguided while praising the FLA for being "balanced" in its approach.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2000/04/24/News/Statement.From.Nike.Founder.And.Ceo.Philip.H.Knight.Regarding.The.University.Of-1963996.shtml |title= Statement from Nike founder and CEO Philip H. Knight regarding the University of Oregon |accessdate=March 24, 2009 |date=2000-04-24 |publisher=''Oregon Daily Emerald''}}</ref> The students disagreed, saying the FLA has conflicting interests, but President Frohnmayer sided with Knight assertion that the WRC was providing unbalanced representation.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2000/09/25/News/Great.Debate.Wrc.Vs.Fla-1971583.shtml |title= Great debate: WRC vs. FLA |accessdate=March 24, 2009 |last=Romano |first=Ben |date=2000-09-25 |publisher=''Oregon Daily Emerald''}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/20/opinion/foreign-affairs-knight-is-right.html |title= Foreign Affairs; Knight Is Right |accessdate=March 24, 2009 |last=Friedman |first=Thomas |date=2000-06-20 |publisher=''The New York Times''}}</ref>
{{See also|Nike and the University of Oregon}}
As of 2023, Knight has donated over one billion dollars to the University of Oregon.<ref name="Knight second major gift">{{cite news |last1=Lorin |first1=Janet |title=Knight Gives Another $500 Million to University of Oregon |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-06/phil-knight-gives-another-500-million-to-university-of-oregon?leadSource=uverify%20wall |access-date=6 February 2023 |publisher=Bloomberg }}</ref> It is believed that Knight made his first major contribution in the late 1980s.<ref name="Library" /> By 2000 Knight had already contributed over $50 million to UO.<ref name="Knight pulls all money">{{cite news |title=Knight pulls all money |url=https://www.dailyemerald.com/archives/knight-pulls-all-money/article_fd024756-0a05-503e-98c3-83e6b4957787.html |access-date=6 February 2023 |publisher=The Daily Emerald |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206204908/https://www.dailyemerald.com/archives/knight-pulls-all-money/article_fd024756-0a05-503e-98c3-83e6b4957787.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He was UO's 2018–19 honorary degree recipient.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philip H. Knight {{!}} Office of the President |url=https://president.uoregon.edu/honorary-degrees/philip-h-knight |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=president.uoregon.edu}}</ref>


====UO Academics====
Citing a legal opinion from the university's counsel, President Frohnmayer released a statement in October 2000 saying that the university could not pay its membership dues to the WRC since the WRC was neither an incorporated entity nor had tax-exempt status and to do so was a violation of state law. The [[Oregon University System]] on February 16, 2001, enacted a mandate that all institutions within the Oregon university system choose business partners from a politically neutral standpoint, barring all universities in Oregon from membership in the WRC and the FLA.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2001/03/05/News/Ous-Policy.Wont.Stop.Labor.Debate-1973368.shtml |title= OUS policy won't stop labor debate |accessdate=March 24, 2009 |last=Adams |first=Andrew |date=2001-03-05 |publisher=''Oregon Daily Emerald''}}</ref> Following the dissolved relationship between the university and the WRC, Phil Knight reinstated the donation and increased the amount to over $50 million dollars.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002095212_nike19.html |title= Nike's Phil Knight resigns as CEO |accessdate=March 24, 2009 |last=Peterson |first=Anne |date=2004-11-19 |publisher=''The Seattle Times''}}</ref>
Major gifts include funds supporting the renovation of the [[Knight Library]] and construction of the Knight Law Center. Contrary to press reports, which claim that Knight financed the whole library renovation project, Knight only financed a portion of the library's renovation.<ref name="Knight gifts (Oregonian)">{{cite news |last1=Rogoway |first1=Mike |title=Phil and Penny Knight's charitable contributions top $2 billion |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2016/10/phil_and_penny_knights_charita.html |access-date=6 February 2023 |publisher=The Oregonian |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206202459/https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2016/10/phil_and_penny_knights_charita.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Knight gifts PBJ">{{cite news |last1=Kish |first1=Matthew |title=A closer look at the Knight family's giving to the University of Oregon |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/07/06/nike-phil-knight-oregon-donations.html |access-date=6 February 2023 |publisher=Portland Business Journal |ref=Knight gifts PBJ |archive-date=July 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706120931/https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/07/06/nike-phil-knight-oregon-donations.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Library">{{cite web |title=Knight Library Renovation and Expansion |url=https://library.uoregon.edu/knight/expansion |website=UO Libraries |publisher=University of Oregon Libraries |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206202453/https://library.uoregon.edu/knight/expansion |url-status=live }}</ref> Knight also established endowed chairs across the campus.<ref name="oregon academic gifts">{{cite news|last1=Brettman|first1=Allan|title=Phil and Penny Knight, thanks to Nike fortune, have given more than $1 billion in philanthropy|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/index.ssf/2014/08/phil_and_penny_knight_thanks_t.html|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=August 12, 2014|access-date=February 24, 2016|archive-date=December 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217011626/http://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/index.ssf/2014/08/phil_and_penny_knight_thanks_t.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the fall of 2016, it was announced that Knight will donate $500 million to UO for a new three-building laboratory and research science complex.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Theen|first1=Andrew|title=Phil and Penny Knight will give $500 million to University of Oregon for science complex|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2016/10/phil_and_penny_knight_will_giv.html#incart_breaking|access-date=October 18, 2016|newspaper=The Oregonian|archive-date=December 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217022907/http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2016/10/phil_and_penny_knight_will_giv.html#incart_breaking|url-status=live}}</ref> This donation was part of a series of large higher-education gifts.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://harvardmagazine.com/2017/01/brevia|title=JOHN HARVARD'S JOURNAL Brevia|date=January–February 2017|magazine=Harvard Magazine|access-date=January 31, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918065217/http://harvardmagazine.com/2017/01/brevia|url-status=live}}</ref>


====UO Athletic Department (Oregon Ducks)====
Also controversial was Knight's successful lobbying to have his friend and a former insurance salesman, Pat Kilkenny, named as athletic director at the universtiy.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3326346&categoryid=null | title=OTL: Phil Knight and Oregon| date=2 April 2008| publisher=[[ESPN]]| work=[[Outside the Lines]]| format=[[Flash video]]| accessdate=2009-11-12}}</ref> Kilkenny, another wealthy athletic booster, had neither a college degree nor any germane experience. Kilkenny attended but did not graduate from the university, leaving the school several hours short of completion. He had been the chairman and chief executive officer of the San Diego-based Arrowhead General Insurance Agency and grew his business into a nationwide organization with written premiums of nearly US$1 billion when he sold the company in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | title = Oregon Names Kilkenny Athletic Director | publisher = GoDucks.com | date = 14 February 2007 | url = http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&KEY=&ATCLID=796552&SPID=252&SPSID=3797 | accessdate = 2008-06-01}}</ref> ESPN's ''[[Outside the Lines]]'' spotlighted Knight and his donation-backed influence on the university's athletics in an April 6, 2008, episode.
Knight contributed towards the Moshofsky Center, which opened in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |title=Moshofsky Center |url=https://goducks.com/sports/2011/6/21/205174864.aspx |website=Go Ducks |publisher=University of Oregon Athletics |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206212050/https://goducks.com/sports/2011/6/21/205174864.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Knight gifts (Oregonian)" />


[[File:Autzen Stadium Exterior.jpg|thumb|Exterior of [[Autzen Stadium]], [[University of Oregon]] ]]
In 2006, Phil Knight donated $105 million to the [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]].<ref>{{cite web | first = Christian L. | last = Tom | title = Nike Founder Donates $105 million to GSB | publisher = ''[[The Stanford Daily]]'' | date = September 19, 2006 | url = http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2006/9/19/nikeFounderDonates105MillionToGsb | accessdate = 2008-06-01}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> He also provided monetary support to his high school alma mater, [[Cleveland High School (Portland, Oregon)|Cleveland High School]], for its new track, football field, and gymnasium.
In August 2007, Knight announced that he and his wife would be donating US$100 million to found the UO Athletics Legacy Fund to help support all athletic programs at the university. In response, athletic director Pat Kilkenny said: "This extraordinary gift will set Oregon athletics on a course toward certain self sufficiency and create the flexibility and financial capacity for the university to move forward with the new athletic arena." At the time, the donation was the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the university.<ref>{{cite web|title=Knight's $100 million gift to bankroll Oregon athletics fund|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=2984161|work=ESPN College Sports|access-date=May 19, 2014|agency=Associated Press|date=August 21, 2007|archive-date=December 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208063857/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2984161|url-status=live}}</ref>


The 2010 construction of the UO basketball team's [[Matthew Knight Arena]] was the result of a partnership between Knight and former Oregon athletic director Pat Kilkenny. Although Knight didn't pay for the project directly, he established a $100 million "Athletic Legacy Fund." The fund supports the athletic department.<ref name="athletic legacy fund uo">{{cite news|last1=Bolt|first1=Greg|title=Legacy Fund gives UO a leg up on financing|url=http://projects.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/25701218-57/million-seats-suites-arena-opened.csp|access-date=February 25, 2016|newspaper=The Register-Guard|date=January 4, 2011|archive-date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510120517/http://projects.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/25701218-57/million-seats-suites-arena-opened.csp|url-status=live}}</ref> Named after Knight's deceased son, the venue replaced the McArthur Court building and cost over US$200 million to build. The facility was built using bonds backed by the State of Oregon.<ref name="athletic legacy fund uo" />
In October 2008, Phil and Penny Knight pledged $100 million to the OHSU Cancer Institute, the largest gift in the history of [[Oregon Health & Science University]], renamed Oregon Health Sciences University in 1981. In recognition, the university renamed the organization the OHSU [[Knight Cancer Institute]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/cancergift102908.cfm | title= Knights to give $100 million to OHSU Cancer Institute| date=October 29, 2008 | publisher=[[Oregon Health & Science University]]| accessdate=2009-11-12}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


Knight was responsible for financing the UO's US$68 million 145,000 square-foot [[gridiron football]] facility that was officially opened in late July 2013. Knight's personal locker in the team's locker room displays the title "Uncle Phil", and other features include a gym with Brazilian hardwood floors, Apple [[iPhone]] chargers in each of the players' lockers, various auditoriums and meeting rooms, a games room for the players that includes flat-screen televisions and [[foosball]] machines, and a cafeteria.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oregon's New $68-Million Football Facility Is Like Nothing We've Ever Seen In College Sports|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/new-oregon-football-building-photos-2013-7|work=Business Insider|access-date=May 19, 2014|author=Tony Manfred|date=July 31, 2014|archive-date=May 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519113518/http://www.businessinsider.com/new-oregon-football-building-photos-2013-7|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Phil Knight Has His Own Locker In Oregon's New $68-Million Football Facility|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/phil-knight-own-locker-oregon-football-facility-2013-9|work=Business Insider|access-date=May 19, 2014|author=Tony Manfred|date=September 20, 2013|archive-date=May 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519113815/http://www.businessinsider.com/phil-knight-own-locker-oregon-football-facility-2013-9|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Photos From Inside Oregon's Monstrous $68-Million Football Facility|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-oregon-football-facility-pictures-2013-8|work=Business Insider|access-date=May 19, 2014|author=Tony Manfred|date=August 1, 2013|archive-date=May 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519112917/http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-oregon-football-facility-pictures-2013-8|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Later years==
When Knight resigned as the company's CEO November 18, 2004, and retained the position of chairman of the board,<ref>{{cite news | first = Anne M. | last = Peterson | title = Nike's Phil Knight resigns as CEO | publisher = ''The Seattle Times'' | date = November 19, 2004 | url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002095212_nike19.html | accessdate = 2008-06-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = Eric | last = Dash | title = Founder of Nike to Hand Off Job to a New Chief | publisher = ''[[The New York Times]]'' | date = November 19, 2004 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/19/business/19nike.html | accessdate = 2008-06-01}}</ref> he was replaced by [[William Perez]], former CEO of [[S.C. Johnson & Son]], Inc. Perez was in turn replaced by [[Mark Parker]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = Barbaro | coauthors = Dash, Eric | title = Another Outsider Falls Casualty to Nike's Insider Culture | publisher = ''[[The New York Times]]'' | date = January 24, 2006 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/24nike.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | accessdate = 2008-06-02}}</ref>


In November 2015, it was announced that Knight and his wife would be donating $19.2 million towards a new sports complex project at the University of Oregon. The plans for the 29,000 square foot complex was announced in September. Construction started in January 2016 and ended in September 2016.<ref name=AP>{{cite news|last1=Associated Press|title=Nike co-founder donates millions for new UO sports complex named after Mariota|url=http://katu.com/news/local/nike-co-founder-donates-millions-for-new-uo-sports-complex-named-after-mariota|newspaper=Katu|access-date=December 3, 2015|date=November 12, 2015|archive-date=December 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220053624/http://katu.com/news/local/nike-co-founder-donates-millions-for-new-uo-sports-complex-named-after-mariota|url-status=live}}</ref> The sports complex was named the [[Marcus Mariota]] Sports Performance Center and includes [[motion capture]] systems, neurocognitive assessment tools, [[40-yard dash]] track, and steam machines made by Nike to help athletes break into their footwear more quickly.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2017/02/ducks_says_marcus_mariota_spor.html|title=Oregon Ducks say Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center's function matches its flash|work=OregonLive.com|access-date=2017-04-14|language=en-US|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918064214/http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2017/02/ducks_says_marcus_mariota_spor.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2002, Knight purchased [[Will Vinton]] (Animation) Studios, where son Travis worked as an animator, and changed the name to [[Laika (company)|LAIKA]]. Travis was named to the Laika board of directors later that year and became CEO of LAIKA in March 2009, replacing Nike former-employee Dale Wahl.<ref>{{cite web | first = Chuck | last = Salter | title = The Knights' Tale | publisher = ''Fast Company'' | date = December 19, 2007 | url = http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/117/features-the-knights-tale.html | accessdate = 2009-10-27}}</ref> Laika released its first feature film [[Coraline (film)|Coraline]] (in stop motion) in February 2009.


In 2021, Knight helped to fund the renovation of [[Hayward Field]], a track and field stadium at the university. The project was estimated to cost $270 million, although Knight's total contribution remained private.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Oregonian/OregonLive|first=Jeff Manning {{!}} The|date=2021-03-09|title=Phil Knight's University of Oregon donations push $1 billion mark with new Hayward field project|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/03/knights-university-of-oregon-donations-push-1-billion-mark-with-new-hayward-field-project.html|access-date=2021-03-22|website=oregonlive|language=en|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318224536/https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/03/knights-university-of-oregon-donations-push-1-billion-mark-with-new-hayward-field-project.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2009-2010, Knight was the largest single contributor to the campaign to defeat [[Oregon Ballot Measures 66 and 67 (2010)|Oregon Ballot Measures 66 and 67]], which, once passed, increased income tax on some corporations and on high-income individuals.<ref>[http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/the_closing_tally_on_measures.html ''The Oregonian'', "The closing tally on the Measures 66 and 67 campaigns: $12.5 million" March 03, 2010]</ref>


====Controversy====
On February 24, 2012, Knight was announced as a 2012 inductee of the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] as a [[List of members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame#Contributors|contributor]]. The Hall recognized him as the driving force behind Nike's huge financial support for the sport and its players. Knight will be formally inducted on September 7.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.hoophall.com/news/2012/2/24/five-direct-elects-for-the-class-of-2012-announced-by-the-na.html |title=Five Direct-Elects for the Class of 2012 Announced By the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |publisher=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |date=February 24, 2012 |accessdate=February 24, 2012}}</ref>
Knight's contributions to the athletic department at UO have also led to controversy.<ref>{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Fish|title=Just do it!|work=ESPN|date=January 13, 2006|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2285500|access-date=June 1, 2008|archive-date=April 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430205411/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2285500|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2000, student leaders began organizing an [[anti-sweatshop movement|anti-sweatshop]] and fair labor practices campaign, and called for Dave Frohnmayer, president of the school, to support the [[Workers Rights Consortium]] (WRC). On April 4, 2000, students began a sit-in at Johnson Hall, the UO's administrative center. In early April, an open meeting of students further demanded that the organization [[Fair Labor Association]] (FLA) would receive no consideration from the university, as it was perceived as a group founded, funded and backed by Nike and other corporations, and had also been criticized by worker rights advocates as an exercise in dishonest public relations.<ref name="Sac">{{cite web|title=University of Oregon students demonstrate for fair labor practices, 2000-2001|url=http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/university-oregon-students-demonstrate-fair-labor-practices-2000-2001|work=Global Nonviolent Action Database|publisher=Swarthmore College|access-date=May 19, 2014|author=Sachie Hopkins-Hayakawa|date=February 24, 2011|archive-date=May 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519112452/http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/university-oregon-students-demonstrate-fair-labor-practices-2000-2001|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Alan">{{cite news|title=Swoosh Goes Worker Rights|url=http://www2.eugeneweekly.com/2000/11_16_00/coverstory.html|access-date=November 27, 2022|newspaper=Eugene Weekly|date=November 16, 2000|first=Alan|last=Pittman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317163816/http://www2.eugeneweekly.com/2000/11_16_00/coverstory.html|archive-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

University President [[Dave Frohnmayer]] subsequently signed a one-year contract with the WRC; Knight then withdrew a US$30 million commitment toward the Autzen Stadium expansion project and offered no further donations to the university.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyemerald.com/ |title=Old issues, new strategies |access-date=March 24, 2009 |last=Lang |first=Jeremy |date=April 4, 2001 |newspaper=Oregon Daily Emerald |archive-date=March 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326041855/http://www.dailyemerald.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In a public statement, Knight criticized the WRC for having unrealistic provisions and called it misguided, while praising the FLA for being "balanced" in its approach.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2000/04/24/News/Statement.From.Nike.Founder.And.Ceo.Philip.H.Knight.Regarding.The.University.Of-1963996.shtml |title= Statement from Nike founder and CEO Philip H. Knight regarding the University of Oregon |access-date= March 24, 2009 |date= April 24, 2000 |newspaper= Oregon Daily Emerald |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090311010128/http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2000/04/24/News/Statement.From.Nike.Founder.And.Ceo.Philip.H.Knight.Regarding.The.University.Of-1963996.shtml |archive-date= March 11, 2009 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref> In the face of ongoing conflict with students, Frohnmayer sided with Knight's assertion that the WRC was providing unbalanced representation,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2000/09/25/News/Great.Debate.Wrc.Vs.Fla-1971583.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070611094216/http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2000/09/25/News/Great.Debate.Wrc.Vs.Fla-1971583.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 11, 2007 |title=Great debate: WRC vs. FLA |access-date=March 24, 2009 |last=Romano |first=Ben |date=September 25, 2000 |newspaper=Oregon Daily Emerald }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/20/opinion/foreign-affairs-knight-is-right.html |title=Foreign Affairs; Knight Is Right |access-date=March 24, 2009 |last=Friedman |first=Thomas |date=June 20, 2000 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425152340/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/20/opinion/foreign-affairs-knight-is-right.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and in October 2000 the ''[[Eugene Weekly]]'' reported Frohnmayer stating that:
{{cquote|... he would refuse to pay dues to the WRC based on a legal opinion from UO General Counsel Melinda Grier arguing that to do so would be illegal and open the university to liability. Grier claimed the WRC had not yet incorporated, had not yet filed as a non-profit, and served no public purpose justifying a dues payment.<ref name="Alan" />}}

On February 16, 2001, the [[Oregon University System]] enacted a mandate that all institutions within the system choose business partners from a politically neutral standpoint, barring all universities in Oregon from joining either the WRC or the FLA.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyemerald.com/archives/ous-policy-wont-stop-labor-debate/article_50bd309b-cff8-5b38-804b-ef39d40c119e.html|title=OUS policy won't stop labor debate |access-date=November 27, 2022 |last=Adams |first=Andrew |date=March 5, 2001 |newspaper=Oregon Daily Emerald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010306132722/http://www.dailyemerald.com:80/vnews/display.v/ART/2001/03/05/3aa3ccc8b1ff5|archive-date=March 6, 2001|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the dissolved relationship between the university and the WRC, Knight reinstated the donation and increased the amount to over US$50 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002095212_nike19.html |title=Nike's Phil Knight resigns as CEO |access-date=March 24, 2009 |last=Peterson |first=Anne |date=November 19, 2004 |newspaper=The Seattle Times |archive-date=July 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705011758/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002095212_nike19.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Also controversial was Knight's success in lobbying for former insurance executive Pat Kilkenny to be named as athletic director at the university.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3326346&categoryid=null| title=OTL: Phil Knight and Oregon| date=April 2, 2008| publisher=[[ESPN]]| work=[[Outside the Lines]]| format=[[Flash video]]| access-date=November 12, 2009| archive-date=April 9, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409130440/http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3326346&categoryid=null| url-status=dead}}</ref> Kilkenny had neither a college degree nor any prior experience in athletics administration. He attended but did not graduate from UO, as he left the school with several [[credit hours]] still owing. Prior to his appointment at UO, Kilkenny had been the chairman and chief executive officer of the [[San Diego]]–based Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, and grew the business into a nationwide organization, with written premiums of nearly US$1 billion when he sold the company in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | title = Oregon Names Kilkenny Athletic Director | publisher = GoDucks.com | date = February 14, 2007 | url = http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&KEY=&ATCLID=796552&SPID=252&SPSID=3797 | access-date = June 1, 2008 | archive-date = June 8, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130608162859/http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&KEY=&ATCLID=796552&SPID=252&SPSID=3797 | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Other projects===
[[File:Phil Knight Hangar full side - Hillsboro, Oregon.JPG|thumb|left|Knight's personal [[hangar]] at [[Hillsboro Airport]]]]In October 2008, Knight and his wife pledged US$100 million to the OHSU Cancer Institute, the largest gift in the history of [[Oregon Health & Science University]]. In recognition, the university renamed the organization the "OHSU [[Knight Cancer Institute]]."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2008/cancergift102908.cfm | title=Knights to give $100 million to OHSU Cancer Institute | date=October 29, 2008 | publisher=[[Oregon Health & Science University]] | access-date=November 12, 2009 | archive-date=December 23, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223122501/http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2008/cancergift102908.cfm | url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2010, Knight donated several million dollars to the [[Catlin Gabel School]] to establish a scholarship for incoming freshmen students.<ref>{{cite news|last1=House|first1=Kelly|title=Nike founder Phil Knight donates millions to Catlin Gabel School in Cedar Mill|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/10/nike_founder_donates_millions.html|access-date=January 14, 2017|work=The Oregonian|date=October 28, 2010|archive-date=December 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218191449/http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/10/nike_founder_donates_millions.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Knight's Green.jpg|thumb|right|Knight's Green, a lawn named after Knight at [[Marylhurst University]] in [[Marylhurst, Oregon]]]]

On May 18, 2012, Knight contributed US$65,000 to a higher education [[Political Action Committee|Political Action Committee (PAC)]] formed by [[Columbia Sportswear]] CEO Tim Boyle.<ref name="PAC transactions">{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Kate|title=Oregonians For Higher Education Excellence|url=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cneSearch.do?cneSearchButtonName=search&cneSearchFilerCommitteeId=15708|publisher=Oregon Secretary of State|access-date=May 23, 2012|archive-date=December 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210230701/https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cneSearch.do?cneSearchButtonName=search&cneSearchFilerCommitteeId=15708|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Tim Boyle's PAC">{{cite news|last=Jaquiss|first=Nigel|title=Tim Boyle, Pat Kilkenny Ante Up For Higher Ed PAC|url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-28672-tim_boyle_pat_kilkenny_ante_up_for_higher_ed_pac.html|newspaper=Willamette Week|access-date=May 23, 2012|archive-date=May 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524152029/http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-28672-tim_boyle_pat_kilkenny_ante_up_for_higher_ed_pac.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Boyle, the PAC will help facilitate an increase in the autonomy of schools in the [[Oregon University System]].<ref name="New PAC">{{cite news|last=Jaquiss|first=Nigel|title=New Political Action Committee Will Focus on Higher Ed|url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-28595-new_political_action_committee_will_focus_on_highe.html|newspaper=Willamette Week|access-date=May 23, 2012|archive-date=August 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810050930/http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-28595-new_political_action_committee_will_focus_on_highe.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 27, 2013, Knight announced to the audience at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute's biennial gala, when he announced his intention to donate US$500 million for research if OHSU could match it over the subsequent two years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Phil and Penny Knight to OHSU: $500 million is yours for cancer research if you can match it|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/09/phil_and_penny_knight_to_ohsu_1.html|newspaper=Oregonian|access-date=October 1, 2013|date=September 21, 2013|archive-date=November 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110000141/https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/09/phil_and_penny_knight_to_ohsu_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 25, 2015, OHSU met that $500 million goal, and Knight announced his upcoming $500 million donation, to bring the total to $1 billion raised.<ref name="ABC Knight challenge">{{cite news|title=Knight Challenge Nets Oregon Health & Science University $1B for Cancer Research|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/knight-challenge-nets-oregon-health-science-university-1b/story?id=32011566|access-date=June 25, 2015|agency=ABC news|date=June 25, 2015|archive-date=December 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228172421/http://abcnews.go.com/US/knight-challenge-nets-oregon-health-science-university-1b/story?id=32011566|url-status=live}}</ref>

Knight and wife Penny also donated to the Marylhurst Knights Opportunity Scholarship Program at [[Marylhurst University]], a private Roman Catholic university in [[Marylhurst, Oregon]]; as a result, the university named a lawn on their campus "Knight's Green" in the family's honor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marylhurst.edu/admissions/campus-tour/|work=Marylhurst.edu|title=Campus Tour|access-date=September 29, 2015|quote=Knight's Green: A sprawling green lawn, named in honor of Nike's Phil and Penny Knight whose generosity made possible the Marylhurst Knights Opportunity Scholarship Program.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043846/http://www.marylhurst.edu/admissions/campus-tour/|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In December 2016, Knight disclosed that he had donated $112 million in Nike stock to charity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2016/12/28/as-philanthropy-ramps-up-phil-knight-gifts-112.html|title=Phil Knight gifts $112 million in Nike (NYSE: NKE) stock|website=Portland Business Journal|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230122849/http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2016/12/28/as-philanthropy-ramps-up-phil-knight-gifts-112.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Accolades==
In 2000, Knight was inducted into the [[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]] for his Special Contribution to Sports in Oregon.<ref name=oshof>{{cite web|url=http://oregonsportshall.org/?page_id=183|publisher=Oregon Sports Hall of Fame|title=Philip H. Knight - Special Contribution|access-date=June 28, 2011|archive-date=January 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115023456/http://oregonsportshall.org/?page_id=183|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time of his induction, he had contributed approximately US$230 million to UO, the majority of which was for athletics.<ref>{{cite news | first = Rachel | last = Bachman | author2 = Hunsberger, Brent | title = Phil Knight's influence transforms University of Oregon athletics | newspaper = The Oregonian | date = May 4, 2008 | url = http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1209711308201850.xml&coll=7&thispage=2 | access-date = June 1, 2008 | archive-date = December 24, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081224083905/http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1209711308201850.xml&coll=7&thispage=2 | url-status = live }}</ref>

On February 24, 2012, Knight was announced as a 2012 inductee of the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]], as a [[List of members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame#Contributors|contributor]]. The Hall recognized him as the driving force behind Nike's huge financial support of U.S. basketball and its players. Knight was formally inducted on September 7, 2012.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.hoophall.com/news/2012/2/24/five-direct-elects-for-the-class-of-2012-announced-by-the-na.html |title=Five Direct-Elects for the Class of 2012 Announced By the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |publisher=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |date=February 24, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314083208/http://www.hoophall.com/news/2012/2/24/five-direct-elects-for-the-class-of-2012-announced-by-the-na.html |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 1989, Knight received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement|website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#business|access-date=August 23, 2020|archive-date=December 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215023909/https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#business|url-status=live}}</ref> For his "contributions to business, corporate and philanthropic leadership", Knight was elected to the 2015 [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]] membership class.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Phil Knight recognized by AAAS for business and philanthropic contributions|url = https://around.uoregon.edu/content/phil-knight-recognized-aaas-business-and-philanthropic-contributions|website = Around the O|access-date = February 13, 2016|date = April 22, 2015|archive-date = April 1, 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170401144956/https://around.uoregon.edu/content/phil-knight-recognized-aaas-business-and-philanthropic-contributions|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.amacad.org/multimedia/pdfs/classlist2015.pdf|title = American Academy of Arts and Sciences - Newly Elected Members|date = April 2015|access-date = February 13, 2016|website = American Academy of Arts and Sciences|archive-date = December 15, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161215225910/https://www.amacad.org/multimedia/pdfs/classlist2015.pdf|url-status = live}}</ref>

In 2020, the university polled alumni and fans on social media, asking them which four UO alumni they would place on a notional Mount Rushmore for the university. Knight was one of the four final choices, along with [[Oregon Ducks track and field|Ducks track]] legend [[Steve Prefontaine]]; current NFL player [[Marcus Mariota]], the [[2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2014]] [[Heisman Trophy]] winner; and [[Sabrina Ionescu]], who had just completed an epic college basketball career for the [[Oregon Ducks women's basketball|Ducks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://around.uoregon.edu/sabrina-ionescu |title=The Gospel of Sab |first=Damian |last=Foley |work=Around the O |publisher=University of Oregon |date=April 17, 2020 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422035240/https://around.uoregon.edu/sabrina-ionescu |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2024, Knight received the President's award of the [[World Athletics Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/hassan-tebogo-world-athletics-awards-2024 |title=Hassan and Tebogo named World Athletes of the Year |first= |last= |website=World Athletics |publisher= |date=December 1, 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Knight met his wife, Penelope "Penny" Parks, while he was working at Portland State University and Penny was a student. They were married on September 13, 1968.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100911181025/http://www.womensconference.org/phil-knight/ "Phil Knight: How He Empowers Others", The Woman's Conference.] Accessed: May 13, 2012.</ref> They own a home in [[La Quinta, California]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hauteresidence.com/nikes-phil-knight-lists-california-home-for-2-5-million/ |title=Nike's Phil Knight Lists California Home for $2.5 Million |website=hauteresidence.com |publisher=Haute Media Group |author=Kai Acevedo |date=January 4, 2016 |access-date=May 1, 2018 |archive-date=May 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502064821/http://www.hauteresidence.com/nikes-phil-knight-lists-california-home-for-2-5-million/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Meeks|first1=Eric G.|title=The Best Guide Ever to Palm Springs Celebrity Homes|date=2014|orig-year=2012|publisher=Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe|isbn=978-1479328598|page=378}}</ref>

Knight's son, Matthew, died in a [[Phil Knight#Death of Matthew Knight|scuba diving accident]] in El Salvador in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/2015/09/30/phil-knight-recalls-coping-death-son/72885232/|title=Phil Knight recalls coping with death of son|last=Peter|first=Josh|website=Burlington Free Press|language=en|access-date=2020-04-02|archive-date=February 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219041902/https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/2015/09/30/phil-knight-recalls-coping-death-son/72885232/|url-status=live}}</ref> Another son of Knight's, [[Travis Knight]], runs the [[Laika (company)|Laika]] [[List of animation studios|animation studio]]. Phil Knight serves as chairman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/breaking-news-henry-selick-leaves-laika|title=Breaking News: Henry Selick Leaves Laika|last=Kapko|first=Matt|website=Animation World Network|language=en|access-date=2020-04-02|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728093014/https://www.awn.com/news/breaking-news-henry-selick-leaves-laika|url-status=live}}</ref>

Knight lists Nike's headquarters in [[Beaverton, Oregon]], as his home address on government records.<ref name=dickinson>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/bernie-sanders-blasts-nike-founder-phil-knight-oregon-1234619900/|title=Bernie Blasts Nike Founder: 'Democracy Is Not Billionaires Buying Elections'|last=Dickinson|first=Tim|newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=October 28, 2022|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214210718/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/bernie-sanders-blasts-nike-founder-phil-knight-oregon-1234619900/|url-status=live}}</ref> He resides in a rural area outside [[Hillsboro, Oregon]] and owns a personal flight hangar along with two private jets at the [[Hillsboro Airport]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/2005/09/22/billionaire-05rich400-homes-05rich400-real-estate-cx_sc_0922home.html?sh=37134f3e1d07|title=Homes Of The Billionaires|newspaper=[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]|date=September 22, 2005|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214210717/https://www.forbes.com/2005/09/22/billionaire-05rich400-homes-05rich400-real-estate-cx_sc_0922home.html?sh=37134f3e1d07|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/2014/12/nike_co-founder_phil_knights_n.html|title=Nike co-founder Phil Knight's new flight hangar: Have you seen it in Hillsboro? (photos)|last=Hammill|first=Luke|newspaper=[[The Oregonian]]|date=December 16, 2014|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214210717/https://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/2014/12/nike_co-founder_phil_knights_n.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Ben Affleck]] and [[Matt Damon]] produced a film called ''[[Air (2023 American film)|Air]]'' about Nike's signing of [[Michael Jordan]] and ultimately the [[Air Jordan]] brand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/air-movie-trailer-ben-affleck-matt-damon-nike-air-jordan|title=Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's New Movie Air Chronicles the Scrappy Rise of Nike|date=February 9, 2023}}</ref> Affleck plays Knight in the film.

==Politics==
Knight is a registered [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] and a frequent contributor to Republican political candidates in Oregon. In [[2010 Oregon gubernatorial election|2010]], he donated $400,000 to [[Chris Dudley]], the then Republican nominee for [[Governor of Oregon]].

Knight occasionally supports Democrats, however; in [[1986 Oregon gubernatorial election|1986]] he financed [[Neil Goldschmidt]]'s successful campaign, and in [[2014 Oregon gubernatorial election|2014]], he donated $250,000 to the re-election campaign of Democrat [[John Kitzhaber]].<ref name=jaquiss>{{cite news|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2018/09/19/why-is-nike-co-founder-phil-knight-backing-both-colin-kaepernick-and-republican-nominee-for-governor-knute-buehler/|title=Why is Nike Co- Founder Phil Knight Backing Both Colin Kaepernick and Republican Nominee For Governor Knute Buehler?|last=Jaquiss|first=Nigel|date=September 19, 2018|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214211543/https://www.wweek.com/news/2018/09/19/why-is-nike-co-founder-phil-knight-backing-both-colin-kaepernick-and-republican-nominee-for-governor-knute-buehler/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=vanderhart>{{cite web|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2022/04/04/nike-founder-phil-knight-oregon-governor-candidate-betsy-johnson/|title=Nike co-founder Phil Knight gives $1 million to Betsy Johnson's campaign for Oregon governor|author=VanderHart, Dirk|publisher=[[Oregon Public Broadcasting]]|date=April 4, 2022|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=May 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527071552/https://www.opb.org/article/2022/04/04/nike-founder-phil-knight-oregon-governor-candidate-betsy-johnson/|url-status=live}}</ref>

He donated $3.5 million to Republican [[Knute Buehler]] during the [[2018 Oregon gubernatorial election]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Daniels |first1=Jeff |title=Oregon's Democratic Gov. Kate Brown wins re-election against GOP challenger Knute Buehler: NBC News |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/06/oregons-democratic-gov-kate-brown-wins-re-election.html |website=CNBC |access-date=14 November 2018 |date=6-7 Nov 2018 |archive-date=March 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327024151/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/06/oregons-democratic-gov-kate-brown-wins-re-election.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Regarding this donation, Knight criticized the unfunded [[Oregon Public Employees Retirement System]] and the general fiscal state of Oregon, implying Democratic governor [[Kate Brown]] was at fault.<ref name=jaquiss/>

Knight was once again a major donor during the [[2022 Oregon gubernatorial election]]. He gave $3.75 million to independent candidate [[Betsy Johnson]] until September 2022.<ref name=vanderhart/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/10/04/phil-knight-wrote-betsy-johnson-a-2-million-check-sept-1/|title=Phil Knight Wrote Betsy Johnson a $2 Million Check Sept. 1|last=Jaquiss|first=Nigel|newspaper=[[Willamette Week]]|date=October 4, 2022|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214212223/https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/10/04/phil-knight-wrote-betsy-johnson-a-2-million-check-sept-1/|url-status=live}}</ref> After Johnson's support declined in the polls, he switched to backing Republican [[Christine Drazan]], writing her a $1 million check on October 6 of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2022/10/06/oregon-governor-race-christine-drazan-phil-knight-nike/|title=Nike co-founder Phil Knight is now backing Republican Christine Drazan in Oregon's tight governor race|author=VanderHart, Dirk|publisher=[[Oregon Public Broadcasting]]|date=October 6, 2022|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214210717/https://www.opb.org/article/2022/10/06/oregon-governor-race-christine-drazan-phil-knight-nike/|url-status=live}}</ref> He made a second donation to the Drazan campaign later in October.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.koin.com/news/elections/phil-knight-makes-another-donation-to-republican-christine-drazans-campaign/|title=Phil Knight makes another donation to Republican Christine Drazan's campaign|author=Arden, Amanda|publisher=[[KOIN]]|date=October 26, 2022|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214210718/https://www.koin.com/news/elections/phil-knight-makes-another-donation-to-republican-christine-drazans-campaign/|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2022, Knight donated $2 million to a [[political action committee]] seeking to elect Republican state legislators in Oregon.<ref name=dickinson/> In April 2023, Knight contributed $2 million more to the same conservative PAC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oregonian/OregonLive |first=Jamie Goldberg {{!}} The |date=2023-05-04 |title=Nike co-founder Phil Knight contributes $2 million more to help elect Republicans to Oregon Legislature |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2023/05/nike-co-founder-phil-knight-contributes-2-million-to-help-elect-republicans-to-oregon-legislature.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=oregonlive |language=en |archive-date=May 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505053841/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2023/05/nike-co-founder-phil-knight-contributes-2-million-to-help-elect-republicans-to-oregon-legislature.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

While Knight is generally reluctant to give interviews, he spoke with the ''[[New York Times]]'' in October 2022 regarding his support for Republican candidates. He argued Oregon's government had drifted too far to the left and described himself as "more conservative than Nike," responding to criticism of him backing an anti-abortion candidate which apparently contrasted with the company's image of supporting progressive social justice causes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/15/us/politics/kotek-drazan-oregon-governor.html|title=How a Republican Could Lead Oregon: Liberal Disharmony and Nike Cash|last1=Baker|first1=Mike|last2=Epstein|first2=Reid|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 15, 2022|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214210717/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/15/us/politics/kotek-drazan-oregon-governor.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Nike itself donated $75,000 to Drazan and Johnson's Democratic opponent, [[Tina Kotek]], the eventual winner of the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/11/10/phil-knight-reflects-on-political-contributions-in-cnbc-interview-as-kotek-declares-victory/|title=Phil Knight Reflects on Political Contributions in CNBC Interview as Kotek Declares Victory|last=Jaquiss|first=Nigel|newspaper=[[Willamette Week]]|date=November 10, 2022|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214212221/https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/11/10/phil-knight-reflects-on-political-contributions-in-cnbc-interview-as-kotek-declares-victory/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Philip H. Knight Chairs and Professorships]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Deford, Frank. 1993. Nike has sponsored Hamza "The Truth" Day, all league linebacker from Wilson High School. pp.&nbsp;52–72
* Knight, Phil. 2009. "When Things Don't Go Right: What Nike Learned In China," ''Playboy'', February 2009, 56(2), pp.&nbsp;26, 111
* Strasser, J.B., and Laurie Becklund. 1993. ''Swoosh: The Unauthorized Story of Nike and the Men Who Played There''. HarperBusiness. {{ISBN|0-88730-622-5}}
* Teitel, Emma. 2012. "Nike's Strange Moral Universe" Maclean's, February 13, 2012


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://nikeinc.com Nike, Inc. official website]
*[http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=5&item=origin Origin of the Swoosh]
* [https://www.forbes.com/profile/phil-knight ''Forbes'' Phil Knight profile page]
*[[n:"Knight to Leave Nike Top Job"|"Knight to Leave Nike Top Job" - Wikinews]]
*[http://www.forbes.com/profile/phil-knight ''Forbes'' profile, page on Phil Knight]
*[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskies/2003332047_knight31.html Nike founder is Ducks' spiritual godfather] - "[[The Seattle Times]]", 31-Oct-2006, by Bud Withers
*[http://www.entrepreneur.com/moversandshakers/index.html "Movers & Shakers: Entrepreneurs who rocked our world."] - [[''Entrepreneur'' magazine]], May 2007
*[http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2008-02-24-ceo-faces_N.htm ''USA Today'' story on Knight and facial coding]


{{Laika (company)}}
{{Nike}}
{{Nike}}
{{National Football Foundation Gold Medal Winners}}
{{National Football Foundation Gold Medal Winners}}
{{2012 Basketball HOF}}
{{2012 Basketball HOF}}
{{Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame}}
{{Current U.S. Richest People}}

{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Knight, Phil
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American businessman
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1938-02-24
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Phil}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Phil}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:American chief executives]]
[[Category:American sports businesspeople]]
[[Category:Businesspeople in fashion]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nike, Inc. people]]
[[Category:Oregon Ducks track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Scandals in Oregon]]
[[Category:American chief executives of manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:American chief executives of fashion industry companies]]
[[Category:Cleveland High School (Portland, Oregon) alumni]]
[[Category:Laika (company) people]]
[[Category:Nike, Inc. people]]
[[Category:Retail company founders]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:University of Oregon alumni]]
[[Category:University of Oregon alumni]]
[[Category:Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni]]
[[Category:Philanthropists from Oregon]]
[[Category:American billionaires]]
[[Category:American memoirists]]
[[Category:American company founders]]
[[Category:American company founders]]
[[Category:Chairmen of corporations]]
[[Category:People from La Quinta, California]]
[[Category:Brookings Institution people]]

[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[bg:Филип Найт]]
[[Category:American billionaires]]
[[de:Philip Knight]]
[[Category:Oregon Ducks men's track and field athletes]]
[[es:Phil Knight]]
[[Category:Oregon Republicans]]
[[fr:Philip Knight (Nike)]]
[[ko:필 나이트]]
[[it:Philip Knight]]
[[my:ဖီးလ် နိုက်တ်]]
[[nl:Phil Knight]]
[[pt:Philip H. Knight]]
[[simple:Phil Knight]]
[[fi:Phil Knight]]
[[sv:Phil Knight]]

Latest revision as of 08:10, 28 December 2024

Phil Knight
Knight in 2010
Born
Philip Hampson Knight

(1938-02-24) February 24, 1938 (age 86)
Education
OccupationBusinessman
Spouse
Penny Parks
(m. 1968)
Children2, including Travis Knight
FatherWilliam W. Knight

Philip Hampson Knight (born February 24, 1938) is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist who is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc., a global sports equipment and apparel company. He was previously its chairman and CEO.[1] As of December 2024, Forbes estimated his net worth at $35.1 billion.[2][3] He is also the owner of the stop motion film production company Laika. 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. He has donated over $2 billion to these three institutions.[4]

Early life and education

[edit]
Knight (second from right) running track in 1958

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.[5][6][7] He grew up in the Portland neighborhood of Eastmoreland, and attended Cleveland High School. 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," Knight "went to the rival Oregonian, where he worked the morning shift tabulating sports scores and every morning ran home the full seven miles."[8]

Knight continued his education at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he ran for the famed Oregon track and field program, was a sports reporter for the Oregon Daily Emerald[9] and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Knight earned a business degree (B.B.A.) in 1959 in just three years.[10] That same year, Knight also received his Army Reserve Commission and was a "Distinguished Military Graduate".[10]

As a middle-distance runner at Oregon, his personal best was 1 mile (1.6 km) in 4 minutes, 13 seconds,[11] and he won varsity letters for his track performances in 1957, 1958, and 1959. In 1977, together with Bowerman and Geoff Hollister, Knight founded an American running team called Athletics West.[12]

Career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Before Blue Ribbon Sports—later Nike—flourished, Knight worked as a Certified Public Accountant, first with Coopers & Lybrand, and then Price Waterhouse. Knight then became an accounting professor at Portland State University.[13]

Nike Inc.

[edit]

Immediately after graduating from the University of Oregon, Knight enlisted in the Army and served one year on active duty and seven years in the Army Reserve.[5] He next enrolled at Stanford Graduate School of Business,[5] where, for his small business class, Knight produced a paper, "Can Japanese Sports Shoes Do to German Sports Shoes What Japanese Cameras Did to German Cameras?", that essentially foretold his eventual foray into selling running shoes. His ambition was to import high-quality and low-cost running shoes from Japan into the American market. He graduated with a master's degree in business administration from Stanford in 1962.[5]

Knight set out on a trip around the world after graduation, during which he made a stop in Kobe, Japan, in November 1962. It was there that he discovered Tiger brand running shoes, manufactured in Kobe by the Onitsuka Co., now known as Asics. Impressed by the quality and low cost of the shoes, Knight called Mr. Onitsuka, who agreed to meet with him. By the end of the meeting, Knight had secured Tiger distribution rights for the western United States.[14]

The first Tiger samples would take more than a year to be shipped to Knight; during that time he found a job as an accountant in Portland. When Knight finally received the shoe samples, he mailed two pairs to Bowerman at the University of Oregon, hoping to gain both a sale and an influential endorsement. To Knight's surprise, Bowerman not only ordered the Tiger shoes, but also offered to become a partner with Knight and provide product design ideas. The two men agreed to a partnership by handshake on January 25, 1964, the birth date of Blue Ribbon Sports, the company that would later become Nike.[15]

Knight's first sales, were made out of a now storied green Plymouth Valiant automobile at track meets across the Pacific Northwest. By 1969, these early sales allowed Knight to leave his accountant job and work full-time for Blue Ribbon Sports.[14]

Jeff Johnson, Nike's first employee, suggested calling the firm "Nike," named after the Greek winged goddess of victory,[16] and Blue Ribbon Sports was subsequently renamed Nike in 1971.[17]

Nike's "swoosh" logo, now considered one of the most valuable logos in the world, was commissioned for $35 from graphic design student Carolyn Davidson in 1971.[18] According to Nike's website, Knight said at the time: "I don't love it, but it will grow on me." In September 1983, Davidson was given an undisclosed amount of Nike stock for her contribution to the company's brand. On the Oprah television program in April 2011, Knight said he gave Davidson "a few hundred shares" when the company went public.[19]

At Nike, Knight developed personal relationships with some of the world's most recognizable athletes, including Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods.[20][21]

Vinton Studios becomes Laika

[edit]

Following mainstream success in the late 1990s, Will Vinton Studios animation company sought external investors due to rapid growth. Knight assumed a 15 percent stake in the company in 1998, and his son Travis—who had graduated from Portland State following an unsuccessful attempt at a rap music career—went to work at the studio as an animator.[22]

Citing mismanagement, Knight eventually purchased Will Vinton Studios and assumed control of the company's board with the cooperation of Nike executives. In late 2003, Knight appointed his son to the board and, after Vinton had stepped down—prior to leaving the company with a severance package—Knight rebranded the company Laika. He then invested $180 million into Laika, and the studio released its first feature film, Coraline, in stop motion, in 2009. Coraline was a financial success and Travis Knight was then promoted into the roles of Laika CEO and president.[22][23]

Death of Matthew Knight

[edit]

In May 2004, two years after Knight bought Vinton, his son Matthew, aged 34 years, traveled to El Salvador to film a fund-raising video for Christian Children of the World, a Portland nonprofit organization. However, while scuba diving with his colleagues Vincenzo Iannuzzelli and Robert McDonell in Lake Ilopango, near San Salvador, he died from a heart attack 150 feet (46 m) underwater due to an undetected congenital heart defect.[24] Knight and Travis traveled to El Salvador to return Matthew's body to the US.[23] Laika Studio's 2005 short film Moongirl was dedicated to Matthew's memory.[25]

Knight resigned as Nike CEO on November 18, 2004, several months after Matthew's funeral [23] but retained the position of chairman of the board.[26][27] Knight's replacement was William Perez, former CEO of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., who was eventually replaced by Mark Parker in 2006.[28]

In 2011, the Matthew Knight Arena at the University of Oregon was named in his honor.[29]

Post-Nike CEO role

[edit]

During the 2009–2010 period, Knight was the largest single contributor to the campaign to defeat Oregon Ballot Measures 66 and 67, which, once passed, increased income tax on some corporations and high-income individuals.[30]

In June 2015, Knight and Nike announced that he would step down as the company's chairman, with president and CEO Mark Parker to succeed him.[31][32] Knight's retirement from the Nike board took effect at the end of June 2016. In September 2017, Knight decided to come out of retirement to put black back in the UNC jerseys for the Phil Knight Classic in Portland, Oregon.[33][34]

Memoir

[edit]

Knight's memoir, Shoe Dog, was released on April 26, 2016, by Simon & Schuster, was rated fifth on The New York Times Best Seller list for business books in July 2018,[35] and details the building of the Nike brand, from importing Japanese shoes to being part of a federal investigation.[36][37]

Philanthropy

[edit]

As of July 2021, Knight has a net worth of $60.8 billion.[38] In 1990, Knight founded the Philip H. Knight Charitable Foundation Trust.[39] As of 2016, according to Portland Business Journal, "Knight is the most generous philanthropist in Oregon history. His lifetime gifts now approach $2 billion."[40] In 2023, Knight was America's second largest donor with $1.2 billion in giving.[41]

Stanford University

[edit]

In 2006, Knight donated US$105 million to the Stanford Graduate School of Business, which, at the time, was the largest ever individual donation to a U.S. business school. The campus was named "The Knight Management Center," in honor of Knight's philanthropic service to the school.[42]

In 2016, it was announced that Knight contributed $400 million to start the Knight-Hennessy Scholars graduate-level education program inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship.[43] Graduates are charged to tackle global challenges, such as climate change and poverty. The first class of 51 scholars from 21 countries was scheduled to arrive at Stanford in the fall of 2018.[44][45][46]

In May 2022, it was announced that Phil and Penny Knight gifted Stanford $75 million to establish the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience. The initiative will be housed at Stanford's Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and is set to study the cognitive decline and degenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.[47]

University of Oregon

[edit]

As of 2023, Knight has donated over one billion dollars to the University of Oregon.[48] It is believed that Knight made his first major contribution in the late 1980s.[49] By 2000 Knight had already contributed over $50 million to UO.[50] He was UO's 2018–19 honorary degree recipient.[51]

UO Academics

[edit]

Major gifts include funds supporting the renovation of the Knight Library and construction of the Knight Law Center. Contrary to press reports, which claim that Knight financed the whole library renovation project, Knight only financed a portion of the library's renovation.[52][53][49] Knight also established endowed chairs across the campus.[54] In the fall of 2016, it was announced that Knight will donate $500 million to UO for a new three-building laboratory and research science complex.[55] This donation was part of a series of large higher-education gifts.[56]

UO Athletic Department (Oregon Ducks)

[edit]

Knight contributed towards the Moshofsky Center, which opened in 1998.[57][52]

Exterior of Autzen Stadium, University of Oregon

In August 2007, Knight announced that he and his wife would be donating US$100 million to found the UO Athletics Legacy Fund to help support all athletic programs at the university. In response, athletic director Pat Kilkenny said: "This extraordinary gift will set Oregon athletics on a course toward certain self sufficiency and create the flexibility and financial capacity for the university to move forward with the new athletic arena." At the time, the donation was the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the university.[58]

The 2010 construction of the UO basketball team's Matthew Knight Arena was the result of a partnership between Knight and former Oregon athletic director Pat Kilkenny. Although Knight didn't pay for the project directly, he established a $100 million "Athletic Legacy Fund." The fund supports the athletic department.[59] Named after Knight's deceased son, the venue replaced the McArthur Court building and cost over US$200 million to build. The facility was built using bonds backed by the State of Oregon.[59]

Knight was responsible for financing the UO's US$68 million 145,000 square-foot gridiron football facility that was officially opened in late July 2013. Knight's personal locker in the team's locker room displays the title "Uncle Phil", and other features include a gym with Brazilian hardwood floors, Apple iPhone chargers in each of the players' lockers, various auditoriums and meeting rooms, a games room for the players that includes flat-screen televisions and foosball machines, and a cafeteria.[60][61][62]

In November 2015, it was announced that Knight and his wife would be donating $19.2 million towards a new sports complex project at the University of Oregon. The plans for the 29,000 square foot complex was announced in September. Construction started in January 2016 and ended in September 2016.[63] The sports complex was named the Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center and includes motion capture systems, neurocognitive assessment tools, 40-yard dash track, and steam machines made by Nike to help athletes break into their footwear more quickly.[64]

In 2021, Knight helped to fund the renovation of Hayward Field, a track and field stadium at the university. The project was estimated to cost $270 million, although Knight's total contribution remained private.[65]

Controversy

[edit]

Knight's contributions to the athletic department at UO have also led to controversy.[66] In April 2000, student leaders began organizing an anti-sweatshop and fair labor practices campaign, and called for Dave Frohnmayer, president of the school, to support the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC). On April 4, 2000, students began a sit-in at Johnson Hall, the UO's administrative center. In early April, an open meeting of students further demanded that the organization Fair Labor Association (FLA) would receive no consideration from the university, as it was perceived as a group founded, funded and backed by Nike and other corporations, and had also been criticized by worker rights advocates as an exercise in dishonest public relations.[67][68]

University President Dave Frohnmayer subsequently signed a one-year contract with the WRC; Knight then withdrew a US$30 million commitment toward the Autzen Stadium expansion project and offered no further donations to the university.[69] In a public statement, Knight criticized the WRC for having unrealistic provisions and called it misguided, while praising the FLA for being "balanced" in its approach.[70] In the face of ongoing conflict with students, Frohnmayer sided with Knight's assertion that the WRC was providing unbalanced representation,[71][72] and in October 2000 the Eugene Weekly reported Frohnmayer stating that:

... he would refuse to pay dues to the WRC based on a legal opinion from UO General Counsel Melinda Grier arguing that to do so would be illegal and open the university to liability. Grier claimed the WRC had not yet incorporated, had not yet filed as a non-profit, and served no public purpose justifying a dues payment.[68]

On February 16, 2001, the Oregon University System enacted a mandate that all institutions within the system choose business partners from a politically neutral standpoint, barring all universities in Oregon from joining either the WRC or the FLA.[73] Following the dissolved relationship between the university and the WRC, Knight reinstated the donation and increased the amount to over US$50 million.[74]

Also controversial was Knight's success in lobbying for former insurance executive Pat Kilkenny to be named as athletic director at the university.[75] Kilkenny had neither a college degree nor any prior experience in athletics administration. He attended but did not graduate from UO, as he left the school with several credit hours still owing. Prior to his appointment at UO, Kilkenny had been the chairman and chief executive officer of the San Diego–based Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, and grew the business into a nationwide organization, with written premiums of nearly US$1 billion when he sold the company in 2006.[76]

Other projects

[edit]
Knight's personal hangar at Hillsboro Airport

In October 2008, Knight and his wife pledged US$100 million to the OHSU Cancer Institute, the largest gift in the history of Oregon Health & Science University. In recognition, the university renamed the organization the "OHSU Knight Cancer Institute."[77]

In October 2010, Knight donated several million dollars to the Catlin Gabel School to establish a scholarship for incoming freshmen students.[78]

Knight's Green, a lawn named after Knight at Marylhurst University in Marylhurst, Oregon

On May 18, 2012, Knight contributed US$65,000 to a higher education Political Action Committee (PAC) formed by Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle.[79][80] According to Boyle, the PAC will help facilitate an increase in the autonomy of schools in the Oregon University System.[81]

On September 27, 2013, Knight announced to the audience at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute's biennial gala, when he announced his intention to donate US$500 million for research if OHSU could match it over the subsequent two years.[82] On June 25, 2015, OHSU met that $500 million goal, and Knight announced his upcoming $500 million donation, to bring the total to $1 billion raised.[83]

Knight and wife Penny also donated to the Marylhurst Knights Opportunity Scholarship Program at Marylhurst University, a private Roman Catholic university in Marylhurst, Oregon; as a result, the university named a lawn on their campus "Knight's Green" in the family's honor.[84]

In December 2016, Knight disclosed that he had donated $112 million in Nike stock to charity.[85]

Accolades

[edit]

In 2000, Knight was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame for his Special Contribution to Sports in Oregon.[86] At the time of his induction, he had contributed approximately US$230 million to UO, the majority of which was for athletics.[87]

On February 24, 2012, Knight was announced as a 2012 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as a contributor. The Hall recognized him as the driving force behind Nike's huge financial support of U.S. basketball and its players. Knight was formally inducted on September 7, 2012.[88]

In 1989, Knight received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[89] For his "contributions to business, corporate and philanthropic leadership", Knight was elected to the 2015 American Academy of Arts and Sciences membership class.[90][91]

In 2020, the university polled alumni and fans on social media, asking them which four UO alumni they would place on a notional Mount Rushmore for the university. Knight was one of the four final choices, along with Ducks track legend Steve Prefontaine; current NFL player Marcus Mariota, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner; and Sabrina Ionescu, who had just completed an epic college basketball career for the Ducks.[92]

In 2024, Knight received the President's award of the World Athletics Awards.[93]

Personal life

[edit]

Knight met his wife, Penelope "Penny" Parks, while he was working at Portland State University and Penny was a student. They were married on September 13, 1968.[94] They own a home in La Quinta, California.[95][96]

Knight's son, Matthew, died in a scuba diving accident in El Salvador in 2004.[97] Another son of Knight's, Travis Knight, runs the Laika animation studio. Phil Knight serves as chairman.[98]

Knight lists Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, as his home address on government records.[99] He resides in a rural area outside Hillsboro, Oregon and owns a personal flight hangar along with two private jets at the Hillsboro Airport.[100][101]

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon produced a film called Air about Nike's signing of Michael Jordan and ultimately the Air Jordan brand.[102] Affleck plays Knight in the film.

Politics

[edit]

Knight is a registered Republican and a frequent contributor to Republican political candidates in Oregon. In 2010, he donated $400,000 to Chris Dudley, the then Republican nominee for Governor of Oregon.

Knight occasionally supports Democrats, however; in 1986 he financed Neil Goldschmidt's successful campaign, and in 2014, he donated $250,000 to the re-election campaign of Democrat John Kitzhaber.[103][104]

He donated $3.5 million to Republican Knute Buehler during the 2018 Oregon gubernatorial election.[105] Regarding this donation, Knight criticized the unfunded Oregon Public Employees Retirement System and the general fiscal state of Oregon, implying Democratic governor Kate Brown was at fault.[103]

Knight was once again a major donor during the 2022 Oregon gubernatorial election. He gave $3.75 million to independent candidate Betsy Johnson until September 2022.[104][106] After Johnson's support declined in the polls, he switched to backing Republican Christine Drazan, writing her a $1 million check on October 6 of that year.[107] He made a second donation to the Drazan campaign later in October.[108] Also in 2022, Knight donated $2 million to a political action committee seeking to elect Republican state legislators in Oregon.[99] In April 2023, Knight contributed $2 million more to the same conservative PAC.[109]

While Knight is generally reluctant to give interviews, he spoke with the New York Times in October 2022 regarding his support for Republican candidates. He argued Oregon's government had drifted too far to the left and described himself as "more conservative than Nike," responding to criticism of him backing an anti-abortion candidate which apparently contrasted with the company's image of supporting progressive social justice causes.[110] Nike itself donated $75,000 to Drazan and Johnson's Democratic opponent, Tina Kotek, the eventual winner of the election.[111]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nike's Knight, 77, handing off chairman duties". June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  2. ^ "Phil Knight & family". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "Forbes 400: Phil Knight". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  4. ^ Rogoway, Mike. "Phil and Penny Knight's charitable contributions top $2 billion". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d Krentzman, Jackie (1997). "The Force Behind the Nike Empire". Stanford Magazine. Archived from the original on June 25, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  6. ^ "Phil Knight". Archived August 28, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 13, 2012.
  7. ^ "N13657 - REMARKS:Elijah "Lige" Hatfield holding his great-grandson Phillip Hanson Knight (Who became the president of Nike Corp.); Harry F. Hatfield is at right and his daughter, Lota Clay Hatfield Knight, is at left. Four generations at Dixonville, Oregon, 1938. | Douglas County Museum of History & Natural History". Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  8. ^ Susan Hauser (4 May 1992). "Must Be the Shoes" Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. People. Accessed 12 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Phi Gamma Delta". www.phigam.org. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Eighty-Second Commencement" (PDF). scholarsbank.uoregon.edu. University of Oregon. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Notable Oregonians: Phil Knight — Innovator, Business Leader". Oregon Blue Book. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2008.
  12. ^ Jeed S (November 4, 2010). "History of Athletics West". A Pride As An Asian. Wordpress. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  13. ^ Anne M. Peterson, "Nike's Phil Knight resigns as Coo," Seattle Times, November 19, 2021. Archived July 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 13, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Nike History and Timeline". University of Virginia. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  15. ^ "History & Heritage". Nike, Inc. Nike. 2014. Archived from the original on May 15, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  16. ^ Knight, Phil (2017). Shoe Dog: Young Readers Edition. Simon and Schuster. pp. 229–230. ISBN 9781534401181. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  17. ^ Vinton, Kate. "Phil Knight's Net Worth Jumps $1.9 Billion After Announcement Of Nike Deal With Amazon". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  18. ^ "Nike gives board seniors the boot". BBC. August 2, 2004. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  19. ^ "What Does the Nike Logo Mean?". Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  20. ^ "Nike Founder Phil Knight Talks Working With MJ, Tiger Woods +More". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  21. ^ "Phil Knight talks about why Nike is standing behind Tiger Woods". Washington Examiner. December 14, 2009. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  22. ^ a b Zachary Crockett (May 9, 2014). "How the Father of Claymation Lost His Company". Priceonomics. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  23. ^ a b c Salter, Chuck (December 19, 2007). "The Knights' Tale". Fast Company. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  24. ^ "Nike heir dies in diving accident". The Age. May 26, 2004. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  25. ^ Cavna, Michael. "The rise of Travis Knight, the son of Nike's founder who built an animation powerhouse". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  26. ^ Peterson, Anne M. (November 19, 2004). "Nike's Phil Knight resigns as CEO". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2008.
  27. ^ Dash, Eric (November 19, 2004). "Founder of Nike to Hand Off Job to a New Chief". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2008.
  28. ^ Barbaro, Michael; Dash, Eric (January 24, 2006). "Another Outsider Falls Casualty to Nike's Insider Culture". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
  29. ^ "Oregon basketball: Emotions high as Phil Knight opens Matthew Knight Arena". OregonLive.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  30. ^ "The closing tally on the Measures 66 and 67 campaigns: $12.5 million". March 4, 2010. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  31. ^ "Phil Knight To Step Down As Nike's Chairman". BallerStatus.com. June 30, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ "Phil Knight, 77, to step down from chairman role of Nike". ESPN. June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  33. ^ Sell, Sarah Skidmore (June 30, 2016). "Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight Retires From Board". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 5, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  34. ^ Stynes, Tess (June 30, 2016). "Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight Officially Retires as Chairman". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  35. ^ "Books Best Sellers - Business". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  36. ^ Jones, Riley. "Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight's Memoir Just Got a Release Date". Complex.com. Complex. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  37. ^ Gates, Bill. "An Honest Tale of What It Takes to Succeed in Business". gatesnotes.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  38. ^ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Phil Knight". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  39. ^ Kish, Matthew (November 15, 2018). "What 20 years of tax records tell us about Phil Knight's giving". Archived from the original on December 6, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  40. ^ Kish, Matthew Archived May 10, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Portland Business Journal: "As philanthropy ramps up, Phil Knight gifts $112 million in Nike stock", 28 December 2016.
  41. ^ Di Mento, Maria (March 5, 2024). "Philanthropy 50". Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  42. ^ "Nike Founder Phil Knight to Give $105 Million to Stanford GSB". Stanford Graduate School of Business. Archived from the original on June 11, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  43. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (February 24, 2016). "Philip Knight of Nike to Give $400 Million to Stanford Scholars". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  44. ^ Garcia, Ahiza (February 24, 2016). "Nike's Phil Knight gives $400 million to Stanford University". CNNMoney. Archived from the original on December 13, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  45. ^ Amini, Mariam (March 3, 2018). "Alphabet's John Hennessy talks about helping international students with scholarships". CNBC. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  46. ^ FAQ for Knight-Hennessy Scholars Archived August 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Stanford. Retrieved February 24, 2016
  47. ^ "Phil and Penny Knight Give Stanford $75 Million to Study the Causes of Cognitive Decline". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. May 2, 2022. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  48. ^ Lorin, Janet. "Knight Gives Another $500 Million to University of Oregon". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  49. ^ a b "Knight Library Renovation and Expansion". UO Libraries. University of Oregon Libraries. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  50. ^ "Knight pulls all money". The Daily Emerald. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  51. ^ "Philip H. Knight | Office of the President". president.uoregon.edu. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  52. ^ a b Rogoway, Mike. "Phil and Penny Knight's charitable contributions top $2 billion". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  53. ^ Kish, Matthew. "A closer look at the Knight family's giving to the University of Oregon". Portland Business Journal. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  54. ^ Brettman, Allan (August 12, 2014). "Phil and Penny Knight, thanks to Nike fortune, have given more than $1 billion in philanthropy". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on December 17, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  55. ^ Theen, Andrew. "Phil and Penny Knight will give $500 million to University of Oregon for science complex". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on December 17, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  56. ^ "JOHN HARVARD'S JOURNAL Brevia". Harvard Magazine. January–February 2017. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  57. ^ "Moshofsky Center". Go Ducks. University of Oregon Athletics. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  58. ^ "Knight's $100 million gift to bankroll Oregon athletics fund". ESPN College Sports. Associated Press. August 21, 2007. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  59. ^ a b Bolt, Greg (January 4, 2011). "Legacy Fund gives UO a leg up on financing". The Register-Guard. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  60. ^ Tony Manfred (July 31, 2014). "Oregon's New $68-Million Football Facility Is Like Nothing We've Ever Seen In College Sports". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  61. ^ Tony Manfred (September 20, 2013). "Phil Knight Has His Own Locker In Oregon's New $68-Million Football Facility". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  62. ^ Tony Manfred (August 1, 2013). "New Photos From Inside Oregon's Monstrous $68-Million Football Facility". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  63. ^ Associated Press (November 12, 2015). "Nike co-founder donates millions for new UO sports complex named after Mariota". Katu. Archived from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  64. ^ "Oregon Ducks say Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center's function matches its flash". OregonLive.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  65. ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Jeff Manning | The (March 9, 2021). "Phil Knight's University of Oregon donations push $1 billion mark with new Hayward field project". oregonlive. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  66. ^ Fish, Mike (January 13, 2006). "Just do it!". ESPN. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2008.
  67. ^ Sachie Hopkins-Hayakawa (February 24, 2011). "University of Oregon students demonstrate for fair labor practices, 2000-2001". Global Nonviolent Action Database. Swarthmore College. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  68. ^ a b Pittman, Alan (November 16, 2000). "Swoosh Goes Worker Rights". Eugene Weekly. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  69. ^ Lang, Jeremy (April 4, 2001). "Old issues, new strategies". Oregon Daily Emerald. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  70. ^ "Statement from Nike founder and CEO Philip H. Knight regarding the University of Oregon". Oregon Daily Emerald. April 24, 2000. Archived from the original on March 11, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  71. ^ Romano, Ben (September 25, 2000). "Great debate: WRC vs. FLA". Oregon Daily Emerald. Archived from the original on June 11, 2007. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  72. ^ Friedman, Thomas (June 20, 2000). "Foreign Affairs; Knight Is Right". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  73. ^ Adams, Andrew (March 5, 2001). "OUS policy won't stop labor debate". Oregon Daily Emerald. Archived from the original on March 6, 2001. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  74. ^ Peterson, Anne (November 19, 2004). "Nike's Phil Knight resigns as CEO". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  75. ^ "OTL: Phil Knight and Oregon". Outside the Lines. ESPN. April 2, 2008. Archived from the original (Flash video) on April 9, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  76. ^ "Oregon Names Kilkenny Athletic Director". GoDucks.com. February 14, 2007. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2008.
  77. ^ "Knights to give $100 million to OHSU Cancer Institute". Oregon Health & Science University. October 29, 2008. Archived from the original on December 23, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  78. ^ House, Kelly (October 28, 2010). "Nike founder Phil Knight donates millions to Catlin Gabel School in Cedar Mill". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on December 18, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  79. ^ Brown, Kate. "Oregonians For Higher Education Excellence". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  80. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel. "Tim Boyle, Pat Kilkenny Ante Up For Higher Ed PAC". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  81. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel. "New Political Action Committee Will Focus on Higher Ed". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on August 10, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  82. ^ "Phil and Penny Knight to OHSU: $500 million is yours for cancer research if you can match it". Oregonian. September 21, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  83. ^ "Knight Challenge Nets Oregon Health & Science University $1B for Cancer Research". ABC news. June 25, 2015. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  84. ^ "Campus Tour". Marylhurst.edu. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015. Knight's Green: A sprawling green lawn, named in honor of Nike's Phil and Penny Knight whose generosity made possible the Marylhurst Knights Opportunity Scholarship Program.
  85. ^ "Phil Knight gifts $112 million in Nike (NYSE: NKE) stock". Portland Business Journal. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  86. ^ "Philip H. Knight - Special Contribution". Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  87. ^ Bachman, Rachel; Hunsberger, Brent (May 4, 2008). "Phil Knight's influence transforms University of Oregon athletics". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2008.
  88. ^ "Five Direct-Elects for the Class of 2012 Announced By the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame" (Press release). Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. February 24, 2012. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  89. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement. Archived from the original on December 15, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  90. ^ "Phil Knight recognized by AAAS for business and philanthropic contributions". Around the O. April 22, 2015. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  91. ^ "American Academy of Arts and Sciences - Newly Elected Members" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. April 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 15, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  92. ^ Foley, Damian (April 17, 2020). "The Gospel of Sab". Around the O. University of Oregon. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  93. ^ "Hassan and Tebogo named World Athletes of the Year". World Athletics. December 1, 2024.
  94. ^ "Phil Knight: How He Empowers Others", The Woman's Conference. Accessed: May 13, 2012.
  95. ^ Kai Acevedo (January 4, 2016). "Nike's Phil Knight Lists California Home for $2.5 Million". hauteresidence.com. Haute Media Group. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.Free access icon
  96. ^ Meeks, Eric G. (2014) [2012]. The Best Guide Ever to Palm Springs Celebrity Homes. Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe. p. 378. ISBN 978-1479328598.
  97. ^ Peter, Josh. "Phil Knight recalls coping with death of son". Burlington Free Press. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  98. ^ Kapko, Matt. "Breaking News: Henry Selick Leaves Laika". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  99. ^ a b Dickinson, Tim (October 28, 2022). "Bernie Blasts Nike Founder: 'Democracy Is Not Billionaires Buying Elections'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  100. ^ "Homes Of The Billionaires". Forbes. September 22, 2005. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  101. ^ Hammill, Luke (December 16, 2014). "Nike co-founder Phil Knight's new flight hangar: Have you seen it in Hillsboro? (photos)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  102. ^ "Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's New Movie Air Chronicles the Scrappy Rise of Nike". February 9, 2023.
  103. ^ a b Jaquiss, Nigel (September 19, 2018). "Why is Nike Co- Founder Phil Knight Backing Both Colin Kaepernick and Republican Nominee For Governor Knute Buehler?". Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  104. ^ a b VanderHart, Dirk (April 4, 2022). "Nike co-founder Phil Knight gives $1 million to Betsy Johnson's campaign for Oregon governor". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  105. ^ Daniels, Jeff (November 6–7, 2018). "Oregon's Democratic Gov. Kate Brown wins re-election against GOP challenger Knute Buehler: NBC News". CNBC. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  106. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (October 4, 2022). "Phil Knight Wrote Betsy Johnson a $2 Million Check Sept. 1". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  107. ^ VanderHart, Dirk (October 6, 2022). "Nike co-founder Phil Knight is now backing Republican Christine Drazan in Oregon's tight governor race". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  108. ^ Arden, Amanda (October 26, 2022). "Phil Knight makes another donation to Republican Christine Drazan's campaign". KOIN. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  109. ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Jamie Goldberg | The (May 4, 2023). "Nike co-founder Phil Knight contributes $2 million more to help elect Republicans to Oregon Legislature". oregonlive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  110. ^ Baker, Mike; Epstein, Reid (October 15, 2022). "How a Republican Could Lead Oregon: Liberal Disharmony and Nike Cash". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  111. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (November 10, 2022). "Phil Knight Reflects on Political Contributions in CNBC Interview as Kotek Declares Victory". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Deford, Frank. 1993. Nike has sponsored Hamza "The Truth" Day, all league linebacker from Wilson High School. pp. 52–72
  • Knight, Phil. 2009. "When Things Don't Go Right: What Nike Learned In China," Playboy, February 2009, 56(2), pp. 26, 111
  • Strasser, J.B., and Laurie Becklund. 1993. Swoosh: The Unauthorized Story of Nike and the Men Who Played There. HarperBusiness. ISBN 0-88730-622-5
  • Teitel, Emma. 2012. "Nike's Strange Moral Universe" Maclean's, February 13, 2012
[edit]