How much is Phil Knight Worth? Phil Knight Net Worth in 2026

By the Alux Research Team. How we estimate net worth

Phil Knight’s net worth is estimated at $27.1 billion as of October 2026. The American business magnate co-founded Nike and is one of the world’s most generous philanthropists. In September 2026 he and his wife reportedly gave $1 billion to the University of Oregon to create a new engineering school.

Net worth	$27.1 billion (estimate, October 2026)
Estimated annual income	Mainly from Nike shareholdings and investments
Born	February 24, 1938, Portland, Oregon (age 88)
Country	United States
Occupations / sources of wealth	Co-founder and former CEO and chairman of Nike; chairman of Laika; philanthropist
Known for	Co-founding Nike, the memoir Shoe Dog, and billion-dollar gifts to education and cancer research

How much is Phil Knight worth in 2026?

Phil Knight’s net worth is estimated at $27.1 billion. Nearly all of it comes from his long-held stake in Nike, the sportswear company he started as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964.

He also owns the animation studio Laika, which his son Travis runs. Because most of his wealth is tied to company shares, his net worth moves with Nike’s stock price, and estimates vary.

Phil Knight in 2026: what he’s been up to

• September 2026: He and his wife reportedly gave $1 billion to the University of Oregon to establish a new engineering school, described as the largest known gift to a public university (single source).
• August 2025: The couple pledged $2 billion to the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, bringing their total giving to the institute to about $2.7 billion.
• 2025: Ranked as the top charitable donor of the year because of that $2 billion gift.
• Remains chairman of Laika, the stop-motion studio behind Coraline.

How Phil Knight makes money

• Nike shares: His ownership stake in the company he co-founded is the core of his wealth.
• Laika: He took a 15% stake in Will Vinton Studios in 1998, later bought the company and rebranded it as Laika, whose first feature, Coraline, was released in 2009.
• Book: His 2016 memoir Shoe Dog became a bestseller.
• Investments: Returns on his wealth outside Nike; no specific figures are available.

Career timeline

1. 1959: Earns a business degree from the University of Oregon, where he ran middle-distance track.
2. 1962: Earns an MBA from Stanford and, in Kobe, Japan, secures distribution rights for Onitsuka Tiger running shoes.
3. 1964: Partners with coach Bill Bowerman on January 25, founding Blue Ribbon Sports.
4. 1969: Leaves his accounting job to work full-time for the company.
5. 1971: Blue Ribbon Sports is renamed Nike and the swoosh logo is commissioned.
6. 1998: Takes a stake in Will Vinton Studios, later renamed Laika.
7. 2004: Steps down as Nike CEO but remains chairman.
8. 2006: Gives $105 million to Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.
9. 2016: Publishes Shoe Dog, retires from the Nike board and announces $400 million for Knight-Hennessy Scholars.
10. 2025: Pledges $2 billion to the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.
11. 2026: Reported $1 billion gift to the University of Oregon.

Early life and background

Philip Hampson Knight was born in Portland, Oregon, the son of Bill Knight, a lawyer turned newspaper publisher, and Lota Knight. He grew up in the Eastmoreland neighborhood and attended Cleveland High School.

At the University of Oregon in Eugene he was a sports reporter for the student paper, earned a journalism degree and won varsity letters in middle-distance running under coach Bill Bowerman. After graduating he served one year of active duty in the Army and seven in the Reserve.

He then enrolled at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where a small-business class led him to write a paper on whether Japanese running shoes could do to German shoes what Japanese cameras had done to German cameras. After graduating in 1962 he traveled the world, discovered Tiger shoes in Kobe, and talked his way into distribution rights. He sold his first pairs from the trunk of his green Plymouth Valiant at track meets.

Personal life

Knight married Penny Parks in 1968, and the couple have been prominent philanthropic partners, giving to Stanford, the University of Oregon and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.

Watch on Alux

Watch: 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Phil Knight

Phil Knight net worth FAQ

What is Phil Knight’s net worth?

Phil Knight’s net worth is estimated at $27.1 billion as of October 2026.

How does Phil Knight make money?

Most of his wealth comes from his stake in Nike, which he co-founded, along with ownership of the animation studio Laika.

How old is Phil Knight?

Phil Knight was born on February 24, 1938, which makes him 88 years old in October 2026.

Where is Phil Knight from?

He was born in Portland, Oregon, and is an American.

What is Phil Knight doing now?

He continues to give to education and medicine, including a $2 billion pledge to the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute in 2025 and a reported $1 billion gift to the University of Oregon in September 2026.

How is Phil Knight’s net worth estimated?

The figure is based on his reported stake in Nike, company valuations and other holdings. It is an approximation and moves with the stock price.

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How we estimate net worth

Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.

Last updated: October 2026.