PHIL KNIGHT Biography - Bussiness people and enterpreneurs

 
 

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PHIL KNIGHT

Name: Phil H. Knight                                                                 
Born: 24 February 1938 Portland, Oregon, U.S.                                         
                                                                                     
Philip H. Knight (born February 24, 1938 in Portland, Oregon) is an American         
billionaire and the co-founder and former CEO of Nike, Inc.. Knight is known for     
his monetary support of the University of Oregon, where he received his bachelor's   
degree in accounting in 1959. Knight received his MBA from Stanford Graduate         
School of Business in 1962. In 2006, Phil Knight donated $105 million to             
Stanford GSB - at the time by far the largest donation to a business school in       
history. Knight also provided monetary support to Cleveland High School (Portland,   
Oregon), the high school that he attended, for their new track, football field,       
and gymnasium.                                                                       
                                                                                     
While at the University of Oregon, Knight ran for legendary coach Bill Bowerman.     
Knight was a letter winner in 1957, 1958, and 1959.                                   
                                                                                     
Knight's 35% stake in Nike gives him an estimated net worth of US$9.5 billion,       
making him the 69th richest American. Knight stepped down as the company's           
CEO and President on December 28, 2004, while retaining the position of chairman     
of the board. He was replaced by William Perez, former CEO of S.C. Johnson & Son,     
Inc., who was in turn replaced by Mark Parker in 2006.