Phil Knight Speaks on Nike's Legacy & Its Endorsement Deal With Michael Jordan
Nike is his “Work of Art.”
Nike co-founder Phil Knight has built a multi-billion dollar athletic apparel empire. In a new interview with David Rubenstein on Bloomberg TV, Knight discusses the origins of Nike, Inc. and details his successful endorsement deals with Michael Jordan, John McEnroe and Tiger Woods. What ultimately began as an idea for a school paper, quickly turned into a business opportunity with his track coach Bill Bowerman.
When asked whether he wears anything other than Nike shoes, Knight replied “no,” and explained he even wears Nikes with a tuxedo. The interview switches gears when Rubenstein asks Knight about his philanthropic endeavors. The chairman emeritus has been a generous donor to both of his alma maters, the University of Oregon and Stanford University. He’s given millions to advance scientific research at these schools and developed an international graduate-level scholarship program. Many of the topics discussed within the interview can be found in Knight’s memoir Shoe Dog. Check out the complete Bloomberg interview above.
