Phil Knight: Age, Height, Net Worth, Wife, Family Personal Life

Phil Knight’s story is one of the most remarkable journeys in modern business, beginning with a former University of Oregon runner and a simple idea about better athletic shoes. Together with Bill Bowerman, Knight built Blue Ribbon Sports into Nike, eventually creating one of the world’s most influential sports brands. At 88 years old in 2026, Knight remains a billionaire and Nike Chairman Emeritus. Forbes currently estimates his and his family’s fortune at approximately $25.7 billion, while his legacy continues through Nike, philanthropy, education and family.

Phil Knight Quick Bio

Profile Information	Phil Knight
Full Name	Philip Hampson Knight
Date of Birth	February 24, 1938
Net Worth	Approximately $25.7 billion — Forbes real-time estimate as of September 9, 2026; wealth is primarily associated with Nike and family holdings.
Height	Around 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) — commonly reported estimate
Age	88 years old (2026)
Birthplace	Portland, Oregon, United States
Nationality	American
Nickname	“Buck” — a nickname used by friends and referenced in Nike’s historical archives.
Parents	William W. Knight and Lota Hatfield Knight
Siblings	Family information is relatively private and sibling details are not extensively documented
Profession	Entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist and author
Famous For	Co-founding Nike and transforming Blue Ribbon Sports into a global athletic brand
Business Partner	Bill Bowerman, his former University of Oregon track coach
Company Founded	Blue Ribbon Sports, established with Bowerman in 1964
Nike Connection	Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Nike
Career	Built Nike from a small shoe-distribution business into a global sportswear company
Education	University of Oregon — bachelor’s degree in business administration; Stanford Graduate School of Business — MBA
Early Career	Certified public accountant and later assistant professor of business administration at Portland State University
Years at Nike	More than five decades of involvement before retiring as chairman in 2016
Marital Status	Married
Wife	Penelope “Penny” Knight
Children	3 children
Family	Wife Penny Knight and three children; son Matthew Knight died in 2004
Hair Color	Gray/white with age
Eye Color	Commonly reported as brown, although this is not a major biographical source detail
Weight	No consistently verified current public figure; online figures should be treated as estimates
Hobbies & Interests	Running, sports, athletics, business, philanthropy and education
Athletic Background	Former University of Oregon track athlete under coach Bill Bowerman
First Major Business Move	Began selling Japanese running shoes in the United States
Business Beginning	Knight and Bowerman each invested $500 to start Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964
Original Company	Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS)
Nike Name	The Nike brand emerged from Blue Ribbon Sports in the early 1970s
Nike Swoosh	Designed by Carolyn Davidson; Knight famously paid $35 for the original design
First Selling Method	Knight sold running shoes directly to athletes, including from the trunk of his car
Nike Leadership	Served as Nike president for extended periods and later became chairman
Retirement	Retired as Nike chairman in 2016 after 52 years with the company
Current Nike Position	Chairman Emeritus
Nike Headquarters Legacy	Nike’s World Headquarters was renamed the Philip H. Knight Campus in his honor in 2025, with the formal marking held in 2026
Book	Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE
Business Philosophy	Athlete-focused innovation, competition, design and strong brand storytelling
Major Achievement	Turning a small shoe business into Nike, one of the world’s leading sportswear companies
Philanthropy	Major donations to education, healthcare, cancer research, athletics and community development
Charitable Giving	Forbes reports that Phil and Penny Knight have given approximately $4.5 billion to charity
University Support	Major philanthropic support for the University of Oregon and Stanford University
Healthcare Giving	The Knights pledged $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute in 2025
Residence	Hillsboro, Oregon, according to Forbes
Citizenship	United States
Instagram	No widely verified official personal Instagram account
Social Media Presence	Maintains a comparatively private public profile
Source of Wealth	Nike ownership, investments and business holdings
Self-Made Status	Self-made entrepreneur; Forbes gives him a self-made score of 8
Legacy	Nike co-founder, global sportswear pioneer, major philanthropist and influential Oregon businessman
Overall Impact	Helped change athletic footwear from a specialized product into a global sports, fashion and cultural industry

Phil Knight Images

A Timeline Phil Knight Public Career

Year	Major Event
1938	February 24: Phil Knight was born in Portland, Oregon.
1959	Graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in business administration.
1962	Completed his MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
1964	Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman each invested $500 to establish Blue Ribbon Sports, the company that later became Nike.
1964–1967	Knight worked to expand the running-shoe business while developing relationships with athletes and retailers.
1968	Knight became president of Blue Ribbon Sports. Nike’s official biography notes that he served as Nike president from 1968–1990 and again from 2000–2004.
1971	The Nike brand emerged, beginning the transition from Blue Ribbon Sports to the company known globally as Nike.
1970s	Nike expanded its footwear business and increasingly focused on athletes, performance and innovative shoe design.
1980	Nike went public, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth.
1990s	Nike became one of the world’s leading athletic footwear and apparel companies.
2004	Knight stepped down from his long-running CEO role.
2006	Knight returned to Nike leadership as chairman.
2015	He announced plans to step down as Nike chairman.
2016	Officially retired as Nike chairman after 52 years with the company and continued as Chairman Emeritus.
2016	Published his bestselling memoir Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE.
2023	Phil and Penny Knight pledged $400 million toward helping rebuild Portland’s Albina neighborhood.
2025	The Knights pledged $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute.
2026	At 88, Knight remains Nike’s Chairman Emeritus and one of America’s wealthiest entrepreneurs.

Phil Knight Family

Family Member	Relationship	Information
William W. Knight	Father	Phil Knight’s father; worked as a lawyer and newspaper publisher.
Lota Hatfield Knight	Mother	Phil Knight’s mother.
Penelope “Penny” Knight	Wife	Phil Knight’s wife; the couple has been married since 1968.
Matthew Knight	Son	Phil and Penny’s son; died in 2004 in a scuba-diving accident.
Travis Knight	Son	Filmmaker, entrepreneur and animation executive, known for his work with Laika.
Christina Knight	Daughter	Phil and Penny Knight’s daughter.
Knight Family	Family	Forbes lists Knight as married with three children and notes that he and Penny have given billions to philanthropic causes.

Phil Knight Car Collection

Car	Estimated Value	Details
Audi R8	$150,000–$200,000	Knight has been reported driving a black Audi R8 with contrasting silver accents around Nike’s Oregon headquarters.
1963 Plymouth Valiant Station Wagon	$5,000–$15,000+	One of the most interesting vehicles associated with Knight’s early career. He used his Plymouth to carry and sell running shoes when building Blue Ribbon Sports.
Nike-branded Lamborghini	$250,000+ estimated	A Lamborghini carrying Nike branding has been reported as part of Knight’s vehicle collection. The exact model and ownership value are not consistently documented.
Mercedes-Maybach	$200,000–$300,000+ estimated	Luxury Mercedes-Maybach vehicles have been reported among the cars associated with Knight’s private hangar. Exact model details are limited.
Rolls-Royce	$300,000+ estimated	Rolls-Royce vehicles have also been reported alongside his other luxury cars, although specific model and ownership details are limited.

Phil Knight Private Jet Collection

Aircraft	Estimated Value	Details
Gulfstream G650	Around $65 million	Knight is reported to own a Gulfstream G650, one of the world’s most capable long-range private business jets.
Nike G650 “Rare Air”	$60M+ estimated	A Nike-associated Gulfstream G650 known as “Rare Air” has been reported among the aircraft connected with Nike’s aviation operation.
Nike G650 “Nike Air Force”	$60M+ estimated	Another Gulfstream G650, identified as N72NC, has been reported in connection with Nike’s aircraft fleet.
Gulfstream GV	$20M–$30M+ estimated	A Gulfstream GV, identified in reports as N3546, has also been associated with Nike’s aircraft fleet.

Phil Knight Private Hangar

Asset	Estimated Value	Details
Private Aircraft Hangar	$7.6 million	Knight reportedly built a large private hangar at Hillsboro Airport, Oregon, specifically to house his aircraft. Reports put the facility at about 29,000 square feet.

Phil Knight Property Collection

Property / Asset	Estimated Value	Details
Hillsboro, Oregon Residence	Multi-million-dollar estimated value	Knight lives in the rural area outside Hillsboro, Oregon, close to Nike’s headquarters. Public reporting describes the area as his long-term home base.
La Quinta, California Home	$4M+ reported purchase range	Knight and Penny have owned a home in La Quinta, California. Previous reporting has linked the couple to properties in the area’s exclusive golf communities.
Oregon Ranch / Land Holdings	Value not consistently reported	Knight has been associated with significant Oregon land holdings and rural property, reflecting his preference for privacy and open space.
Hillsboro Aviation Facility	$7.6M	His private aircraft hangar is one of his most clearly reported luxury assets.

Phil Knight Luxury & Personal Collections

Collection	Estimated Value	Details
Private Aircraft	$100M+ combined estimated	His reported Gulfstream aircraft represent the most valuable part of his transportation collection.
Luxury Cars	$1M+ estimated	Reported vehicles include an Audi R8, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Maybach and Rolls-Royce.
Nike Memorabilia	High historical value	As Nike’s co-founder, Knight has an extraordinary connection to early Nike products, prototypes and company history, although a complete private inventory is not publicly documented.
Sports Memorabilia	Value varies	Knight’s lifelong connection with Oregon athletics and Nike gives him access to significant sports-related memorabilia, but individual private holdings are not comprehensively documented.
Art & Collectibles	Private / undisclosed	Knight keeps much of his personal collecting activity private, so specific high-value art holdings should not be stated as confirmed without stronger documentation.

Phil Knight’s Most Valuable Reported Assets

Rank	Asset	Estimated Value
1	Gulfstream G650	~$65 million
2	Additional Gulfstream G650 aircraft	$60M+ each estimated
3	Private aircraft hangar	$7.6 million
4	Luxury property portfolio	Multi-million dollars
5	Luxury & Nike-branded vehicles	$1M+ estimated collectively

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