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NikeNamed for the Greek Goddess of victory, Nike is the world’s largest athletic apparel and shoe supplier. The company not only shaped the modern footwear industry but also revolutionized sports marketing with its strategy of endorsing athletes to personify its brand. In 2021, the company’s market capitalization exceeded $250B.
Nike cofounders Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman met on the University of Oregon’s track team (Knight ran, Bowerman coached). After graduate school, Knight founded Blue Ribbon Sports to distribute Japan’s Onitsuka Tiger running shoes in America.
When Knight sent Bowerman a demo pair of the sneakers, hoping that Bowerman’s team of runners would wear them, Bowerman asked to be Knight’s business partner. The pair joined forces, selling shoes at track meets out of the back of Knight’s car before parting ways with the Japanese distributor and becoming Nike in 1971.
Amid the brand’s financial and commercial success, critics have previously raised questions about the company’s labor practices and political messaging.Explore Nike
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Colin Kaepernick’s ad with Nike won an EmmyColin Kaepernick’s 2018 “Dream Crazy” ad with Nike became a controversial touchpoint for American politics. While many liberals applauded Nike for siding with Kaepernick’s BLM protests, many conservatives boycotted and criticized the company. The GuardianThe Beatles once sued NikeNike used The Beatles’ “Revolution” in an ad, sparking a $15M lawsuit over the song’s use. While The Beatles and Nike ultimately reached an agreement, Nike ushered in the modern practice of using hit songs in advertisements, as opposed to jingles or covers. Fast CompanySome Nike shoes are actually making runners too fastIn 2018, Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge lowered the world marathon record to 2:01:39 in a pair of Nike Vaporflys. The unusually thick running shoes sparked controversy around the shoe regulations for professional runners. RunShaquille O’Neal showed up to a meeting with Nike wearing head-to-toe ReebokNike wanted to sign then-newcomer Shaquille O’Neill, but didn’t offer Shaq his own shoe because they had already signed Alonzo Mourning. Shaq said he felt like Nike didn’t understand his potential, and the company wouldn’t have given him as much creative control as Reebok would. ComplexThe most expensive shoe ever sold is from NikeA prototype of Kanye’s Air Yeezy’s from 2008 sold for $1.8M in 2021. Kanye West wore the shoes at a Grammys performance in 2008, and they became one of the most sought-after samples in sneaker history. NewsweekNike went public in 1980, and the first share sold at $22Nike stock plummeted in the four years that followed the company’s initial public offering (IPO). The company’s deal with Michael Jordan in 1984 ultimately revived investor confidence. NasdaqNike’s labor practices became controversial in the 1990s—leading to widespread protests of the brandIn the 1990s, Nike came under fire for its use of factories with unsafe working conditions and child labour to produce its products. While Nike didn’t own the manufacturing sites, many people felt Nike was ultimately responsible for using sweatshops in countries like Vietnam and Thailand. Mallen BakerNike’s slogan was inspired by a death row inmate’s last wordsAdvertising superstar Dan Wieden of legendary advertising agency Widen+Kennedy said he got inspiration for Nike’s “Just do it” from an inmate’s last words on death row. Wieden said the way the inmate talked about facing uncertainty inspired him. NPRKanye abruptly left Nike in 2013 and took his Air Yeezys to Adidas for $10MIn 2009, Kanye West became the first non-athlete Nike produced a signature shoe for. However, Kanye left Nike for the company’s rival, Adidas, just a few years later. Kanye said Nike was stifling his creative vision, and he felt like he wasn’t getting enough royalties. TimeNike made $126M in the first year of Air Jordan salesThe first pair of Air Jordans hit shelves in 1985 for $65. The company expected to sell $3M worth of shoes in the first three years, but ultimately blew past that goal in the first year of sales. Yahoo FinanceNike made retailers pay for Air Jordans upfront to guarantee stockInstead of paying for the inventory sold, Knight locked retailers into iron-clad agreements, where the companies would pay upfront for Nike inventory (but at a 7% discount). Knight did this to leverage debt, allowing retailers a better chance at getting the wildly popular Air Jordans. The Motley FoolOne of Nike’s most transformational executives started out as its lawyerRob Strasser helped settle a lawsuit against Onitsuka Tiger when Blue Ribbon Sports became Nike and stopped distributing the Japanese shoes. Strasser then became a powerhouse at Nike credited with saving the company from going under in the 1970s, before leaving the company in 1987. Williamette WeekThe first shoes Jordan got from Nike were against NBA regulationsThe initial mockups Nike gave Jordan were entirely black and red. The NBA had strict rules around shoe color at the time that these colors violated. The story goes that Nike paid the $5K fine for each game that Jordan wore the shoes in, but there’s no photographic evidence that Jordan ever wore them in a game at all. Regardless, Nike created the “banned” ad, capitalizing on the controversy. ComplexMichael Jordan’s mother persuaded him to meet with Nike instead of AdidasMichael Jordan wore Converse when he played at UNC Chapel Hill, but always wanted to wear Adidas when he went to the NBA. He tried to get Adidas to match Nike's $2.5M deal, but Adidas wouldn’t do it. ESPNA NASA engineer came up with the idea for the air-cushioned Nike Air shoesFrank Rudy came to Nike with the idea of using air capsules in the soles of running shoes to provide better cushioning. The first shoe with this technology, the Tailwind, came out in 1979. Mr. PorterNike couldn’t sign legendary distance runner Steve Prefontaine due to regulationsBecause of amateur running regulations, Prefontaine—who held every American running record from 2,000 to 10,000 meters at the time—couldn’t do a paid endorsement for Nike. So Nike’s Phil Knight decided to give him a $5K yearly stipend and print business cards that said Prefontaine was the “National Director of Public Affairs.” When asked what that meant, Knight said, “it means he can run fast.” NikeNike cofounder Phil Knight once taught accounting classes at Portland State UniversityBefore Nike took off, Phil Knight taught accounting classes at Portland State. He met two very important people there: his wife Penelope and Carolyn Davidson, who designed Nike’s logo. People.comNike was almost named ‘Dimension Six’Jeff Johnson, the company’s first full-time employee, said the name came to him in a dream just before Blue Ribbon Sports filed a patent for the “Nike” football shoe. Nike cofounder Phil Knight wanted to name the company “Dimension Six,” but was ultimately convinced that a one-word name would be better. (Some users may experience a paywall.) Business InsiderNike started out as a Japanese shoe distributor called Blue Ribbon SportsNike cofounder Phil Knight’s first business venture was distributing Onitsuka Tiger running shoes in America. Knight would drive to track meets and sell the shoes out of the back of his car. Sneaker Freaker Nike’s Phil Knight ran for Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon before they became business partnersThey became business partners when Knight tried to sell the Onitsuka Tigers to Bowerman for the Oregon track team. Bowerman told Knight he didn’t just want the shoes; he wanted in on the whole deal. SpotifyNike only paid $35 for the swoosh—and cofounder Phil Knight didn’t like it at firstA student Nike cofounder Phil Knight met while teaching at Portland State designed the logo for the “Nike” football shoe (the company was still Blue Ribbon Sports at the time). When Phil Knight saw it, he said, “Well, I don’t love it, but it will grow on me.” NikeNike is one of the world’s most recognizable brandsPeople recognize the Nike “swoosh” brand logo all over the world. The simplicity of the logo and the short, snappy name of the company are largely responsible for the brand’s wide-sweeping visibility. VoxBeat Generation iconoclast William S. Burroughs once appeared in a Nike adFollowing the rise of grunge in 1991, major corporations sought to capitalize on the changing cultural tide by using "authentic" voices to bolster their brands. One of them was Beat writer William S. Burroughs, known for his iconoclastic novels "Naked Lunch" and "Junky," who appeared in a 1994 Nike ad, singing the praises of "the coming of the new technology." What's for afters?How Nike broke runningIn a nearly unprecedented sports innovation, Nike's VaporFly Next% running shoes have harnessed material science to help elite runners shatter records. WIRED UK'The fact is always obvious much too late, but the most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid.'-Writer J.D. Salinger (1919-2010) GoodReadsBill Bowerman brought running for fitness to AmericaNike cofounder Bill Bowerman once cowrote a book with a doctor, W.E. Harris, called “Jogging.” Published in 1967 by New York, Grosset & Dunlap, it introduced America to the idea of running for health, instead of just sport—and kicked off the fitness frenzy of the 1970s that fueled Nike’s early success. (Some readers may experience a paywall). The New York TimesBill Bowerman’s daughter-in-law found the waffle iron he used to create a breakthrough shoeNike cofounder and University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman poured polyurethane into a waffle iron for his first attempt at creating the revolutionary waffle-knit sole. The waffle iron, which was found in his backyard, now sits in Nike’s headquarters. NPRBill Bowerman got the idea for the breakthrough waffle-knit running shoe from a waffle ironNike cofounder Bill Bowerman was trying to find new ways to create traction for his runners on artificial turf. He looked at the waffle iron and realized that the pattern would work for the shoes’ soles. HISTORYThe business plan for Blue Ribbon Sports came from a Stanford assignmentNike cofounder Phil Knight’s original idea was to begin selling Japanese shoes, which were cheaper and just as light and durable as the leading German shoes from Adidas and Puma, at a lower price in the American market. His last assignment in business school at Stanford became the original business plan for Blue Ribbon Sports. QuartrThe 1960s through 1980s are generally considered the ‘Golden Age of Advertising’This time period spawned some of history’s most well-known ad campaigns, from "I Heart NY" to Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign. In this video from the 4As (the American Association of Advertising Agencies), advertising executive Jerry Della Femina reflects on the most creative ads of the era. The 4As19 fungal pathogens are of key concern to world health officialsIn 2022, this global health body issued its first-ever list of top fungal threats to human health. It said fungal threats are spreading and occurring more frequently. The WHO’s list included 19 fungal pathogens to watch, and said that the most dangerous ones to public health are Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, and Candida auris. There are only a handful of classes of medication currently available to combat fungal pathogens, with few others in the pipeline even though antimicrobial resistance is growing. World Health OrganizationThe 1960s through 1980s is generally considered the ‘Golden Age of Advertising’This time period spawned some of history’s most well-known ad campaigns, from "I Heart NY" to Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign. In this video from the 4As (the American Association of Advertising Agencies), advertising executive Jerry Della Femina reflects on the most creative ads of the era. YouTubeWatch Bill Nye discuss biomechanics and sustainability while shopping for sneakersWhile exploring sneaker history and technology, Nye covers the science of structural design, air bubbles and materials, including algae foam. He once voiced a 20-minute guided run on the Nike Run Club app. ComplexChris Nikic is the first person with Down syndrome to complete several marathonsIn March 2024, Chris Nikic finished the Tokyo Marathon in 5:39:41. That was the final step towards his ultimate goal of earning the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Finisher distinction. It recognizes runners who have finished Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. Special OlympicsRunning became more popular in the mid-20th centuryOnce considered a fringe activity, running eventually became an American interest. The trend was spurred in part by the 1966 book "Jogging," which was cowritten by Bill Bowerman, the cofounder of Nike. VoxEleven architects collaborated to create the UN building in NYCRenowned leaders in the field, accustomed to control over their projects, had to work together to complete the building. This quick article explores the tensions and cooperation of the architects to complete the UN building. ArchDailyThe best advertisements of all timeThis list includes the spots (like Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign and Snickers’ Betty White cameo) that transcended advertising and became genuine pop culture sensations. American Marketing AssociationNineteen years after its conclusion, scientists finish what the HGP startedThe Human Genome Project mapped 92% of the human genome sequence upon its completion in 2003, leaving unreachable DNA regions unmapped. PacBio HiFi DNA sequencing allowed its completion 19 years later, with the additional mapping of 200 million DNA letters. NIHA medieval Italian visits Constantinople In the tenth century, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I sent Liudprand of Cremona, an Italian bishop, to Constantinople on a diplomatic mission. He was not successful. But the very undiplomatic report he sent back to the emperor about his experiences provides a unique – and often very entertaining – look at life and ceremony in the Byzantine capital, dramatically different from anything in Liudprand’s Italy. Voices of the PastIn 1898, Nikola Tesla wowed a crowd by controlling a boat with no visible connectionSome onlookers thought it was a trick, such a a monkey being inside the boat, rather than mind control or some other metaphysical phenomenon. In reality, Tesla was pioneering radio waves, proving wireless control was possible. 1440Tesla's alternating current power's most of the world's electric gridsIn 1879, Thomas Edison’s light bulb relied on direct current, but such currents can't efficiently transmit power over long distances. Nikola Tesla introduced alternating current, which feature far fewer energy loses. Despite Edison’s attempts to discredit AC, Tesla proved its efficiency by lighting the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. 1440Read about the nine depictions of Nikola Tesla in media through 2020Portrayals include comedic takes, like John C. Reilly's performance in Comedy Central's "Drunk History" series, and more serious interpretations, like Nicholas Hoult's performance in Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s historical drama, "The Current War." TheWrapTesla's lack of business savvy and inability to commercialize led to his obscurityFor decades, despite pioneering technologies for large-scale electrical systems and telecommunications, Nikola Tesla had been forgotten to history. Rather than monetizing his work and becoming more well known, his inventor-first mentality saw him sell off lucrative patents to fund new experiments in the short term. SmithsonianNikola Tesla was born in modern-day Croatia and moved to the US in 1884His interest in electricity came from his mother, who invented small household appliances during Tesla's upbringing. Upon arriving in America, he began working for and improving upon the electrical inventions made in Thomas Edison's lab. BiographyTaylor Swift influenced record labels to change the way they write contractsIn addition to being a successful songwriter, Taylor Swift is a change-maker in the music industry. She asserted creative control over her music, re-recording her earlier albums after she lost the rights to them, and sparked a vinyl revolution in a digital age. BillboardYouTube occupies more US screen time than NetflixAs consumers continue to shift their viewing activity away from traditional cable and broadcast TV, they’re spending an increasing amount of time streaming content, much of it on YouTube. In fact, Nielsen data from August 2025, shows that YouTube accounted for 13.1% of US screen time, compared to Netflix’s 8.7%. NielsenNine airplanes that transformed aviationThis infographic details nine airplane models that transformed aviation. This visual guide jumps over the dawn of modern air travel and begins with the open-cockpit biplane flown by the first scheduled airline, the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line. National GeographicNine eyewitness accounts of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivorsJapan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki became the first cities in history to be hit with nuclear weapons, where tens of thousands of civilians were killed nearly instantly. Hundreds of thousands of people who survived the bombings—referred to as hibakusha—dealt with wounds, radiation poisoning, and alienation from a society unable to process what had happened. This collection of accounts lets nine of those survivors speak, including one of the 165 survivors of both bombings. Smithsonian MagazineNineteenth-century, hand-drawn infographics on US slavery and raceIn the second half of the 19th century, researchers studying the behavior of the millions of emancipated Americans after the Civil War used "information graphics" to cut through the noise of racially charged debate. In this collection from Stanford, you can see century-old, stunningly hand-drawn data visualizations showing racial demographics, the effects of emancipation on cotton prices, and more. Stanford UniversityNineteen unique graduation speechesHighlights from 19 of the best graduation speeches in the last few decades, from Will Ferrell to Issa Rae. Insider Business
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