Who was Nike's first big signing?

"Nike's first signature athlete was welterweight wrestler, Wayne Wells. The 5' 8" Texas native had an accomplished career, winning a gold medal in Munich in 1972 while working closely with Nike footwear designers on his signature, high-top wresting boot.

Who was the most famous endorser of Nike?

Michael Jordan: $60 million/year

Michael Jordan is not only one of the most well-known and loved basketball players of all time, but he's also the player with the biggest endorsement from Nike.

What was Nike's first signature shoe?

1972: Nike Bruin

Nike would release its first ever basketball shoe in 1972, when it came out with the Nike Bruin.

What was Michael Jordan's first deal with Nike?

On this day 38 years ago, Jordan signed his first sneaker contract with Nike. The upstart American company placed all of its eggs in the basket of the 6'6" guard from North Carolina. Despite favoring Adidas, Jordan signed a five-year, $2.5 million deal with Nike. It was a record-breaking contract at the time.

Who were Nike's first employees?

The story goes that Nike's first employee Jeff Johnson got the inspiration to use the name in a dream. Jeff Johnson was hired to help sell Blue Ribbon's shoes in 1965. He also helped come up with the name “Nike” for the company. The Swoosh logo is a design by graphic design student Carolyn Davidson.

History of the Nike-Jordan Brand

Who made Nike famous?

Phil Knight, founder of shoe giant Nike, retired as chairman in June 2016 after 52 years at the company. Knight ran track at the University of Oregon and created Nike shoes with his former track coach, Bill Bowerman.

Who currently owns Nike?

4 The co-founder of Nike, Phil Knight, and his son Travis Knight, along with the holding companies and trusts they control, own more than 97% of outstanding Class A shares. 5 This allows the Knight family to exercise effective control of Nike even though it is a publicly traded business.

Who was Nike's first endorsement deal?

Nike's first professional athlete endorser was Romanian tennis player Ilie Năstase. The first track endorser was distance runner Steve Prefontaine. Prefontaine was the prized pupil of the company's co-founder, Bill Bowerman, while he coached at the University of Oregon.

How much does Nike pay LeBron?

Four-time NBA champion James signed a lifetime deal in 2015 with Nike, reportedly worth more than $1billion.

How much was LeBron James first contract with Nike?

James has been under the Nike umbrella since before he entered the NBA. He signed a seven-year deal with the company in 2003 worth a little over $90 million.

When was the first Nike Collab?

Release Date: 2001 Buy: GOAT Editor's Notes: As the Nike Dunk was just beginning to blow up in the early '00s, Nike reached out to Stüssy to collaborate on two Dunk Highs, marking the first time Nike collaborated with a clothing company. Historic.

Who was the first athlete with a signature shoe?

Who was the first NBA player to have a signature shoe? Chuck Taylor's were the first signature shoe but taylor did not play in the nba. George Mikan"s endorsed shoe came out in 1952 but it did not qualify as a signature. His name was not on it.

What was Nike's original name?

It was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman, a track-and-field coach at the University of Oregon, and his former student Phil Knight. They opened their first retail outlet in 1966 and launched the Nike brand shoe in 1972. The company was renamed Nike, Inc., in 1978 and went public two years later.

Who is the highest paid Nike endorser?

LeBron James, Nike

The chosen heir? None other than King James. James' christening as the second-coming of Jordan began as a high schooler, when he signed a seven-year, $90 million deal with Nike.

What athlete made Nike famous?

The greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan, laced up looks from the brand throughout his iconic career starting in 1984, and Nike would sign the greatest hoops stars from each generation that followed, including the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and three-time NNBA champion LeBron James.

How much do Nike pay Michael Jordan?

The athlete and apparel company initially linked up in 1984, his rookie year. Based on those figures, Jordan may have earned $256.1 million last year from licensing his name to Nike. His net worth is $1.7 billion, per Forbes. Jordan Brand revenue hit $4.8 billion in 2021, up 31% from the previous year's $3.6 billion.

Who owns the Air Jordan logo?

The "Jumpman" logo is owned by Nike to promote the Air Jordan brand of basketball sneakers and other sportswear. It is the silhouette of former Chicago Bulls NBA player and current Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan.

Did Nike give LeBron a billionaire?

He has signed two extensions with Nike since 2003, including a “lifetime” contract in 2016 that will reportedly pay him more than $1 billion in total. Not to mention Nike also opened the “LeBron James Innovation Center” at its global headquarters last year.

Who was the first paid athlete endorsement?

Fast-forwarding about two millennia into modern times, we find the first endorser, Honus Wagner. Multiple sources cite the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop as the first athlete to endorse a sports product, circa 1905. A decade before, when Wagner starred for the Louisville Colonels, he befriended Bud Hillerich.

Who was the first NBA billionaire?

LeBron James poses at the premiere of the film Hustle on June 1 at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles. James' net worth recently broke $1 billion, making him the first ever active NBA player to become a billionaire.

Who turned down Nike?

The story of Magic Johnson turning down Nike founder Phil Knight's offer to give him stock in 1979 was given new life this week when the story was recapped in the HBO series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.”

What does Nike stand for?

In Greek mythology, Nike is the Winged Goddess of Victory. The logo is derived from goddess' wing,'swoosh', which symbolises the sound of speed, movement, power and motivation.

Who bought the Nike logo?

This symbol, one that helped take the company from a side-hustle to a multi-billion dollar sports brand, was purchased from a graphic design student for a mere $35. Carolyn Davidson was first approached by Nike co-founder Phil Knight in the late 1960s.

How many brands does Nike own?

Now in its sixth decade, Nike owns a multitude of world-famous brands such as Nike Pro, Nike Golf, Nike+, Air Force 1, Air Jordan, Air Max, Nike Blazers, Nike Dunk, Nike Skateboarding and Nike CR7. It also owns subsidiaries such as Brand Jordan, Converse and Hurley International.