Nike's inception dates back to January 25,
1964, when it was established as "Blue Ribbon Sports" by founders
Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. It officially adopted the name Nike, Inc. on May
30, 1971, inspired by Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. The company markets
its products under various brands, including Nike Golf, Nike Pro, Nike+, Air
Jordan, Nike Blazers, Air Force 1, Nike Dunk, Air Max, Foamposite, Nike
Skateboarding, and Nike CR7, along with subsidiaries such as Air Jordan and
Converse. Nike has also had ownership of brands like Bauer Hockey from 1995 to
2008 and previously owned Cole Haan, Umbro, and Hurley International.
In addition to manufacturing sportswear and
equipment, Nike operates its own retail stores under the Niketown brand. The
company is renowned for its sponsorship of prominent athletes and sports teams
worldwide, associated with famous trademarks such as "Just Do It" and
the iconic Swoosh logo.
As of 2020, Nike employed a global workforce of 76,700 individuals. In 2020, the brand itself was valued at over $32 billion, making it the most valuable brand in the sports industry. Notably, in 2017, the Nike brand was valued at $29.6 billion. Nike also ranked 89th in the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.