Phil Knight Net Worth – How Rich is Nike’s Founder Played by Ben Affleck in ‘Air’?
The Oscar winner Ben Affleck is starring in the latest movie, Air. The plot of the movie is based on real-life events about the inception of a basketball shoe line called Air Jordan. Following its commencement, a Nike employee strives to make a business deal with rookie player Michael Jordan.
The film is all set for a theatrical release on April 5, 2023. It would be interesting to witness the story of one of the most iconic deals of all time. In the film, Affleck is seen portraying the role of Phil Knight, who is the founder of the shoe brand Nike. According to Forbes, Knight is the 17th richest person in the world.
What is the net worth of Phil Knight?
Phil Knight is one of the wealthiest people in the world, with an estimated net worth of US$41.5 billion. Knight’s net worth doesn’t comprise just his business, he is also the owner of the stop-motion film production company Laika. Just like his enormous wealth, Knight has an enormously big heart. The billionaire is known for his generosity and philanthropic nature. With his notable ventures, it is interesting to know about his impressive life history.
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Knight started his company with his former University of Oregon track coach in 1964. Nike’s success over the period is commendable and deserves to be heard by the audience. Knight once had a groundbreaking career deal with basketball icon Michael Jordan. The deal was to create one of the most successful products of the company, which was named Air Jordans. Fortunately, people will get a chance to witness this iconic deal, as Ben Affleck has directed the movie Air, which tells the story of the legendary deal. Affleck is also playing the role of Nike’s founder in the film.
What was Nike’s deal with Michael Jordan?
Nike was not always as big a name as it is today. After going through many hurdles and taking risks, the name has become a brand. In the early 1980s, Knight’s company was on the verge of falling, and to rise again, it was necessary to be bold and take a risk. Amid such crises, Knight came up with an idea to save his company.
Knight wanted the company to break into the basketball market, and his manager, Vaccaro, had the plan to collaborate and make a deal with Jordan. Though Knight was initially hesitant to go further with the plan, a risk was necessary to save the company. In an interview, Knight shared,
“We really needed a boost, and we thought this young basketball player from North Carolina might be able to help us that way, and his name was Michael Jordan. He had worn Adidas in his high school games, and he liked it, but we came out, we sold him, and ultimately he believed in us. And we sold pretty well that day.”
Knight’s vision turned out to be fruition as Air Jordans surpassed Nike’s expectations.
Source: Forbes
