Nike Inc. co-founder and chairman emeritus Phil Knight has reportedly donated 12 million shares of Nike stocks, or nearly $1 billion worth, to an unnamed charitable organization, according to reports.
Knight, 80, and his wife Penelope have been active philanthropists over the years, donating hundreds of millions of dollars to the University of Oregon and Stanford University, the two schools where Knight went to college and graduate school. According to reports, Knight's latest donation — worth $990 million when it was made Wednesday — represents about 0.7% of the company’s outstanding shares and 3.1% of his $32 billion fortune.
Earlier this year it was announced that Netflix has optioned the movie rights to Nike founder Phil Knight's autobiography "Shoe Dog." According to Variety, Knight will produce with Frank Marshall, while Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski have reportedly signed on to write the screenplay.
"Shoe Dog," which was published in April, 2016, and remains on the New York Times Best Seller list, will take viewers through Knight's journey, starting with his humble beginnings in Oregon to the launch of Nike in 1963 and the company's meteoric rise to the top of the athletic footwear and lifestyle space.
“I look forward to working with my friend, the great Frank Marshall, in bringing my story and the story of Nike to the screen,” Knight said. “I have been gratified by the reception my book has received and think that we can explain my journey and the story of Nike to an even larger audience in collaboration with Netflix.”