The athletic-wear industry is one of the most consolidated branded-consumer categories in the world. Nike alone controls more than a third of the global athletic-footwear market. Adidas plus Puma plus a couple of others control most of the rest. Then there’s a layer of premium / specialty brands (Lululemon, On Running, Hoka, Salomon) and the perennial newcomers trying to break through. Here’s the ownership map of the ten largest sports apparel brands in 2026.
How we built this list
Ranking is by 2025 global revenue (per each company’s most recent annual or quarterly report). Where multiple major brands are owned by the same parent (Skechers, Under Armour, Authentic Brands Group), only the parent is listed once. Family-controlled European brands are noted because their governance differs materially from US-listed sportswear companies.
The Top 10
1. Nike — Phil Knight family (~25% economic, dominant via voting structure)
Nike (NYSE: NKE) is the largest sports apparel company in the world by revenue (~$51B in fiscal 2025). Co-founder Phil Knight and his family retain approximately 25% economic ownership and effective voting control through Class B shares. CEO Elliott Hill returned in 2024 after John Donahoe’s departure. The Knight family’s combined net worth exceeds $40 billion.
2. Adidas — Public (Frankfurt: ADS), broad institutional ownership
Adidas AG, headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, is the second-largest sports apparel company by revenue. CEO Bjørn Gulden returned the company to growth after the Kanye West / Yeezy crisis in 2022. Major shareholders include the Liederbach family (~10% via family office), Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, and passive institutional investors.
3. Lululemon — Public, founder-influenced
Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ: LULU) is publicly traded with no controlling shareholder. Founder Chip Wilson is no longer on the board and has been publicly critical of management’s diversity-focused strategic direction; he retains a personal stake estimated at 8–9%. CEO Calvin McDonald has led the company since 2018. Vanguard, BlackRock, and Capital Group are major institutional holders.
4. Puma — Public (Frankfurt: PUM), Pinault family (Artémis) majority
Puma SE is controlled by the Pinault family of France through their holding company Artémis, which holds approximately 29% of common stock. Artémis also controls Kering (Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta) and Christie’s auction house. François Pinault is the family patriarch; his son François-Henri Pinault is currently CEO of Kering. Arne Freundt is CEO of Puma.
5. Under Armour — Founder-controlled (Kevin Plank voting majority)
Under Armour (NYSE: UAA, UA) was founded by Kevin Plank, who retains majority voting control through Class B super-voting shares. Plank stepped back from the CEO role in 2020 but returned as CEO in April 2024 after the company’s turnaround stalled. The Class B structure gives Plank governance control regardless of economic dilution.
6. On Running (On Holding AG) — Public, founder-influenced (Roger Federer minority)
On Holding (NYSE: ONON), the Swiss running-shoe company, went public in September 2021. Founders David Allemann, Caspar Coppetti, and Olivier Bernhard retain meaningful equity. Tennis legend Roger Federer is a strategic investor and brand ambassador with a personal equity stake; he sits on the company’s board. Major institutional holders include Capital Group and Vanguard.
7. Hoka (Deckers Outdoor) — Public, broad institutional
Hoka is owned by Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE: DECK), which also owns UGG and Teva. Deckers acquired Hoka in 2013 for approximately $1.1 million in operating-business-and-IP fees plus future royalties — one of the most successful low-cost acquisitions in modern athletic-footwear history (Hoka now generates billions in annual revenue). Stefano Caroti is Deckers’ CEO.
8. Skechers — Greenberg family, founder-controlled
Skechers (NYSE: SKX) is led by founder Robert Greenberg, with his sons Michael Greenberg (president) and Mark Greenberg in senior roles. The Greenberg family retains majority voting control through Class B shares. Skechers became the third-largest athletic-footwear brand globally by 2024. The family’s combined ownership stake is worth approximately $5–6 billion.
9. New Balance — Davis family (Jim Davis), private
New Balance Athletic Shoes is privately owned by Jim Davis and his wife Anne Davis. Jim Davis bought the company in 1972 for $100,000 and built it into one of the world’s largest privately-held athletic-footwear brands. The Davis family has stated publicly they will never take New Balance public; the company has continued aggressive growth especially through the 2020s heritage-running revival.
10. Salomon (Amer Sports) — Anta Sports (China) + Tencent + Fountainvest
Salomon, Wilson, Atomic, Arc’teryx, Peak Performance, and other premium outdoor brands are owned by Amer Sports Inc. (NYSE: AS), which IPO’d in February 2024. Amer Sports is majority-controlled by a consortium led by China’s Anta Sports (~52%), plus FountainVest, ANAMERED Investments, and Tencent. The group acquired Amer Sports privately in 2018 for €4.6 billion before re-IPO’ing it.
At-a-glance comparison
| Rank | Brand(s) | Parent / Owner | Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nike | Public (Knight family ~25%) | Founder voting power |
| 2 | Adidas | Public (Liederbach ~10%) | No single controller |
| 3 | Lululemon | Public (Chip Wilson ~8%) | No controller |
| 4 | Puma | Artémis / Pinault family | ~29% |
| 5 | Under Armour | Kevin Plank Class B | Majority voting |
| 6 | On Running | Public, founders + Federer | Founder-influenced |
| 7 | Hoka / UGG / Teva | Deckers Outdoor (public) | Broad institutional |
| 8 | Skechers | Greenberg family Class B | Majority voting |
| 9 | New Balance | Davis family | 100% private |
| 10 | Salomon / Arc’teryx / Wilson | Anta Sports (China) ~52% | Public via Amer Sports |
My take
Sports apparel has more founder-controlled public companies than almost any other consumer category. Nike, Under Armour, Skechers, On Running — all have founder voting power preserved through dual-class shares or family majority. The Pinault family’s Artémis control of Puma is the European parallel. The most interesting story for 2026 is Anta Sports — a Chinese state-friendly conglomerate now owns Wilson, Salomon, Atomic, and Arc’teryx. Western consumers don’t yet associate those brands with Chinese ownership, but they should. And New Balance staying private under one family for fifty years is genuinely impressive given how much capital has flowed through this sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Nike?
Nike (NYSE: NKE) is publicly traded but co-founder Phil Knight and his family retain approximately 25% economic ownership and effective voting control through Class B super-voting shares. The Knight family’s combined net worth from Nike is estimated at over $40 billion. CEO Elliott Hill returned to lead the company in 2024.
Who owns Puma?
Puma SE (Frankfurt: PUM) is controlled by the Pinault family of France through their investment holding company Artémis, which holds approximately 29% of common stock. Artémis also controls luxury group Kering (Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta) and Christie’s auction house.
Is New Balance publicly traded?
No. New Balance is privately owned by Jim Davis and his wife Anne Davis. Jim Davis bought the company in 1972 for $100,000. The family has stated publicly that they will not take the company public or sell it during their lifetimes. New Balance is one of the largest privately-held athletic-footwear brands in the world.
Who owns Arc’teryx and Salomon?
Arc’teryx, Salomon, Wilson, Atomic, Peak Performance, and several other premium outdoor brands are owned by Amer Sports Inc. (NYSE: AS), which went public in February 2024. Amer Sports is majority-controlled by a Chinese-led consortium with Anta Sports holding approximately 52%, plus FountainVest, ANAMERED, and Tencent as minority investors.
Who owns Hoka?
Hoka is owned by Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE: DECK), which also owns UGG and Teva. Deckers acquired Hoka in 2013 for approximately $1.1 million plus future royalties. The brand has grown to generate billions in annual revenue, making it one of the most successful low-cost acquisitions in modern athletic-footwear history.
