Adidas

Adidas was founded on August 18, 1949, by Adolf “Adi” Dassler following his legendary split with brother Rudolf “Rudi” Dassler. Together they ran a pioneering footwear company for nearly 30 years before parting ways following World War II. Their breakup is one of the most legendary stories in athletics — and created one of its biggest rivalries. Rudolf went on to found Puma. Both companies remain based in the Dasslers’ hometown of Herzogenaurach.

Adidas is now a multinational giant providing cutting edge athletic wear and fashion and lifestyle products in every major market across the globe. Since its inception, football/soccer has been a core focus, resulting in one of its most enduring hit shoes, the Samba. Originally designed by Adolf in 1949 for football players to wear on icy fields, the Samba has grown into an icon worn by generations of fans. Another core item in its Classics collection is the Stan Smith, which traces its origins to the tennis court in 1965. After facing a financial crisis in the early 1990s, Adidas transformed into a marketing-driven company under then-CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus. The strategy was a winner. Adidas went public in 1995 and over the years has cemented its place in the culture through partnerships with athletes such as Lionel Messi, David Beckham and James Harden, as well as musicians, models, actors and fashion designers, including the highly controversial Kanye West.