Nike became a publicly traded company in 1980.
The company held its initial public offering on December 2, 1980, offering 2.5 million shares to investors. The flotation marked an important transition from a rapidly growing athletic-shoe business into a major public corporation.
Before the offering, Nike had expanded beyond its original running-shoe focus and was building a broader sportswear identity. Public investment provided capital for continued product development, marketing, manufacturing relationships, and international growth.
Nike’s stock-market debut is separate from its earlier corporate history. The business began as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964 and adopted the Nike name in 1971, but neither event made it publicly traded. The 1980 offering is the specific milestone associated with Nike entering the public markets.