Who founded the Adidas company?

Adolf Dassler founded the Adidas company.

Dassler, widely known as Adi Dassler, registered the company Adolf Dassler adidas Sportschuhfabrik in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on August 18, 1949. The name “Adidas” combines “Adi,” his nickname, with the first part of “Dassler.”

Before Adidas existed, Adolf and his brother Rudolf Dassler operated the Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik, which they founded in 1924. The brothers’ business partnership ended after World War II, and Rudolf went on to establish Puma, another sportswear company based in Herzogenaurach. That family split is why Rudolf Dassler is a tempting but incorrect answer.

Adolf Dassler’s early work centered on designing specialized athletic footwear. Adidas began with 47 employees, and its reputation grew through innovations such as football boots with screw-in studs. The German national team’s 1954 World Cup victory, achieved while wearing Adidas boots, helped propel the young company to international fame. Herbert Hainer later led Adidas as an executive, but he was not its founder.