Ep.279 Why Nike Pays Athletes Instead of Advertisers
- Author
- Rosha Entezari
- Published
- Thu 28 Aug 2025
- Episode Link
- None
Why Nike Pays Athletes Instead of Advertisers
In 1984, Nike signed a rookie named Michael Jordan. It wasn’t just a sponsorship—it was a bet on story over slogans.
Air Jordans didn’t sell because of ads. They sold because people wanted to wear greatness. Nike turned athletes into culture—and culture into billions.
Today, they still pour money into athletes, influencers, and social proof—because people trust people more than brands.
The money lesson? Influence scales faster than ads. Build stories, not slogans. Faces, not features. That’s how movements—and fortunes—are made.
Good Morning, Money.
