Adidas AG
Company History
Adidas History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1949 in Herzogenaurach, Germany
When was Adidas founded?
Adidas was founded in 1949 in Herzogenaurach, Germany by Adolf Dassler, making it 77 years old.
- Founded
- 1949
- Founding place
- Herzogenaurach, Germany
- Founders
- Adolf Dassler
- Headquarters today
- Herzogenaurach, Germany
- Milestones documented
- 13 (1924–2025)
- Current CEO
- Bjørn Gulden
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory Established |
| 1936 | Jesse Owens Wears Dassler Shoes |
| 1949 | Adidas Registered |
| 1954 | World Cup Boot Breakthrough |
| 1970 | Telstar World Cup Match Ball |
| 1993 | Robert Louis-Dreyfus Becomes CEO |
| 1995 | Adidas Lists Publicly |
| 1997 | Salomon Group Acquisition |
| 2006 | Reebok Acquisition Completed |
| 2021 | Reebok Divestiture Agreement |
| 2022 | Ye Partnership Terminated |
| 2023 | Bjørn Gulden Becomes CEO |
| 2025 | Record 2025 Sales |
- Where was Adidas founded?
- Adidas was founded in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 1949. adidas-group.com
- Where does the name Adidas come from?
- The name Adidas combines Adi, the nickname of founder Adolf Dassler, with the first three letters of his surname. en.wikipedia.org
- Who founded Adidas?
- Adidas was founded by Adolf Dassler.
- When did Adidas start?
- Adidas was founded in 1949.
- How old is Adidas?
- Adidas is 77 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Adolf and Rudolf Dassler established the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory in 1924. After the brothers separated, Adolf 'Adi' Dassler registered Adidas in Herzogenaurach in 1949, while Rudolf founded Puma. Rudolf is part of the predecessor-company history but was not a founder of Adidas.
Founders
Adolf Dassler
Adolf Dassler was the sole founder of Adidas. He developed sport-specific footwear, sought athlete feedback, and registered the Adidas company and 3-Stripes footwear in 1949. His earlier work with Rudolf Dassler belongs to the predecessor Dassler Brothers business, not to Adidas's founder list. Adolf Dassler was born in 1900. Adolf "Adi" Dassler was born on November 3, 1900 and died on September 6, 1978. A cobbler and inventor, he started the shoe company Gebruder Dassler Schuhfabrik, which his older brother Rudolf, later the founder of Puma, joined in 1924.
Key Milestones
Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory Established
Adolf and Rudolf Dassler established the predecessor shoe business in Herzogenaurach.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJesse Owens Wears Dassler Shoes
Jesse Owens competed in Dassler track shoes while winning four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAdidas Registered
Adolf Adi Dassler registered Adidas in Herzogenaurach after separating from Rudolf, who founded Puma.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgWorld Cup Boot Breakthrough
West Germany won the 1954 World Cup wearing Adidas boots with replaceable studs.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTelstar World Cup Match Ball
Adidas supplied the Telstar as the official match ball for the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRobert Louis-Dreyfus Becomes CEO
Robert Louis-Dreyfus became CEO and led a restructuring of Adidas.
Source: encyclopedia.comAdidas Lists Publicly
Adidas completed its public listing in Frankfurt under Robert Louis-Dreyfus.
Source: encyclopedia.comSalomon Group Acquisition
Adidas acquired Salomon Group, adding winter sports equipment and TaylorMade golf.
Source: encyclopedia.comReebok Acquisition Completed
Adidas completed its $3.8 billion acquisition of Reebok.
Source: forbesindia.comReebok Divestiture Agreement
Adidas agreed to sell Reebok to Authentic Brands Group for total consideration of up to $2.37 billion (EUR2.1 billion).
Source: adidas-group.comYe Partnership Terminated
Adidas terminated its partnership with Ye and stopped production of Yeezy branded products.
Source: adidas-group.comRecord 2025 Sales
Adidas reported sales of ~$28 billion (EUR24.811 billion) and attributable net income of ~$1.51 billion (EUR1.340 billion) for 2025.
Source: report.adidas-group.comMajor Acquisitions
Salomon Group
1997Adidas acquired Salomon to add winter sports equipment and TaylorMade golf to its portfolio.
Reebok
2006Adidas acquired Reebok to expand its North American presence and add a second global sportswear brand.
Five Ten
2011Adidas acquired Five Ten to add specialist climbing and mountain biking footwear.
Runtastic
2015Adidas acquired Runtastic to add mobile running and training applications and a digital fitness community.
Keep researching Adidas
Adidas Company History FAQ
What are the defining milestones in Adidas's historical timeline?
Key milestones include the 1924 Dassler shoe factory founding, 1936 Jesse Owens Olympics, 1949 official founding of Adidas, 1954 'Miracle of Bern' World Cup, 1970 introduction of the Telstar World Cup ball, 1995 Frankfurt IPO, and 2023 terrace sneaker resurgence under Bjørn Gulden.
When did Adidas introduce the well-known Trefoil logo?
Adidas debuted the well-known three-leaf Trefoil logo at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, which today serves as the exclusive global trademark for the Adidas Originals heritage lifestyle division.
How did hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. change sports marketing for Adidas in 1986?
In 1986, rap legends Run-D.M.C. released the hit song 'My Adidas', leading Adidas to sign the group to a groundbreaking $1 million endorsement deal, the first non-athlete endorsement contract in sports apparel history.
When was the classic Adidas Stan Smith tennis shoe introduced?
Originally introduced in 1965 as the Robert Haillet shoe, it was re-endorsed by American tennis champion Stan Smith in 1978, growing into one of the best-selling white leather casual sneakers in footwear history with over 50M pairs sold.
When did Adidas list its shares publicly on the stock exchange?
Adidas completed its initial public offering on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in November 1995 under CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus, entering Germany's benchmark DAX stock index in 1998.
How did the 2013 launch of Boost midsole technology transform running shoes?
In 2013, Adidas partnered with German chemical leader BASF to launch Boost foam cushioning, releasing the Energy Boost and Ultraboost (2015), which became large global performance and lifestyle hits.
How did the Samba transition from a 1950s soccer training shoe to a 2020s fashion staple?
Originally designed in 1949 for footballers training on frozen European turf, the Samba evolved through British 1980s football terrace casual culture to become a dominant global high-fashion sneaker in the 2020s.
What is Adidas's strategic growth vision for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and beyond?
Adidas is using the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico to drive brand visibility in North America, while expanding high-margin running, football, and streetwear globally.
How did the rivalry between Adidas and Puma start?
Adidas was founded by Adolf Dassler in Herzogenaurach, Germany, following a brutal World War II-era feud with his brother Rudolf, who aggressively split from him to found rival company Puma just across the river.
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