Over the years, Portland has gained quite the reputation when it comes to wealthy individuals and has a number of celebrities who have either been born here, or at least lived in the city for a while. In fact, it’s no secret that the legendary Apple founder Steve Jobs lived here for a while too. As a result, you could argue that it’s historically been a magnet for successful people to let their creative juices flow.

So, it’s not surprising that the wealthiest man in Oregon is born and raised in Portland. To this day, he still lives in the city. Here are the top three wealthiest individuals in the state of Oregon:

Phil Knight

Phil Knight, born on February 24, 1938, is an American business magnate and philanthropist. He is best known as the co-founder and former chairman of Nike, Inc., the renowned sportswear and athletic footwear company. Knight played a pivotal role in transforming Nike into one of the world’s leading brands.

Knight attended the University of Oregon, where he met his business partner, Bill Bowerman. In 1964, Knight and Bowerman founded Blue Ribbon Sports, the precursor to Nike, with the initial focus on distributing Japanese athletic shoes. They rebranded the company as Nike in 1971, taking inspiration from the Greek goddess of victory. Under Knight’s leadership, Nike experienced significant growth and became a global powerhouse in the sports industry.

As of 2023, Phil Knight has an estimated net worth of over $42 billion – and earlier this year, he pledged to invest over $400 into Portland’s black community. No wonder then, he has achieved legendary status within the city.

Travis Boersma

Based in Oregon, Travis Boersma is the CEO and co-founder of Dutch Bros coffee. The other co-founder is his brother, Dane and the business was originally created back in 1992. This is a coffee chain that has multiple locations in Portland. Although his wealth isn’t close to Phil Knight’s, in fairness he is much younger and is still growing his empire. As a result, his net worth is estimated to be around $2 billion. Not bad for a man selling coffee. Over the years, Boersma has donated tens of millions to various social causes such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, as well as local food banks.

Dutch Bros has gained a loyal following and expanded rapidly since its founding. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Dutch Bros had more than 400 locations across 11 states, primarily in the western United States. The company continues to grow and has become one of the largest privately held drive-thru coffee chains in the country.

Tim Boyle

Tim Boyle is an American businessman and the CEO of Columbia Sportswear, a prominent outdoor apparel and equipment company based in Portland, Oregon. He was born on November 19, 1949, in Portland, Oregon. Tim Boyle is the grandson of Gert Boyle, who transformed Columbia Sportswear into a successful brand. Like Travis Boersma, his net worth hovers around the $2 billion mark. Over the years, Boyle has donated millions to local causes. In 2016, he gave the University of Oregon $10 million for scientific research purposes and has given away millions to local homeless causes and shelters.

Boyle joined Columbia Sportswear in 1971 and initially worked in various positions within the company. In 1988, he became the President and CEO. Under his leadership, Columbia Sportswear has experienced substantial growth and expanded its presence globally. Boyle has played a crucial role in shaping the company’s strategy, innovation, and development of its product lines.

In addition to his responsibilities at Columbia Sportswear, Tim Boyle has been involved in philanthropic activities. He has supported various charitable organizations and initiatives in the Portland community and beyond. His contributions have included efforts in education, healthcare, and environmental conservation.