Who Owns Reebok?

Reebok was founded in 1958 by brothers Joe and Jeff Foster in Bolton, England, as a companion company to J.W. Foster and Sons, a sporting goods company established by their grandfather in 1895. The name "Reebok" comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope, which Joe Foster found in a South African dictionary won in a running race. This naming choice reflected the brand's focus on athletic performance and speed.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Reebok established itself as a producer of high-quality running shoes and athletic footwear, gaining recognition among serious runners and athletes. The company expanded internationally and developed innovations in athletic shoe technology, building a reputation for quality and performance among the running community.

The 1980s marked Reebok's breakthrough into mainstream success with the introduction of the Reebok Freestyle in 1982, the first athletic shoe designed specifically for women's aerobics fitness. This innovation coincided with the aerobics boom of the 1980s and established Reebok as a major player in the athletic footwear industry. The Freestyle became a cultural icon and helped Reebok achieve significant market share growth during this period. By the late 1980s, Reebok had become the second-largest athletic footwear company globally, behind Nike.

In 2005, German sportswear giant Adidas acquired Reebok for $3.8 billion, bringing the brand under corporate ownership. Under Adidas, Reebok experienced periods of both success and challenges as it competed with Adidas's core brand and other major athletic footwear companies. The integration proved challenging, as Reebok struggled to maintain its distinct identity within the larger Adidas portfolio while competing for resources and marketing attention.

In March 2022, Authentic Brands Group acquired Reebok from Adidas for approximately $2.5 billion, marking a new chapter in the brand's history. ABG's acquisition strategy focused on returning Reebok to its core strengths in fitness, basketball, and lifestyle, allowing the brand to operate more independently and focus on its heritage positioning. On February 19, 2026, ABG announced the operational restructuring with Galaxy Universal taking over US operations, representing a significant shift in how Reebok manages its business. In 2025, Reebok announced its return to ice hockey, signing NHL players and launching new equipment lines, marking a return to a category the brand had exited after selling CCM Hockey in 2017.