Jim Jannard

James Jannard (born June 8, 1949)[2] is an American designer and businessman, and founder of Oakley, Inc., an eyewear and apparel company, and Red Digital Cinema Camera Company.

James Jannard
BornJune 8, 1949
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Southern California (dropped out)
OccupationBusinessman
Known forfounder of Oakley, Inc.
founder of Red Digital Cinema Camera Company
Net worthUS $2.8 billion
(April 2020)[1]

Early life and career

Jannard was born in Los Angeles but was raised in Alhambra, California, the son of a pharmacist,[3] and graduated from Alhambra High School.[2] Jannard was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[4][5][6] Jannard attended the USC School of Pharmacy but dropped out to travel the southwestern U.S. on a motorcycle.[7][3] In 1975, he started a one-man business selling motorcycle parts out of his car at motocross events. He named his company after his dog, Oakley.[7] He began developing his own products: first, custom handlebar grips that conformed to the shape of one's hand[3] and later motorcycle goggles, ski goggles, and sunglasses.[7] One model of sunglasses was used by bicycle racer Greg LeMond, raising Oakley's profile.[7] In the 1980s, he restricted the sale of Oakley sunglasses to the Sunglass Hut (although small specialty shops could continue to sell Oakley sunglasses).[3] In 1991, his company had 200 employees.[7] In 1995, the company went public.[3]

He sold Oakley in November 2007 for $2.1 billion to Italian company Luxottica, the world's largest eyewear manufacturers and retailers.[8]

In 2005, Jannard started Red Digital Cinema Camera Company, maker of the Red One, which has been used to shoot various Hollywood feature films. In 2009, Jannard was named one of the 100 Most Creative People by Fast Company Magazine.[9]

Personal life

Jannard owns the Fiji islands of Kaibu and Vatu Vara.[10] He also owns the 500-acre Spieden Island in the San Juan Islands archipelago.[7] In 1999, Jannard purchased two properties in Newport Beach, California, for about $15 million.[11]

Jannard's spouse is Misha Jannard.

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References
  1. Forbes: James Jannard April 2020
  2. City of Alhambra: "Famous Residents & Graduates from Alhambra" Archived 2010-12-13 at the Wayback Machine retrieved September 9, 2013
  3. Ed Leibowitz (March 16, 1997). "A trip to Planet Oakley". Los Angeles Times.
  4. "A trip to Planet Oakley". 16 March 1997 – via LA Times.
  5. Larsen, Kent (16 May 2011). "Who is the World's Wealthiest Mormon? Should We Care?". timesandseasons.org.
  6. Crawford, Shane (28 July 2010). "That's What I'm Talking About". Penguin UK – via Google Books.
  7. Andrew Tilin (July 2012). "Supreme O - It all started with a pair of sunglasses. 441 patents later, Oakley hopes its sports gear will make extreme history". Wired.
  8. Bellantonio, Jennifer. "Why Jannard Opted to Sell: Price, Changes, Side Project". AllBusiness.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  9. Archived December 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Lealea, Sai (2010-10-23). "Sun Glass Billionaire Buys Kaibu and Vatuvara Islands in Northern Fiji". YacataFiji.Org. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
  11. "Oakley CEO Buys Home (and View) for $7 Million". Los Angeles Times. 1999-10-12. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
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