Who Owns Oakley
Oakley is owned by Luxottica, the Italian eyewear giant that acquired the brand in 2007 for about $2.1 billion. The deal made Oakley a fully owned subsidiary of Luxottica, which is publicly traded on the Milan stock exchange and also owns Ray-Ban, Persol, and Sunglass Hut. Today, Luxottica remains the direct parent company and ultimate controlling entity of the Oakley brand and its global operations Forbes.
Luxottica is led by Leonardo Del Vecchio's family through its controlling structure, with the Del Vecchio family maintaining significant voting power. The company merged with Essilor in 2018 to form EssilorLuxottica, creating the largest eyewear group in the world by revenue and market share. Through this structure, Luxottica controls Oakley's design, manufacturing, distribution, and retail strategy across multiple continents.
Oakley's Market Position and Revenue
Oakley generates revenue as part of Luxottica's larger portfolio, which collectively earns tens of billions of dollars annually from eyewear and related accessories. Oakley is positioned as a premium sports and performance eyewear brand, competing with brands like Smith Optics, Rudy Project, and 100% in cycling, skiing, and action sports. The brand is known for high-end sunglasses, goggles, and apparel that combine technical innovation with lifestyle branding.
Oakley remains a top-ranked brand in sports eyewear and is frequently seen among professional athletes in cycling, snowboarding, and motorsports. The brand's revenue contribution is bundled within Luxottica's financial reports, making standalone figures less visible, but Oakley is consistently highlighted as a key asset in the company's portfolio. Luxottica uses Oakley to strengthen its presence in the performance and sports eyewear segments SEC filings.
History of Oakley Ownership
Oakley was founded by Jim Jannard in 1975 in California and grew from a small company making grip aids for motorcycles into a major sports eyewear brand. Jannard retained ownership through the early decades, building Oakley into a cult brand with a strong following among athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. The company went public in 1995, and Jannard remained the controlling shareholder until the Luxottica acquisition in 2007.
Before the Luxottica deal, Oakley was an independent publicly traded company with its own product lines and retail channels. The acquisition ended Oakley's independent public status, and the brand has operated under Luxottica's corporate umbrella since then. Oakley's transition from a founder-led public company to a luxury-sports subsidiary under a global eyewear conglomerate is a key part of its modern ownership story Bloomberg.