Skechers
3G Capital · United States
Skechers is a Californian footwear brand founded in 1992 by Robert Greenberg and best known for comfort-led lifestyle, walking and performance shoes. Since September 2025 it has been privately owned by the investment firm 3G Capital, after a take-private deal valued at about 9 billion dollars. It is one of the largest footwear companies in the world by sales.
| Founded | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Robert Greenberg |
| Owner | 3G Capital (since September 2025) |
| Headquarters | Manhattan Beach, California |
| Chief executive | Robert Greenberg |
| Segment | Footwear |
| Website | skechers.com |
What is Skechers?
Skechers U.S.A., Inc. is a footwear company headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California. It designs and sells shoes, apparel and accessories for men, women and children, with an emphasis on comfort technology rather than fashion runway credibility. Its product families include Skechers Sport, Go Walk, Go Run, D'Lites, Bobs and Skechers Work.
History
The company was founded in 1992 by Robert Greenberg, who had previously founded LA Gear. Skechers grew from skate and casual styles into a broad family footwear brand and listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In May 2025 the Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital announced an agreement to acquire the company, and the deal was completed in September 2025, when Skechers shares stopped trading and the business became privately held. FashionUnited reported that the leadership team stayed in place, with Robert Greenberg remaining chief executive and Michael Greenberg remaining president.
Products and positioning
Skechers sits in the mid-market, competing with the large sports brands on comfort and value rather than on elite athletic performance. Key product areas include:
- Walking and lifestyle sneakers, including the hands-free Slip-ins range
- Performance running and golf shoes
- Work and safety footwear
- Children's shoes and sandals
Some styles have used Goodyear rubber outsoles since 2020, and the Slip-ins design has been the subject of patent litigation brought by Kizik in 2025.
Business model and distribution
Skechers sells through a mix of company-owned stores, third-party distributors and franchise partners, wholesale accounts and its own e-commerce. According to Wikipedia, the brand counted 5,296 retail locations and reported revenue of 8.97 billion US dollars in 2024, its last full year as a listed company. A European distribution centre in Liège, Belgium supplies much of its European business.
Why it matters
Skechers shows how a comfort-first proposition, broad price accessibility and a dense global store network can build scale outside the sports performance hierarchy. Its move into private ownership under 3G Capital makes it one of the largest footwear businesses no longer subject to public reporting, which will change how much the market learns about its strategy.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Skechers?
Skechers is owned by 3G Capital, a private equity firm co-founded in Brazil. The acquisition was announced in May 2025 and completed in September 2025, after which Skechers was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.
Who founded Skechers?
Skechers was founded in 1992 by Robert Greenberg, who previously founded LA Gear. He remained chief executive after the 3G Capital takeover.