The Skechers owner has always been tied to one family. Robert Greenberg co-founded Skechers in 1992 alongside his son Michael Greenberg, and the two have led the company ever since. As of September 2025, Skechers is majority-owned by global investment firm 3G Capital following a $9.4 billion acquisition. The Greenberg family retained a minority ownership stake and both men remain in their executive roles Robert as Chairman and CEO, Michael as President.
The Short Answer on the Skechers Owner
Robert Greenberg founded Skechers. His son Michael co-founded it with him. For over 25 years, the Greenbergs ran a publicly traded company while holding majority voting control behind the scenes. In 2025, 3G Capital acquired the business. The Greenbergs still run it. That's the full picture in four sentences.
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Who Founded Skechers?
Robert Greenberg — Chairman and CEO
Robert Greenberg is the driving force behind Skechers. He had already built LA Gear in the 1980s one of the flashier footwear brands of that era before leaving following a falling-out with investors in 1991. Rather than retire, he and his son Michael traveled to England to look into the growing popularity of Doc Martens boots. That trip sparked the next chapter.
In 1992, the two launched a distribution business out of Robert's Manhattan Beach condominium, initially selling Doc Martens in the U.S. market. Within a year, that arrangement fell apart. They pivoted to building their own brand.
The first product was a utility boot. Unassuming start for what became a global company.
Robert Greenberg has held the Chairman and CEO title since Skechers' founding. He still does.
Michael Greenberg — Co-Founder and President
Michael Greenberg joined as co-founder and has served as President throughout the company's history. He personally arranged the first Skechers retail store lease in 1994 and later steered the brand's expansion into Asian markets.
He also founded the Skechers Foundation and the annual Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk a charity event that has raised over $31 million for children with special needs.More than three decades of the same father-son leadership. That's not common at a company this size.
Why the Brand Is Called Skechers
The name came from younger Greenberg family members who independently suggested it — derived from the word "skecher," informal slang for an energetic kid who can't sit still. Two family members came up with it separately. The name was adopted. Simple as that.
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How the Skechers Owner Structure Worked Before 2025
The 1999 IPO and What It Actually Changed
Skechers went public in June 1999, listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SKX. The IPO raised roughly $115 million. On the surface, going public looks like the founders giving up control opening the company to outside shareholders.
That reading would be wrong here.
The Dual-Class Share Structure Explained
This is the detail most people miss, and it matters. Before the 2025 acquisition, two figures about Skechers ownership were both true at the same time:
• The Greenberg family owned approximately 12% of total equity.
• The Greenberg family controlled over 60% of voting power.
These aren't contradictory. They describe two different things.
Class A shares were the publicly traded ones held by institutional investors, mutual funds, and retail shareholders. Standard one-share-one-vote rules applied.
Class B shares were held almost entirely by the Greenberg family. Each Class B share carried far more voting weight than a Class A share.
The result: major institutional investors held large portions of the company's economic value, but the Greenberg family controlled the decisions that mattered. New strategies, leadership changes, major deals all required Greenberg approval regardless of what institutional shareholders thought.
Think of it this way: you can own most of a building without having a key to the front door.
What Institutional Shareholders Actually Held
Before privatization, the largest Class A shareholders included Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and FMR (Fidelity) all passive institutional investors. Their holdings represented equity ownership, not operational say.
Institutional ownership gets confused with control all the time. It isn't the same thing. These firms don't direct product launches or set executive compensation. They hold shares. That's it.
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Who Is the Skechers Owner Now? The 2025 Acquisition by 3G Capital
The May 2025 Announcement
On May 5, 2025, Skechers publicly announced it had agreed to be acquired by 3G Capital. The deal was valued at approximately $9.4 billion. The offer price was $63 per share roughly a 30% premium over the company's recent trading average.
A premium that size typically signals serious buyer conviction.The acquisition required regulatory approval. It was finalized in September 2025. Skechers delisted from the NYSE. The company became privately held.
What Is 3G Capital?
3G Capital is a global investment firm not a traditional short-term private equity operation. The firm is known for making long-term, concentrated investments in established consumer brands rather than cycling through quick acquisition-and-exit strategies.
That distinction matters for understanding what the Skechers deal means. 3G isn't a firm that typically dismantles what it buys. Their approach is closer to long-term stewardship, and their public statements around the Skechers deal reflected exactly that framing.
What 'Going Private' Means in Practice
When a company goes private, it exits the public markets entirely. No more NYSE listing. No more quarterly earnings calls. No more SEC-mandated public disclosures. Shareholders who held SKX stock were bought out at $63 per share and the stock no longer trades.
For the people running Skechers, going private removes the constant pressure of managing Wall Street expectations. Robert Greenberg had publicly criticized analysts for setting expectations too high on multiple occasions.
Under private ownership, that pressure disappears.For anyone trying to track Skechers' financial performance from the outside, it's now significantly harder. Private companies aren't required to publish the same financial data.
The Greenberg Family's Stake After the Deal
The Greenbergs did not walk away. According to disclosures made at the time of the announcement, the family was expected to retain up to approximately 20% ownership in the newly private company. Both Robert and Michael Greenberg continue in their leadership roles unchanged.
David Weinberg, COO and a Skechers executive since 1993, also remains in place.
Current structure in plain terms: 3G Capital is the majority owner. The Greenberg family holds a significant minority stake. The same founding family still manages operations day to day.
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Who Runs Skechers Today
Ownership and operational control are sitting in different places here worth spelling out clearly.3G Capital owns the majority of the business. The Greenberg family runs it. Robert Greenberg sets strategic direction as CEO. Michael Greenberg manages retail and growth as President. David Weinberg handles operations as COO.
When 3G Capital announced the deal, their co-managing partners explicitly described it as partnering with the founders not replacing them. That framing has held through the transition.
Skechers Ownership Timeline
|
Year |
What Happened |
|
1992 |
Robert and Michael Greenberg co-found Skechers in Manhattan Beach, California |
|
1999 |
Skechers completes IPO on NYSE under ticker SKX |
|
1999–2025 |
Publicly traded; Greenbergs retain voting majority via Class B shares |
|
May 2025 |
3G Capital acquisition announced at approximately $9.4 billion |
|
September 2025 |
Acquisition finalized; Skechers delists from NYSE and becomes private |
Conclusion
The Skechers owner picture shifted in 2025, but not as dramatically as a $9.4 billion acquisition might suggest. 3G Capital is now the majority owner, but the Greenberg family who built the company from a Manhattan Beach condo retained a stake and kept their seats. Robert and Michael Greenberg still run Skechers today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the current Skechers owner?
As of September 2025, 3G Capital is the majority owner of Skechers. The Greenberg family holds a minority stake of up to 20% and continues to manage the company, with Robert Greenberg serving as Chairman and CEO.
Is Skechers still publicly traded?
No. Skechers delisted from the New York Stock Exchange after the 3G Capital acquisition closed in September 2025. It is now a privately held company and no longer trades under ticker SKX.
Did Robert Greenberg sell Skechers completely?
No. He agreed to the 3G Capital acquisition but retained a minority ownership stake. He remains Chairman and CEO of Skechers under the new ownership structure.
Who is the CEO of Skechers?
Robert Greenberg, who co-founded Skechers in 1992, remains Chairman and CEO. His son Michael Greenberg serves as President.
What company owns Skechers now?
3G Capital, a global investment firm known for long-term ownership of consumer brands, acquired Skechers in September 2025 in a deal valued at approximately $9.4 billion.
