Jim Jannard

James Jannard (born June 8, 1949)[1] is an American designer, 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

Early life and career

Jannard was born in Los Angeles, the son of a pharmacist.[2] He was raised in Alhambra, California and graduated from Alhambra High School.[1] He was not raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[3][4][5] He attended the USC School of Pharmacy, but dropped out to travel the southwestern U.S. on a motorcycle.[6][2]

In 1975, Jannard started a one-man business selling motorcycle parts out of his car at motocross events. He named his company after his dog, Oakley.[6] He began developing his own products, including custom handlebar grips that conformed to the shape of one's hand,[2] motorcycle goggles, ski goggles and sunglasses.[6] Oakley sunglasses were used by bicycle racer Greg LeMond, raising the company's profile.[6] In the 1980s, Jannard restricted the sale of Oakley sunglasses to the Sunglass Hut, although small specialty shops could continue to sell Oakley sunglasses.[2] In 1991, his company had 200 employees.[6] In 1995, the company went public.[2] Jannard sold Oakley in November 2007 for $2.1 billion to Italian company Luxottica, the world's largest eyewear manufacturer and retailer.[7]

In 2005, Jannard started Red Digital Cinema Camera Company, maker of the Red One camera, which has been used to shoot various Hollywood feature films. In 2009, he was named one of the 100 Most Creative People by Fast Company Magazine.[8]

On Oct. 24, 2019, Jannard announced his retirement, citing his age and "a few health issues."[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.[6] In 1999, Jannard purchased two properties in Newport Beach, California for about $15 million.[11]

References
  1. City of Alhambra: "Famous Residents & Graduates from Alhambra" Archived 2010-12-13 at the Wayback Machine retrieved September 9, 2013
  2. Ed Leibowitz (March 16, 1997). "A trip to Planet Oakley". Los Angeles Times.
  3. "A trip to Planet Oakley". 16 March 1997 – via LA Times.
  4. Larsen, Kent (16 May 2011). "Who is the World's Wealthiest Mormon? Should We Care?". timesandseasons.org.
  5. Crawford, Shane (28 July 2010). That's What I'm Talking About. Penguin UK. ISBN 9780857964342 – via Google Books.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Archived December 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Everything changes". h4vuser.net. 24 October 2019.
  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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