Decathlon

Founded on July 27, 1976, by Michel Leclercq in Lille, Northern France, Decathlon began with the revolutionary vision of bringing 'all sports under one roof' to make sports more accessible to everyone. Starting with a single store, Leclercq (born 1938, estimated net worth $5.1 billion as of 2017) developed a unique business model combining in-house research, design, production, and retail operations to achieve the ideal trinity of accessibility, variety, and affordability. Unlike traditional retailers selling single-sport equipment, Decathlon's approach of offering equipment for multiple sports under one brand allowed customers unprecedented choice and value. The company has grown to become the world's largest sporting goods retailer, operating over 1,647 stores across 57 countries and regions, employing more than 87,000 staff from 80 different nationalities. Michel Leclercq maintains 40% ownership of the company, which has expanded far beyond its French origins to serve global markets. Decathlon's integrated supply chain approach, limiting intermediaries while maintaining quality control, has established them as the crown jewel of sports retail worldwide, continuing their founder's mission of making sports accessible to all through innovative retail solutions and affordable, quality equipment.