Oakley was founded in 1975 by James Jannard. Jannard invested $300 into his business, creating a unique motorcycle handgrip in his garage. The grip, called the Oakley, was a unique creation by Jannard and quickly became popular.
Today, Oakley is perhaps best known for sunglasses and sporting apparel. The company holds more than 600 patents for its sunglasses, goggles, and performance gear. The Luxottica Group acquired the company in 2007 for $2.1 billion. Oakley now operates as a subsidiary.
Oakley sponsored the US Olympic team in 2012 and in October of 2010, the company donated special eyeglasses for 35 Chilean miners who had been trapped underground for several weeks.
The corporate office for Oakley is located in Foothill Ranch, California.
