Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk was 9 years old when his brother changed his life by giving him a blue fiberglass Bahne skateboard. By 14, he’d turned pro, and by 16, he was widely considered the best skateboarder on Earth.

World champion for 12 years in a row, Hawk continues to skate demos and exhibitions internationally, making him the most recognized action-sports figure in the world, and according to some marketing surveys, the most recognizable athlete of any kind in the United States. Today, his business skills have helped create a personal brand that includes a billion-dollar video game franchise, successful businesses such as Birdhouse Skateboards, Hawk Clothing, Hawk Shoes, Tony Hawk Skatepark Series sporting goods and an entire skateboard-centric channel on YouTube called the Ride Channel.

The Tony Hawk Foundation has donated more than $4.4 million to 529 communities in all 50 States. The Tony Hawk Foundation is a charitable, non-profit organization, established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States -- with an emphasis on the word “quality.”

Tony regularly appears on television and in films, and hosts a weekly show on Sirius XM. His autobiography, HAWK -- Occupation: Skateboarder was a New York Times bestseller. In 2010, Wiley Publishing released How Did I Get Here? The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO.