Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated, the brainchild of Henry Luce in 1954, has been the go-to glossy for jocks and armchair quarterbacks alike. Known for its iconic swimsuit issue, which has launched more careers than a Beverly Hills talent agency, SI has had its share of highs and lows. Its golden moments include breaking the story of Magic Johnson’s HIV diagnosis in 1991 and showcasing Muhammad Ali’s exploits when he was still Cassius Clay. Today, with a valuation that dances around the $500 million mark, it’s a shadow of its former self, now a digital relic trying to stay relevant. The mag has snagged numerous National Magazine Awards, proving it can still punch above its weight class. However, it’s not all touchdowns and home runs; scandals like the 2019 sale to digital media company Maven raised eyebrows and questions about its future. Current head honcho James Heckman is tasked with keeping the lights on and the clicks coming. SI's journey from print powerhouse to digital struggler is a tale as old as the internet, but it's still here, scrapping for yardage and trying to avoid the fate of so many others left on the media scrapheap.