Can You Invest in Golden Goose Pre-IPO? Details & Alternatives

By Rachel Warren – Updated Jan 7, 2026 at 12:51 PM EST | Fact-checked by Parker Hicks

Key Points

Golden Goose sneakers are popular in the U.S. and Europe and are known for their unique distressed look.
The brand shifted from wholesale to direct sales in 2013 before being acquired by Permira in 2020.
Golden Goose postponed its 2024 IPO due to market volatility but might consider going public later.
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Golden Goose is an Italian luxury footwear and apparel brand based in Venice, Italy, best known for its intentionally distressed sneakers with a signature star and premium leather. Founded in 2000, the brand broke out globally after launching its flagship sneaker line in 2007, with many pairs priced around $500–$600.

The company has changed hands multiple times, including acquisitions by Carlyle Group (2017) and Permira (2020), and has grown quickly, reaching roughly 500 million euros in annual revenue and about 180 stores within a few years. With investor interest rising, here’s what to know if a chance to invest becomes available.

Is Golden Goose publicly traded?

Golden Goose is not currently publicly traded. Permira, the private equity firm that owns Golden Goose, had planned to take the company public on June 21, 2024. However, the firm postponed the initial public offering (IPO) on Borsa Italiana, the Italian Stock Exchange, citing concerns over market volatility caused by ongoing political elections in Europe.

When will Golden Goose IPO?

Although Golden Goose's IPO has been postponed for now, Permira could decide to take the company public in the future, and management has indicated its willingness to do so. However, as of late 2025, it had not set a new date for an IPO.

The company aimed for a post-IPO market capitalization (market cap) of approximately 1.86 billion euros ($2 billion). While that market cap would have been on the low end of prior expectations, the IPO would still have been one of the largest ever to occur on the Borsa Italiana. However, all investors will just have to wait and see.

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2. Burberry Group

Burberry Group (BURBY -0.20%) is a luxury fashion house founded by Thomas Burberry in 1856. The company is headquartered in London and is known as a quintessential British luxury brand. The brand is famous for its trench coats, but it also sells a wide range of other luxury products, including footwear, clothing, and accessories.

In the second quarter of 2025, Burberry Group reported total revenue of 2.4 billion pounds ($3.28 billion), a double-digit decline from the comparable period the prior year.

3. Adidas

German company Adidas (ADDYY -1.80%) is one of the largest sportswear manufacturers in the world, second only to Nike (NKE +1.00%). Adidas controls around 15.4% of the global athletic footwear market.

In the second quarter of 2025, Adidas reported that the flagship Adidas brand grew 12% from the year-ago period while total revenue came in around 6 billion euros ($7.13 billion).

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How to buy stocks similar to Golden Goose

If you want to buy shares of any of the aforementioned companies or otherwise gain exposure to the luxury and/or footwear markets, here are the steps you'll need to follow.

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
Search for the stock: Enter the stock ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select the order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

Is Golden Goose profitable?

Golden Goose started reporting financials earlier in 2024 in anticipation of its IPO. Therefore, investors have some concrete financial figures to look at, even if a public offering is not a likely near-term event. As of 2025, there is no update on Golden Goose's financials.

Golden Goose has been profitable every year since 2021. For full-year 2023, the luxury footwear and apparel company reported a net income of 49 million euros ($52 million). It reported a net income of 46.4 million euros ($49.0 million) in 2022 and 87.6 million euros ($92.5 million) in 2021.

ETFs with exposure to apparel companies

By investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF), investors can gain exposure to companies similar to Golden Goose while enjoying instant diversification to other brands and companies. There are numerous ETFs worth considering that hold shares of companies like or adjacent to LVMH, Burberry Group, or Adidas.

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, allows investors to buy many stocks or bonds at once.

For example, if you want to gain exposure to a footwear brand like Adidas along with many other companies in various sectors, ETFs such as:

Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF -0.60%)
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA -0.64%)

The bottom line

Alternatives for investors looking at Golden Goose include stocks operating in the same or a parallel industry or ETFs comprising luxury goods and footwear brands. (Bear in mind that many luxury stocks are listed on foreign exchanges.)

Investing in individual stocks in the luxury space may not align with some investors’ risk tolerance preferences. An ETF can present a great option for diversifying into luxury goods stocks while also becoming part part-owner in other companies.

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FAQ

About the Author

Rachel Warren is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, information technology, and consumer goods. Prior to The Motley Fool, Rachel was a paralegal and legal administrator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from Liberty University School of Law.

TMFRachelW

Rachel Warren has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nike. The Motley Fool recommends Burberry Group Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.