With Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, and Tiger Woods all gaining the official billionaire title, one tennis player may be in line to trump all of them combined with a potential $7.7 billion fortune coming her way.
Jessica Pegula is a professional women’s tennis player on the WTA tour. Consistently ranking in the top 10, Pegula reached a career-high singles ranking of number three in 2022 and scooped a number one doubles ranking in 2023.
The American athlete is yet to win one of the big four grand slams with her closest attempt coming last year at the US Open where she lost out to Aryna Sabalenka in in a nail-biting final 7-5, 7-5.
Now 30 years old, she has made a significant amount of money from prize winnings, with her total estimated to be around $13 million, but still a far cry from what she may inherit.
Throughout her career, the star has partnered with brands such as Adidas, Yonex and Stella Artois, but has also made the move into business herself.
Pegula founded the cruelty and paraben-free skincare company Ready 24, as well as the non-profit A Lending Paw, which supports dog rescues.
Although her achievements are extremely impressive, she gains the title of the world’s richest tennis player through her family’s staggering net worth.
Jessica is the daughter of Terry Pegula, a common household name in the U.S. and owner of NFL team the Buffalo Bills and the NHL team the Buffalo Sabres which Jessica and her four siblings – two from her father’s first marriage – stand to inherit.
His 7.7 billion dollar net worth places him as the 373rd wealthiest person in the world according to Forbes.
Terry made most of his fortune in the oil and gas industry when in 1983, he founded East Resources, a natural gas drilling company. The business was incredibly profitable after it discovered a natural gas formation in New York State.
The Pegula’s cemented their wealth when in 2010, when Terry sold the bulk of his assets to Royal Dutch Shell for a reported $4.7 billion and to American Energy Partners, LP for a further $1.75 billion.
After receivening his new fortune he purchased the two Buffalo-based teams which he resides over to this day, with Jessica a regular visitor at games and practice sessions.
On the topic of her affluent upbringing, Pegula acknowledges the chatter but stands firm on her work ethic. She told Forbes: “Maybe some people that just don’t want to like me for whatever reason maybe will always say that.
“But I can’t really change their minds. I’ve worked really hard and I definitely wouldn’t have gotten here if it wasn’t for that.”
While her tennis success soars, Pegula eyes a future role, possibly taking over her father’s NFL and NHL teams.
