Team USA's Olympic tennis team boasts not one but two American heiresses, including Jessica Pegula. Pegula, aged 30, is the daughter of billionaires Terry and Kim Pegula, who own the NFL's Buffalo Bills and the NHL's Buffalo Sabres. Ranked as the WTA's No. 6 women's player globally, Pegula is set to compete in both the singles and doubles tournaments alongside partner Coco Gauff at the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
Born in Buffalo on February 24, 1994, Pegula's tennis journey began at a young age. She trained with renowned coach Dave Rineberg, who previously worked with tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams. Pegula's family's wealth stems from Terry Pegula's founding of the oil and gas company East Resources in 1983, later selling most assets to Royal Dutch Shell for $4.7 billion. Terry Pegula acquired the Buffalo Sabres in 2011 and the Buffalo Bills in 2014.
Despite her affluent background, Pegula has faced scrutiny over her family's wealth and its influence on her career. In response, she emphasized the importance of hard work and talent in achieving success as a professional athlete. Pegula's tennis achievements include reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 2021 Australian Open and consistently performing well in major tournaments.
Off the court, Pegula co-owned a restaurant with her sister Kelly and has been vocal about gender pay disparities in tennis, advocating for better marketing of the sport. She also founded the AAPITA organization to empower and increase visibility for the AAPI tennis community.
As Pegula gears up for the Paris Olympics, she aims to secure her first Olympic medal alongside Gauff in the women's doubles event. With a successful career both on and off the court, Pegula continues to make her mark in the world of tennis and beyond.
