Pegula Family: Fortune, Business & Jessica’s Tennis Rise in 2026
introduction
The Pegula family name is now closely linked with two very different worlds: professional sports and elite tennis. Terry and Kim Pegula built a major business and sports empire, while their daughter Jessica Pegula developed into one of the leading American tennis players of her generation.
The family attracted even more attention during the 2026 U.S. Open when Jessica Pegula and fellow American Emma Navarro met in an all American women’s singles quarterfinal. Pegula entered the match as the No. 3 seed, while Navarro was seeded No. 26. Pegula eventually won 3 6, 6 4, 6 3 and advanced to the semifinals for the third consecutive year.
That matchup also highlighted an unusual connection between tennis and family wealth. Pegula is the daughter of billionaire sports owners Terry and Kim Pegula, while Navarro is the daughter of billionaire businessman Ben Navarro.
So, who exactly is the Pegula family, how did Terry Pegula build his fortune, and how much influence has the family wealth had on Jessica’s career?
Who Are the Members of the Pegula Family?
The Pegula family is a blended family built around Terry and Kim Pegula and their five children.
Terry had two children, Michael and Laura, from an earlier marriage. After marrying Kim Pegula in 1993, the couple had three children together: Jessica, Kelly and Matthew.
The family has remained connected to business and sports in different ways.
Key members include:
- Terry Pegula: Billionaire businessman and sports owner
- Kim Pegula: Business executive and co owner of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres
- Jessica Pegula: Professional tennis player
- Laura Pegula: Terry’s daughter and a longtime participant in the family’s business interests
- Michael Pegula: Terry’s son from his first marriage
- Kelly Pegula: Jessica’s sister and former business partner
- Matthew Pegula: Jessica’s younger brother
This structure makes the Pegula family more than a wealthy sports family. It is a multigenerational business family with interests spanning energy, professional sports, entertainment and entrepreneurship.
How Did Terry Pegula Build His Fortune?
Terry Pegula built the foundation of his wealth through oil and natural gas.
He founded East Resources in 1983 after borrowing $7,500 from friends and family. The company grew into a major privately held oil and gas business. In 2010, Royal Dutch Shell acquired the bulk of East Resources’ assets for $4.7 billion.
That transaction gave Pegula the financial foundation to move aggressively into professional sports.
His sports investments soon became the most visible part of his business empire. He purchased the Buffalo Sabres in 2011 for $189 million. In 2014, he and Kim purchased the Buffalo Bills for $1.4 billion.
sourecs: sports.yahoo.com
What Is Terry Pegula’s Net Worth?
Forbes estimated Terry Pegula’s real time net worth at approximately $11.8 billion as of September 9, 2026. Forbes identifies his primary source of wealth as oil and gas and notes that he later transformed that fortune into a sports empire.
His wealth estimate can change with asset values, so it should be treated as a current estimate rather than a fixed figure.
What Sports Teams Does the Pegula Family Own?
Sports ownership is one of the most recognizable parts of the family’s empire.
The family’s portfolio has included:
- Buffalo Bills of the NFL
- Buffalo Sabres of the NHL
- Rochester Americans of the AHL
- Buffalo Bandits of the NLL
The Sabres and Rochester Americans became part of the Pegula sports portfolio in 2011, while Terry and Kim acquired the Bills in 2014. The Sabres’ official ownership information also identifies Kim Pegula as an owner and notes her historic role as the first woman to serve as president of both an NHL and NFL team.
This sports background is particularly important when discussing Jessica Pegula because tennis was not the only professional sport surrounding her while she was growing up.
Who Is Kim Pegula?
Kim Pegula is Terry Pegula’s wife and Jessica Pegula’s mother.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kim was adopted by a family in New York and later attended Houghton College. She eventually became a major figure in the family’s sports businesses.
Kim helped oversee the family’s sports operations and became an influential executive within the Bills and Sabres organizations. She made history in 2018 by becoming the first female president of both an NHL and NFL team.
Kim also played an important role in the family’s development of sports and entertainment properties.
Her public role changed after she suffered cardiac arrest in June 2022. Jessica later discussed her mother’s recovery and the family’s experience in a 2023 Players’ Tribune essay. In August 2026, Kim made a rare public appearance at the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium, marking a notable moment for the family after years away from public events.
How Did the Pegula Family Influence Jessica’s Tennis Career?
Family wealth gave Jessica Pegula access to resources, training opportunities and a sporting environment that few young athletes experience.
However, it would be too simplistic to say that money alone created her career.
Jessica developed into an elite professional player through years of training and competition. Her family background gave her opportunities, but her ranking and tournament results came from her own performance.
In 2026, Pegula entered the U.S. Open as the No. 3 seed. She reached the semifinals after defeating Emma Navarro in the quarterfinals and became the first woman on tour that season to reach 50 match wins. Reuters reported that the victory was her third consecutive U.S. Open semifinal appearance.
Her career therefore represents an important distinction between financial opportunity and athletic achievement. Having access to money can remove certain barriers, but it cannot guarantee success at the highest level of professional tennis.
Who Is Jessica Pegula?
Jessica Pegula is the most internationally recognizable athlete in the Pegula family.
She has established herself as one of the strongest American tennis players on the WTA Tour. Her 2026 U.S. Open run continued a remarkable stretch at the tournament. She was a finalist in 2024 and reached the semifinals in 2025 before making the semifinals again in 2026.
Jessica has also built interests outside tennis. She has been involved in business and charitable projects, including the skincare brand Ready 24 and animal welfare work.
Who Is Jessica Pegula’s Husband?
Jessica Pegula is married to Taylor Gahagen.
The couple married in October 2021 after postponing their original wedding plans during the COVID 19 pandemic. Gahagen previously worked in roles connected to Pegula Sports and Entertainment and has also worked in finance and business ventures. He continues to support Jessica during her tennis career.
Who Is Laura Pegula?
Laura Pegula is Terry Pegula’s daughter from his first marriage and Jessica’s older half sister.
Laura has been involved in the family’s petroleum businesses and later became connected to the family’s sports ownership structure. Her role demonstrates that the Pegula family’s business interests extend beyond Jessica and her immediate career in tennis.
What Is the Pegula Family Net Worth?
There is no single official figure for the total Pegula family net worth because family wealth, ownership stakes and private assets are not reported as one combined balance sheet.
However, Terry Pegula alone was estimated by Forbes at $11.8 billion in September 2026.
That figure should not automatically be described as Jessica Pegula’s personal net worth. Terry’s wealth represents his business interests and assets, including his sports holdings.
This distinction matters when comparing Jessica with Emma Navarro. Their families are extremely wealthy, but the players’ personal fortunes are not necessarily equal to their parents’ fortunes.
Pegula Family vs. Navarro Family Wealth
The 2026 U.S. Open matchup between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro created unusual interest because both players come from billionaire families.
| Family | Key Wealth Source | Notable Sports Interests | 2026 Estimated Parent Net Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pegula | Oil, gas and sports | Bills, Sabres and other teams | Terry Pegula: about $11.8 billion |
| Navarro | Financial services, investments and real estate | Charleston Open and Cincinnati Open | Ben Navarro: about $3.2 billion |
Forbes estimated Ben Navarro’s net worth at about $3.2 billion as of September 9, 2026. His fortune came primarily from investments and financial services, including Sherman Financial Group and Credit One. He later expanded into real estate, hospitality and tennis tournament ownership.
That means the two families built their wealth through different paths. The Pegula fortune began with energy, while the Navarro fortune developed largely through financial services and investments.
Did Jessica Pegula Grow Up Rich?
Yes. Jessica grew up in a wealthy family, but she has repeatedly pushed back against the idea that her background tells the complete story of her life as a tennis player.
Her father had already become highly successful through energy before the family became major professional sports owners. Jessica also grew up around professional sports because of her parents’ business interests.
Still, becoming a top professional tennis player required years of training, travel, competition and physical preparation.
The same distinction applies when discussing Emma Navarro. Her father Ben Navarro is a billionaire, but Emma has also developed a highly successful tennis career through her own work.
The Bigger Story Behind the Pegula Family
The most interesting part of the Pegula family story is not simply the size of its fortune.
It is the transition from energy wealth to sports ownership and then to a new generation of athletes and entrepreneurs.
Terry turned an oil and gas fortune into major professional sports investments. Kim became an important executive and owner. Their children have pursued different paths, with Jessica becoming an elite tennis player.
That makes the family an example of how wealth can move across generations while taking different forms.
Jessica’s success also gives the Pegula name a different identity. Today, she is not known only as the daughter of a billionaire. She is a top American tennis player who has reached multiple Grand Slam semifinals and competed at the highest level of the sport.
And after her 2026 U.S. Open quarterfinal victory over Emma Navarro, she remains firmly in the conversation around American women’s tennis.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Pegula Family
Who is Terry Pegula?
Terry Pegula is an American billionaire businessman and sports owner. He built his fortune through oil and gas and later became the owner of major sports franchises including the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. Forbes estimated his net worth at approximately $11.8 billion in September 2026.
Who is Kim Pegula?
Kim Pegula is Terry Pegula’s wife and Jessica Pegula’s mother. She has been a major figure in the family’s sports businesses and became the first woman to serve as president of both an NFL and NHL team.
Who is Jessica Pegula’s husband?
Jessica Pegula’s husband is Taylor Gahagen. They married in October 2021 after postponing their original wedding during the pandemic. Gahagen has worked in business and finance and has supported Jessica’s professional career.
What is the Pegula family’s net worth?
There is no single verified figure for the entire Pegula family. Forbes estimated Terry Pegula’s personal net worth at approximately $11.8 billion as of September 9, 2026.
Who is Laura Pegula?
Laura Pegula is Terry Pegula’s daughter from his first marriage and Jessica Pegula’s older half sister. She has been involved in the family’s business interests and has also become connected to the family’s sports ownership structure.
