Jessica Pegula, a top American tennis player, recently voiced her frustration over the misconceptions fans have about her lifestyle, stemming from her billionaire father’s wealth. Pegula, the sixth-ranked player in the world, finds it “annoying” and “outrageous” that people assume she lives a life of luxury simply because her father, Terry Pegula, is a multi-billionaire sports mogul, via The Express.
Terry Pegula, who owns the Buffalo Bills NFL team and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, has a net worth estimated by Forbes to be $7.7 billion. Despite her father’s immense wealth, Jessica Pegula has established herself as a successful athlete in her own right, having earned nearly $15 million in prize money and won six professional titles. Yet, she finds it challenging to separate her personal achievements from her father’s fortune.
Speaking to the media, Pegula expressed her irritation: “I did some media thing the other day. They were, like, What’s the most annoying thing?” she recalled. “It’s that people think I have a butler, that I get chauffeured around. I have a private limo, that I fly private everywhere. I’m definitely not like that.”
Pegula went on to clarify that such assumptions are far from the reality of her life. “It’s a little annoying, but honestly I just think it’s kind of funny because I don’t really even know anyone that lives like that. It’s outrageous,” she added.
The curiosity about Pegula’s private life reached new heights last week when she shared images of herself taking the New York subway to avoid the city’s notorious traffic, surprising many who assumed she would prefer more luxurious transportation.
Emma Navarro, another American tennis player who has advanced to the US Open quarter-finals, shares a similar experience. The 22-year-old is the daughter of Ben Navarro, a former Citigroup vice-president and founder of Sherman Financial Group, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes to be $1.5 billion. Despite her privileged background, Emma Navarro has forged her own path in tennis, earning $2.5 million in prize money and securing a world ranking of 12.
Navarro, who could potentially face Pegula in the US Open final, credited her father for the guidance he has provided her over the years. “I have to give a lot of credit to my dad. He’s probably the smartest guy I know and has dropped a lot of knowledge and wisdom on my siblings and I over the years,” she said.
As the tournament progresses, fans will be watching closely to see if Pegula and Navarro’s paths cross in the final, proving that both athletes are much more than just their family names.