Who are Jessica Pegula’s parents? Meet billionaire dad Terry and Kim Pegula, the family behind her tennis career | International Sports News
Jessica Pegula’s tennis career has been backed by two parents who built very different lives before becoming known around the sports world. Her father, Terry Pegula, made his fortune in oil and gas before becoming the owner of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. Her mother, Kim Pegula, was born in South Korea and adopted by a New York family as a child before building a career in sports. The couple encouraged Jessica to play tennis from age seven and moved their family to support her training. Their support has remained important throughout her career.
Terry and Kim Pegula supported Jessica Pegula’s tennis from an early age
Terry and Kim began encouraging Jessica to play tennis when she was 7. She was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and the family later moved to Wexford, Pa., South Carolina and Florida as Jessica focused more seriously on the sport.Jessica has said her parents put her tennis ahead of their connection to professional sports. Kim summed up that attitude in a 2019 interview with WKBW-TV after Jessica won the Citi Open.“We always say she’s our first sports team and our favorite,” Kim said.Terry studied petroleum and natural gas engineering at Penn State before working in the oil industry. In 1983, he started East Resources after borrowing $7,500 from family and friends. He later sold most of the company’s assets to Royal Dutch Shell for $4.7 billion in 2010, according to Forbes.The Pegulas then moved into professional sports. They bought the Buffalo Sabres in 2011 and became owners of the Buffalo Bills in 2014.Kim’s story is very different. She was born in Seoul and was adopted by Ralph and Marilyn Kerr when she was 5. She grew up in Fairport, N.Y., and graduated from Houghton College in 1991 with a communications degree.Jessica has also spoken about how her parents handled her tennis career. In a 2021 Bills Pod Squad interview, she described Terry as “old school” and said he always pushed her to work harder. She described Kim as more focused on life away from the court, including diet, recovery and training.
Kim Pegula’s journey and her family’s support for Jessica
Kim’s background has also shaped Jessica’s connection to her heritage. After winning the 2023 Korea Open in Seoul, Jessica wrote on X that the victory was “extra special” because she is half Korean. She said she was still learning about her culture and was moved by the support from Korean fans.The family went through a difficult period in 2022 when Kim suffered cardiac arrest. Jessica later wrote in The Players’ Tribune that her family spent about two weeks at the hospital and that Terry stayed close to Kim during her recovery. NHL.com also reported on Jessica’s 2023 update about her mother’s recovery.Jessica has been clear that her parents’ influence was not simply about money or access to sports. “My parents have helped me achieve this dream I am living,” she wrote. “Even though we didn’t always agree, they pushed me, and I pushed back, and it got me to where I am today.”They gave Jessica the chance to pursue tennis, pushed her when needed and supported her away from the court. Jessica went on to become one of the leading American players of her generation, while her parents remained closely connected to her journey.
