Jessica Pegula hails from one of America’s most powerful sports dynasties. Her father, Terry Pegula, is a self‑made billionaire who built his fortune in oil and natural‑gas through East Resources, later selling assets for billions and investing in professional sports . Together with his wife Kim Pegula, he purchased the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres in 2011 and the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in 2014—the latter for a record $1.4 billion, one of the highest cash deals in league history . The couple shares stewardship of both franchises, commanding a legacy that blends business acumen with a deep love for team sports and community investment.
Her mother, Kim Pegula, has an inspiring personal story. Born in Seoul in 1969, she was abandoned at a young age, later adopted by an American family in Rochester, New York . She met Terry while working in upstate New York and built a life alongside him, becoming co‑owner of the Bills and Sabres and deeply involved in their sports and entertainment ventures . In 2022, Kim suffered a serious cardiac arrest that greatly impacted her health—Jessica’s sister Kelly administered lifesaving CPR, and Kim continues to recover .
As for her siblings, Jessica is one of three children from Terry and Kim, alongside sister Kelly and brother Matthew. Additionally, she has two older half‑siblings—Laura and Michael—from her father’s prior marriage . Kelly Pegula is particularly in the spotlight: she’s a fashion designer, singer, and entrepreneur who has led family ventures like Pegula Sports & Entertainment and co‑founded the quick‑serve café chain The Healthy Scratch with Jessica . Matthew Pegula, by contrast, keeps a lower profile, while Laura Pegula has received a small slice of ownership in the Bills as of 2024 and played college tennis at Pittsburgh .
Off the court, Jessica is married to Buffalo native Taylor Gahagen. The pair tied the knot in October 2021 at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, after postponing due to the pandemic . Gahagen is a business executive who previously worked for Pegula Sports & Entertainment in Buffalo, and now serves as vice‑president of Jessica’s skincare brand Ready 24 and president of their joint charity A Lending Paw, which trains rescue dogs as service animals . Together they embody both sporting passion and philanthropic purpose—balancing Jessica’s tennis career with entrepreneurial ventures and animal welfare work.
In sum, Jessica Pegula’s family is deeply rooted in sports ownership and business leadership: her parents Terry and Kim Pegula helm two major professional teams in the NFL and NHL, and her siblings contribute to the enterprise and creative projects. Her husband Taylor Gahagen supports her off‑court life and co‑runs both wellness and rescue‑dog ventures. Though her legacy is defined by wealth and privilege, Pegula’s rise in tennis also reflects hard work and grit, shaping her into one of the most fascinating figures in modern sport.
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