Kim Pegula
Kim S. Pegula | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 7, 1969 Seoul, South Korea |
| Occupation(s) | Business executive, sports team owner |
| Years active | 1991–2023 |
| Known for | President of Pegula Sports and Entertainment; co-owner of Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres |
Kim S. Pegula (; born June 7, 1969) is a South Korean-born former American business executive and spouse of billionaire Terry Pegula. She held the position of president at Pegula Sports and Entertainment, the parent company overseeing the operations of the Buffalo Bills (NFL), Buffalo Sabres (NHL), multiple minor league teams, and various entertainment ventures. Additionally, she served as president for the Bills, Sabres, and Buffalo Bandits. Alongside Shahid Khan and Zygi Wilf, Pegula was one of the few NFL owners who were not U.S.-born. After experiencing a severe stroke in 2022, Pegula Sports and Entertainment was disbanded in 2023.
Early life
Kim Pegula was born on June 7, 1969, in Seoul, South Korea. Details about her biological parents or early childhood remain unknown; she was abandoned on the streets of Seoul around age five. A DNA examination suggested that one parent was likely of Japanese descent. On December 30, 1974, she was adopted by Ralph and Marilyn Kerr and grew up in Fairport, New York, a suburb near Rochester. During her school years, she engaged in cheerleading and played the bassoon. Initially enrolling at Houghton College with plans to work in Alaska, she instead took a job at a restaurant in Belfast, New York, where she met Terry Pegula. In 1991, he offered her employment at his natural gas enterprise, and they married two years later.
Career
From 1991 until its sale in 2010, Pegula was actively involved in her husband's business, East Resources. Shortly after the sale, the Pegulas acquired the Buffalo Sabres along with their affiliated teams: the Buffalo Bandits (NLL) and Rochester Americans (AHL). She played an instrumental role in the development and construction of LECOM Harborcenter, a mixed-use facility adjacent to the Sabres' arena that contributed significantly to revitalizing downtown Buffalo, New York. Following the passing of longtime Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson in 2014, the Pegulas entered a competitive bidding process against parties including Donald Trump and a group led by Jon Bon Jovi. Ultimately, they secured ownership with an NFL-record $1.4 billion all-cash offer.
After acquiring the team, Kim and Terry Pegula consolidated their sports franchises and music label Black River Entertainment under Pegula Sports and Entertainment (PSE). She was instrumental in creating "One Buffalo," a brand designed to unify their sports entities, and participated actively with the NFL Foundation. The Pegulas have made substantial donations to their alma maters, notably contributing $12 million to Houghton College for constructing a new athletics facility and supporting its transition to NCAA Division III status. Additionally, Pegula helped launch premium ice cream and cupcake products under the "One Buffalo" brand.
As PSE's president and CEO, she managed multiple property acquisitions within Buffalo and initiated the regional sports network MSG Western New York. The company expanded its portfolio by acquiring professional teams such as the Buffalo Beauts (NWHL), which they sold after one year, as well as the Rochester Knighthawks (NLL).
In March 2018, Pegula joined the NFL’s business ventures committee and served on advisory boards for Super Bowl events and other major occasions. Following Russ Brandon’s resignation on May 1, 2018, she assumed presidency over all Pegula Sports and Entertainment properties. This appointment made her the first woman to serve as team president in both NFL and NHL history. She maintained this role until PSE was dissolved in 2023 after suffering a serious health setback in 2022 that rendered her unable to continue her responsibilities. Subsequently, her husband Terry took over her presidential duties with the Bills and Sabres, which were then managed independently.
Kim Pegula is part of an exclusive group of female NFL owners that includes Sheila Ford Hamp (Detroit Lions), Virginia Halas McCaskey (Chicago Bears), Amy Adams Strunk (Tennessee Titans), Carol Davis (Las Vegas Raiders), Denise DeBartolo York (San Francisco 49ers), Gayle Benson (New Orleans Saints), Janice McNair (Houston Texans), Jody Allen (Seattle Seahawks) and Dee Haslam (Cleveland Browns).
Personal life
Kim and Terry Pegula are parents to three children: Kelly, Matthew, and Jessica, who pursues a career as a professional tennis athlete. Additionally, Kim has two stepchildren, Michael and Laura, from Terry’s earlier marriage. The family resides in both East Aurora, New York and Boca Raton, Florida.
Cardiac arrest
In June 2022, Kim Pegula was admitted to an intensive care unit in Boca Raton for reasons that were not publicly disclosed. During the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, her daughter Jessica shared that Kim’s health showed signs of improvement and that she was actively engaged in rehabilitation. On February 7, 2023, Jessica disclosed in a Players' Tribune article that Kim had experienced cardiac arrest which resulted in brain injury. This injury caused severe expressive aphasia and memory difficulties due to a lack of oxygen. Jessica credited her sister Kelly with saving their mother’s life after Kelly had completed a CPR training course months prior.
On March 23, 2023, Kim Pegula was officially declared legally incapacitated. Her assets were transferred into a trust overseen by Terry Pegula along with his business associate Bob Long. Early in 2024, Laura Pegula, her stepdaughter, took over Kim’s responsibilities as co-owner of the Buffalo Bills. In December 2024, private equity investors purchased a significant portion of Kim’s ownership stake. Nevertheless, both the Bills and Sabres continue to recognize Kim as co-owner while noting she is "undergoing long-term physical and occupational therapy."
In July 2023, Kim made her first public appearance in over a year by attending a Buffalo Bills training camp session. Then, in July 2024, she notably stepped outside her vehicle with support from her husband and joined the Bills’ training camp huddle, marking an important milestone in her ongoing recovery.