Kim Pegula, co-owner of the Buffalo Bills, made a rare public appearance as the team's new $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium opened its doors to fans for the first time. She walked hand in hand with her husband, billionaire owner Terry Pegula, as they were joined on the field by their son Matthew for family photos.
Kim suffered a cardiac arrest in June 2022 that caused a brain injury due to a lack of oxygen. She has rarely appeared in public since, though she has stayed in close contact with the Bills, often watching practices from the passenger seat of an SUV near the field.
Last summer she surprised players with her first public appearance since the incident, breaking down their team huddle at training camp in footage shared on social media. Her latest appearance at Highmark Stadium marked the first time fans were in attendance to see her.
Terry Pegula, who has an estimated net worth of $9.3 billion according to Forbes, took over her roles as team president of the Bills and the Buffalo Sabres after she fell ill, though she remains listed as a co-owner of the team.
Daughter's account of her recovery
The couple's daughter, world No. 4 tennis star Jessica Pegula, wrote about her mother's health in an article for The Players' Tribune in 2023. She said her mother was dealing with significant expressive aphasia and significant memory issues, and that her sister Kelly saved her life.
Jessica wrote that her sister gave their mother CPR until the ambulance arrived. She said that even though her mother does not like to take credit for the situation, Kelly absolutely saved her life, followed by the critical work of the paramedics who arrived and restored a heartbeat.
Players react to her presence
Kim's appearance at training camp last year drew an emotional response from Bills players. Quarterback Josh Allen said she gave so much energy and effort before the incident, so the least the team could do was rally around her. He said many of the newer players did not understand the impact she had on people like himself, and that they were happy to see her out there.
Offensive lineman Dion Dawkins called her "Mama Bear" and said he was proud of her and happy to still have her.
Bills ownership history
The Pegula family bought the Bills in 2014 after the death of previous owner Ralph Wilson, with a $1.4 billion all-cash bid. The team has enjoyed strong success since then, led by Allen at quarterback, but has yet to reach a Super Bowl.
Before her illness, Kim spoke about her desire to bring a championship to Buffalo. She said championships were why they were there, and that at the end of the day it was all about winning. She said Buffalo fans wanted a championship badly, and that nobody wanted it more than she and Terry did, adding that it was their passion and their sole focus to figure out how to win.
