By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday November 29 2023
Jessica Pegula is the covergirl for the new edition of Forbes 30 under 30 for North America.
Pegula is the only tennis player in this year’s field. She joins a star-studded group that includes Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Atlanta Braves center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr.. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson and footballer Sophia Smith.
Pegula is the quintessential late bloomer. She struggled with injuries over the course of her early to mid twenties and didn't crack the Top-100 until 2019. The Buffalo, NY native cracked the Top-20 for the first time just two years ago, in 2021.
Pegula is the daugher of Terry and Kim Pegula. Terry is known for his fortune in the oil and gas industry, and as the owner of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. Forbes lists him as the 389th richest man in the world with a net worth of 6.8 billion.
"I always thought that I would make it happen," Pegula said in her interview with Forbes, "but at the same time, putting in all the work and making it happen four years later, about where my mindset was, I don't know if I really truly believed it. I did, but I didn't. It's just been a very long journey."
Here’s what Forbes had to say about 29-year-old Pegula, who is ranked No.5 in the world: “The late-blooming star has her own skincare line called Ready 24 and will look to add to her endorsement deals with Adidas, Yonex and Ready Nutrition after signing with talent agency GSE Worldwide in November 2022.”