Terry Pegula owns the Buffalo Bills, a franchise he bought in 2014 for $1.4 billion after making his fortune in natural gas drilling. It’s been a milestone year for the Pegula family — the team’s new $2.1 billion stadium opened in June 2026, a project that became personally significant given a health situation within the family.
Terry’s wife, Kim Pegula, was long a visible co-owner and driving force behind the stadium project, but she was declared legally incapacitated in 2023 following a stroke the year before. Their daughter Laura Pegula has since stepped into a larger ownership role.
Quick Facts
| Team | Buffalo Bills |
|---|---|
| Owner | Terry Pegula |
| Ownership Since | 2014 |
| Purchase Price | $1.4 billion |
| Founded | 1960 |
| League | NFL (AFC East) |
| Home | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York (opened June 2026) |
| Family Background | Natural gas (East Resources) |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1960 | Bills founded as a charter member of the American Football League |
| 1959-2014 | Owned by founder Ralph Wilson until his death in 2014 |
| 2014 | Terry and Kim Pegula purchase the team for $1.4 billion, keeping it in Buffalo after relocation fears |
| 2022 | Kim Pegula suffers a cardiac arrest and stroke, sidelining her from day-to-day team involvement |
| 2023 | Kim Pegula is declared legally incapacitated |
| 2024 | Daughter Laura Pegula assumes a minority ownership stake, expanding her role within the organization |
| June 2026 | New $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium opens in Orchard Park, an emotional milestone for Terry Pegula given Kim’s role in originally driving the project |
Key Ownership Highlights
- The Pegulas also own the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, making them one of the few families controlling both an NFL and NHL franchise in the same market.
- The new stadium’s final cost included roughly $700 million in overruns covered directly by the Pegula family, on top of $850 million in public funding from New York State and Erie County.
- Laura Pegula’s expanded role since 2024 positions her as a likely long-term succession figure within the ownership group.
FAQ
Who owns the Buffalo Bills?
Terry Pegula, who purchased the team in 2014 for $1.4 billion. His daughter Laura Pegula holds a minority ownership stake as well.
What happened to Kim Pegula’s role with the team?
Kim Pegula suffered a stroke in 2022 and was declared legally incapacitated in 2023, stepping back from active team involvement. Terry has publicly credited her with driving the vision behind the team’s new stadium.