Everything We Know About Barstool Sports Founder, Dave Portnoy

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy -- famously known as El Presidente, aka The Mogul, aka Davey Pageviews -- is one of the most recognizable faces in the American sports media industry. Famously known as the founder of the multi-million dollar online media outlet Barstool Sports, he's also a stock trader, who often appears on Fox News' business segments, and a pizza enthusiast. Over the course of Barstool's 20-year existence, he accumulated a massive following on his Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages. However, Portnoy's controversial takes have turned him into a polarizing presence online and in the sports world.

Portnoy was born in Swampscott, Massachusetts, on March 22, 1977. He attended Swampscott High School, where he met ESPN's football analyst Todd McShay. He later enrolled at the University of Michigan where he graduated with a degree in education in 1999.

While at Michigan, he launched thegamblingman.com, a website where he shared his sports betting picks. David moved to Boston and began his post-college career at IT market research firm, Yankee Group. He spent four years working for the company before eventually leaving the company to focus on starting his own Barstool Sports.

Portnoy's personal life has been a topic of interest among his fans, with many curious about his relationship status and hobbies. He married his ex-wife Renee Satterthwaite, known as the "First Lady of Barstool Nation" among fans, in 2009. However, their marriage ended in 2017 after Portnoy's affair with a woman named Jordyn Hamilton became public. As expected, Portnoy's also an avid sports enthusiast, particularly of the New England Patriots and Boston Bruins. According to Celebrity Net Worth, David Portnoy's net worth is estimated to be between $100 - $120 million.

In 2003, Portnoy founded Barstool Sports, a four-page sports newspaper he distributed by hand on Boston's subway platforms and street corners. The paper was initially written solely by Portnoy but eventually expanded to include freelance writers, including former classmate Todd McShay.

The newspaper initially struggled but gained popularity in 2004. Portnoy began featuring photos of women in bikinis on the front page. In 2007, Barstool transitioned into a blog, where he cultivated his persona as "El Presidente," a blunt and candid character that appealed to young men and became a mainstay of bro culture.

The blog quickly gained a following for its humorous takes on sports and pop culture and expanded to cover the latest news. Over the years, under Dave Portnoy's guidance, Barstool Sports transformed into a multimedia company that includes podcasts, video content, and merchandise.

Despite facing criticism for disparaging and offensive comments towards women and other marginalized groups, Barstool Sports grew in popularity. They attracted investment from The Chernin Group, which purchased a majority stake in 2016. Four years later, Penn Entertainment acquired a 36% stake in the company, bringing Barstool's valuation to $450 million. In February 2023, Penn Entertainment acquired the remaining stake in Barstool Sports for $388 million, with Portnoy retaining creative control over the content.

Portnoy's love of pizza became a significant part of his public persona. He started reviewing pizza places in 2007 on his blog and social media channels, leading to the launch of his YouTube channel, One Bite With Davey Pageviews. The page featured Portnoy's reviews of different pizza places across Manhatten, and eventually, globally. His pizza reviews are known for their honest and straightforward approach. It often features Portnoy taking large bites out of the pizza while giving his thoughts on the taste and texture. Eventually, this led to several partnerships with renowned pizza companies, including DiGiorno. In 2021, Portnoy also launched his frozen pizza brand, One Bite Pizza.

Dave Portnoy has been embroiled in many controversies since Barstool Sports' inception in 2003. Portnoy caught backlash after making light of sexual assault victims, saying, "If you're a size 6 and you're wearing skinny jeans, you kind of deserve to be raped, right?" He later issued an apology for this comment. Portnoy's decision to post a naked photo of Tom Brady's 20-month-old son in 2011 resulted in a visit from Massachusetts State Police. He eventually pulled the photo from his blog.

In 2016, Barstool Sports faced accusations of racism after publishing a post that mocked Colin Kaepernick. Portnoy defended the post, stating that it was meant to be a joke and that the company did not condone racism. However, the incident led to several advertisers pulling their support from the site.

Additionally, Portnoy has faced backlash for Barstool's use of derogatory language and the alleged treatment of female employees. He was criticized in the past for making inappropriate comments toward women and accused of promoting sexual harassment, which he denied. ESPN's Sam Ponder, for example, called him out for a string of statements he made toward her, including suggesting that she needed to be more "slutty." Ultimately, the controversies surrounding Portnoy have led many publications and news outlets to describe Barstool as a place that fosters misogynistic culture.

Despite the controversies, Portnoy and Barstool Sports have used their platform to support various charitable causes over the years. One notable example is the Barstool Fund, which Portnoy launched in December 2020 to support small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund initially started with $500,000 of Portnoy's money and quickly gained momentum.

The Barstool Fund received widespread praise for its transparency and direct approach to providing financial assistance to small businesses. As of April 2023, the fund has raised nearly $42 million. Portnoy has been actively involved in the fund's efforts, regularly sharing updates and encouraging donations on his social media channels.

In addition to the Barstool Fund, Barstool Sports have also supported other charitable causes, including the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Portnoy has also used his platform to raise awareness and funds for various social issues, such as a Veteran's Day fundraising campaign for mental health.

After Portnoy made a reported $100 million from selling his sports media company, Barstool Sports. Since then, he has continued to grow his wealth. Portnoy has made substantial investments in real estate over the years, is an avid stock trader, and dabbles in cryptocurrencies, too. Near the end of 2022, Portnoy launched a watch company, Brick Watch Company. That same year, he filed a lawsuit against news publisher Insider for publishing two stories alleging sexual misconduct against Portnoy. He dropped the lawsuit in February 2023.