So, there's this tennis chick named Jessica Pegula, and she's like, super loaded because her dad is a billionaire. But even though she's got more money than she can probably count, she's all about trying to win big at the Olympics this summer in Paris. The thing is, if she gets the gold, the prize isn't really that much compared to all the dough she already has.
Who's Jessica Pegula Anyway?
Jessica is 30, and she's pretty big in the tennis world, partly because her dad, Terry Pegula, is like, crazy rich with £5.3 billion. She's already won a bunch of prize money, like over £9 million, which is insane, right?
What's Up with Her Olympic Dreams?
Jessica's playing for Team USA at the Paris Olympics with her buddy Coco Gauff in the women's doubles. She wanted to win it all by herself in singles, but she got knocked out by some Ukrainian player, Elina Svitolina, after doing pretty good in the first round. She beat someone called Viktorija Golubic 6-3, 6-4, but then Svitolina showed her who's boss and won 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. Bummer.
How's She Doing in Doubles?
Jessica and Coco are totally killing it in the doubles, though. They beat these Australian gals, Daria Saville and Ellen Perez, 6-3, 6-1. Now they're facing some tough cookies from the Czech Republic, Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova. We're all super excited to see if they can get to the top spot.
What's the Deal with the Prize Money?
If Jessica gets that gold medal, she'll get £29,000 ($37,500) from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee. But let's be real, that's like pocket change for someone who's going to get a fortune from their dad. It's more about the bragging rights and the cool factor of having an Olympic gold, you know?
She's Been to the Olympics Before
Back in Tokyo 2021, Jessica and her partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands didn't do too shabby, coming in fifth. They lost to some Brazilian players, Laura Pigossi and Luisa Stefani, in the quarter-finals.
The End Game
So, Jessica Pegula's going all out for that Olympic gold, even though the prize money is like, not a big deal for her. It's all about the glory and the story she'll tell. We're all super pumped to see how she and Coco do in the doubles and if they can bring home the win for Team USA.
