{{short description|American entrepreneur (born 1977)}} {{pp-move}} {{Use American English|date=March 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Dave Portnoy | image = Dave portnoy (48571713636) (cropped).jpg | caption = Portnoy at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2019 | birth_name = David Scott Portnoy | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|3|22}} | birth_place = Salem, Massachusetts, U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Businessman|social media personality}} | alma_mater = University of Michigan | years_active = 2003–present | employer = Barstool Sports | spouse = {{marriage|Renee Satterthwaite|2009|2017|end=separated}} | father = | website = {{URL|barstoolsports.com}} }}
'''David Scott Portnoy''' (born March 22, 1977)<ref name="stanton">{{cite book |last=Stanton |first=Charlie |date=2024 |title=How the Jester Became King: Dave Portnoy & the Unauthorized Real Story of Barstool Sports |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/How_the_Jester_Became_King/uD4vEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA1975&printsec=frontcover |location=New York |publisher=Post Hill |pages=7–10 |isbn=979-8-88845-964-5 |access-date=2025-09-03}}</ref> is an American businessman and social media personality. He is the founder and owner of sports and popular culture company Barstool Sports.<ref name="NBC" />
== Early life and education == Portnoy was born in Salem, Massachusetts,<ref name="birthplace">{{cite AV media |date=2020-03-25 |title=The Dave Portnoy Origin Story: Promise Big, Deliver Big |publisher=Barstool Sports |time=3:38 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyx641z2dxg |quote=Dave and I were born...in the same hospital, Salem, Massachusetts, on the same day... |access-date=2025-08-23}}</ref> and raised in nearby Swampscott,<ref>{{cite web |last=Velasco |first=Rin |title=He built a media empire. Here's what to know about MA native Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports. |url=https://www.patriotledger.com/story/sports/2025/02/01/dave-portnoy-el-presidente-barstool-sports-swampscott-ma-one-bite-pizza-reviews/78048055007/ |website=The Patriot Ledger |access-date=2025-02-11}}</ref> the son of Michael, a lawyer, and Linda, a high school teacher.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=The Dave Portnoy Origin Story: Promise Big, Deliver Big |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyx641z2dxg |time=7:08 | work=Barstool Sports | via=YouTube |date=March 25, 2020}}</ref> He is Jewish.<ref name="Forward">{{Cite news|first=Philip |last=Eil | title=Say Hello to the Internet's Biggest Jewish Stars |newspaper=Jewish Daily Forward |url=https://forward.com/culture/311190/stars-of-the-internet-presenting-some-of-the-brightest-lights-illuminating/ |date=July 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://jewishjournal.com/news/335366/local-rabbi-introduces-social-media-star-david-portnoy-to-tefillin/ |title=Local Rabbi Introduces Social Media Star David Portnoy to Tefillin |first=Harvey |last=Farr | work=The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles |date=April 9, 2021}}</ref> He attended Swampscott High School, where he played on the school's baseball team, winning the league batting triple crown as a junior.<ref name="stanton" /> One of his friends and classmates was ESPN's Todd McShay, who was born in the same hospital on the same day as Portnoy.<ref name="birthplace" />
Portnoy graduated from the University of Michigan in 1999 with a degree in education,<ref>{{cite news | title=Timothy Burroughs: The President of Bros |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/opinion/11timothy-burroughs-barstool-sports21 | first=Timothy | last=Burroughs | work=The Michigan Daily |date=November 20, 2013}}</ref> though he had no plans to become a teacher.<ref name="stanton" /> While at Michigan, Portnoy founded thegamblingman.com, a website where he published his sports betting picks.<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news | last=Steel | first=Emily | date=November 20, 2022 | title=Desperate for Growth, Aging Casino Company Embraced 'Degenerate Gambler' | work=The New York Times | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/barstool-sports-betting-david-portnoy.html | url-access=limited}}</ref>
== Career == === Barstool Sports === After college, Portnoy moved to Boston and began working at Yankee Group, an IT market research firm.<ref name="NBC">{{Cite news |title=The Man Behind the 'Bible of Bro Culture' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna53821689 | first=Jason | last=Ankeny | work=MSNBC |date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606213449/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/53821689/ns/business-small_business/t/man-behind-bible-bro-culture/ |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Portnoy, a self-described "degenerate gambler," bet heavily on sports, losing $30,000 one year of his mid-twenties.<ref name="stanton" /> In 2004, Portnoy left the Yankee Group and founded Barstool Sports.<ref name="NBC" /> The early iteration of Barstool was a four-page sports newspaper that Portnoy handed out on subway platforms and street corners in Boston.<ref name="Founding">{{Cite news |url=https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/746282/barstool-biographies-becoming-el-pres-pt-2 | title=Barstool Biographies: Becoming El Pres Pt. 2 | author=Francis |work=Barstool Sports | date=March 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="NYT" /> The paper was meant to appeal to young men and rejected political correctness.<ref name="NYT" /> Early advertisers in the newspaper included offshore betting websites such as partypoker, which was operating in the United States illegally.<ref name="NYT" /> The contents of the newspaper was originally solely written by Portnoy, but freelance writers, including Todd McShay, joined the paper.<ref name="Founding" /> At first, the paper struggled, but gained traction in 2004 when Portnoy began placing photos of women in bikinis on the front page of the newspaper.<ref name="NYT" /> In 2007, Barstool expanded to a blog.<ref name="Founding" />
Portnoy gradually cultivated his persona as "El Presidente", a blunt and candid character.<ref name="NBC"/> His writing was well-received among young men and the publication subsequently became a mainstay of bro culture.<ref name="NBC"/> Peter Chernin's The Chernin Group purchased a majority stake of Barstool in January 2016. In 2020, Penn Entertainment purchased a 36% stake in Barstool Sports for $163 million, including $135 million in cash and $28 million in Penn non-voting convertible preferred stock. Penn acquired the remainder of the company in February 2023 for $388 million.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Primack |title=The Story of How Barstool Sports Got Sold |url=https://fortune.com/2016/01/07/the-story-of-how-barstool-sports-got-sold/ |work=Fortune |date=2016-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first1=Christopher |last1=Palmeri |first2=Lucas |last2=Shaw |title=Barstool Sports to Sell 36% Stake to Penn National Gaming |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-29/barstool-sports-agrees-to-sell-36-stake-to-penn-national-gaming |work=Bloomberg News|date=January 29, 2020 | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/penn-entertainment-buys-remainder-of-barstool-sports-for-388-million/ | title=Remainder of Barstool Sports bought for $388 million | work=CBS News | date=February 18, 2023}}</ref> Portnoy re-purchased Barstool in August 2023 for one dollar, non-compete agreements in the gambling space, and a clause that if Barstool were to be sold again Penn Entertainment would take 50%.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/dave-portnoy-barstool-sports-paid-one-dollar-penn-entertainment-1235692418/ |last=Spangler |first=Todd |title=Dave Portnoy Paid $1 (Yes, One Dollar) to Buy Barstool Sports Back From Penn, Which Will Take Up to $850 Million Charge Related to Disposal of the Business |work=Variety | date=August 9, 2023}}</ref>
The "Dave Portnoy Show with Eddie & Co." was a podcast hosted by Dave Portnoy and Eddie Farrer that aired on Barstool Sports. In October 2022, the show was placed on indefinite hiatus after Portnoy said that the show had become "terrible" and lacked fresh content. Following the failure of the revived Barstool Radio, Portnoy announced the launch of "The Unnamed Show" in January 2024, along with Ryan Whitney and Kirk Minihane.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.mensjournal.com/news/dave-portnoy-cancels-barstool-radio-feud-kelly-keegs-ohios-tate | title=Dave Portnoy Cancels, Relaunches 'Barstool Radio' Amid Drama Between Two Contributors | work=Men's Journal | date=January 30, 2024}}</ref>
Portnoy is the founder and rules commissioner for the Internet Invitational, a YouTube golf event mainly for golf influencers, which first aired between October and November 2025 and has garnered over 25 million views on the Youtube platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Wyatt D. |date=2025-11-14 |title=Dave Portnoy's $1 million Internet Invitational finished with two cheating controversies {{!}} New York Post |url=https://nypost.com/2025/11/14/sports/dave-portnoys-1-million-internet-invitational-finished-with-two-cheating-controversies/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>
====Labor relations====
In 2019, in response to employees of ''The Ringer'' trying to start a union, Portnoy tweeted a threat to fire any employee at his blogging company who sought advice on forming a union. The New York State Department of Labor released a statement saying, "We say no way, no how to intimidation, threats and union busting. It is illegal to take any unfavorable action—including termination—against employees for union-related activities under the National Labor Relations Act. New York is a proud union state." U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez tweeted in response to Portnoy, "If you're a boss tweeting firing threats to employees trying to unionize, you are likely breaking the law & can be sued, in your words, 'on the spot.' ALL workers in the US have the protected freedom to organize for better conditions."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/barstool-sports-dave-portnoy-says-hell-fire-unionizing-workers-labor-officials-say-no-way/|title=Barstool Sports' founder says he'll fire unionizing workers--labor officials say "no way" |website=CBS News| last=Picchi| first=Aimee| date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=January 22, 2023}}</ref> The National Labor Relations Board investigated Portnoy in 2019 for threatening to fire his workers if they unionized.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=January 22, 2020 |title=Barstool Sports founder forced to delete tweet threatening to fire union supporters "on the spot" |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/22/21076650/barstool-sports-anti-union-tweets-threaten-fire-sue-lawyers-national-labor-review-board}}</ref> That December, Portnoy reached an informal settlement with the Board, which required him to delete his threatening tweets and remove any potential anti-union material created by Barstool Sports. The settlement also noted that the Twitter account originally encouraging employees to unionize was actually owned by Barstool in an attempt to out labor organizers.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=McNamara |first=Audrey |title=Barstool Sports co-founder David Portnoy settles over anti-union tweets |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/barstool-sports-david-portnoy-settles-with-nlrb-over-anti-union-tweets-today-2020-01-22/ |access-date=22 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news |last=Wallender |first=Andrew |title=Barstool Sports Settles With Labor Board Over Anti-Union Tweets |work=Bloomberg Law |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/barstool-sports-settles-with-labor-board-over-anti-union-tweets |access-date=7 November 2022}}</ref> Portnoy also released a T-shirt with his face on it that read "Union Buster".<ref>{{cite web |last=Wallender |first=Andrew |date=January 21, 2020 |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/barstool-sports-settles-with-labor-board-over-anti-union-tweets |title=Barstool Sports Settles With Labor Board Over Anti-Union Tweets |website=Bloomberg News |access-date=January 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/barstool-sports-david-portnoy-settles-with-nlrb-over-anti-union-tweets-today-2020-01-22/ |title=Barstool Sports co-founder David Portnoy settles over anti-union tweets |website=CBS News |last=McNamara| first=Audrey |date=January 22, 2020 |access-date=January 22, 2023}}</ref>
==== Fox Sports partnership ==== On July 17, 2025, Portnoy announced on his X account that Barstool Sports was entering into a "wide-ranging partnership" with Fox Sports.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kadlick |first=Mike |date=2025-07-17 |title=Dave Portnoy Details Barstool Sports' New Deal With Fox Sports, 'Big Noon Kickoff' |url=https://www.si.com/media/dave-portnoy-barstool-sports-fox-sports-big-noon-kickoff |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=SI |language=en-US}}</ref> As part of the deal, Portnoy will become an analyst on Fox's ''Big Noon Kickoff'' college football pregame show.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDaniel |first=Mike |date=2025-07-16 |title=Fox Sports Nearing Deal With Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports After Canceling Shows |url=https://www.si.com/media/fox-sports-nearing-deal-dave-portnoy-barstool-sports-after-canceling-shows-big-noon-kickoff |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=SI |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Pizza reviews === ''One Bite Pizza Reviews'' is an internet show by Portnoy, in which he reviews pizza from restaurants around the world, ranking it on a scale of 0–10. Portnoy began his show with the goal of reviewing every pizza place in Manhattan in 2017. In addition to Portnoy, some reviews feature celebrity guests.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Luke |last=McCormick |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/barstool-sports-dave-portnoy-has-eaten-pizza-daily-for-two-years/ |title=Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy Has Eaten Pizza Daily for Two Years | work=Men's Journal |date=February 9, 2018}}</ref> Portnoy rarely ranks a pizza above 9.0, but some of those he praised have experienced a transformative growth in popularity, going "viral, becoming a can't-miss attraction for legions of young, loud, and often inebriated Barstool diehards."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/07/dave-portnoy-pizza-one-bite-reviews.html |last=Winkie |first=Luke |date=2023-07-23 |title=Dave Portnoy's Pizza Mafia |work=Slate |access-date=2023-07-24 |issn=1091-2339}}</ref>
In 2019, Portnoy appeared in the documentary ''Pizza A Love Story'' where he first declared New Haven the "Pizza Capital of the United States."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pizza A Love Story (2019) |url=https://whatwerewethinkingfilms.com/2020/09/25/pizza-a-love-story-2/ |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=What Were We Thinking Films |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1A6qL1i72k |title=Pizza, A Love Story - TRAILER-2019 |date=2019-09-24 |last=GormanBechard |access-date=2025-08-02 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Two years later he tweeted "The pizza capital of the United States is New Haven, CT. Anybody who says otherwise is wrong."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bartiromo |first=Michael |date=2021-02-10 |title=Barstool's Dave Portnoy names 'pizza capital' of America, angers New Yorkers and New Jerseyans |url=https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/barstools-dave-portnoy-names-pizza-capital-new-haven-twitter |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref>
In October 2023, ''The New York Times'' called Portnoy "one of the most influential people in the world of food social media," with the ability to "change the fate of a pizzeria with a single utterance."<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Draper |first=Kevin |date=October 3, 2023 |title=The Pizza Influencer With a Private Jet and a 'Troll Army' |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/03/dining/barstool-dave-portnoy-pizza.html}}</ref>
In August 2023, Portnoy was involved in an altercation with Charlie Redd, the owner of Dragon Pizza in Somerville, Massachusetts, after criticizing the pizzeria's pizza as "a floppy mess."<ref name="WashingtonPost">{{cite news |last=Heil |first=Emily |date=2023-09-22 |title=Pizzerias navigate buzz, backlash around Dave Portnoy's pizza festival|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Portnoy and Redd then entered into an expletive-laden exchange.<ref name="WashingtonPost" />
Portnoy and Barstool Sports hosted the first One Bite Pizza Festival in September 2023 in Brooklyn, New York.<ref name="WashingtonPost"/> The One Bite Pizza Festival is a joint-venture with Medium Rare.<ref>{{Cite web |title=One Bite Pizza Festival |url=https://www.medium-rare.com/one-bite-pizza |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Medium Rare |language=en-US}}</ref> For the second year of the festival, Portnoy donated all proceeds from the festival to Al Santillo, the owner of Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza, which had burned down earlier in the year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Settembre |first1=Jeanette |title=Barstool's Dave Portnoy reveals how he beat the hypocritical haters to help local pizzerias |url=https://nypost.com/2024/09/10/lifestyle/barstools-dave-portnoy-reveals-how-he-beat-the-haters-to-help-local-pizzerias/ |work=New York Post |date=September 10, 2024 |access-date=May 4, 2025}}</ref> A GoFundMe campaign started by Portnoy raised more than $32,000 to help with rebuilding Santillo's.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vasil |first1=Jim |title=Renowned NJ pizzeria nears return after being burned down |url=https://pix11.com/news/local-news/renowned-pizzeria-nears-return-after-being-burned-down/ |access-date=7 May 2025 |work=PIX11 |date=29 October 2024}}</ref>
== Politics == Portnoy's popularity and influence, specifically in politics, has been referred to as Barstool conservatism. He identifies as "socially liberal" and "fiscally conservative".<ref name="Baragona 2022">{{cite web | last=Baragona | first=Justin |date=June 24, 2022 |title=Fuming Barstool Prez: Overturning Roe Is 'Pure Insanity,' Republicans Are 'Too Dangerous' |website=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/barstool-president-dave-portnoy-says-overturning-roe-v-wade-is-insanity-republicans-are-too-dangerous |access-date=October 18, 2024}}</ref> He has been described as a strong supporter of President Donald Trump.<ref name=gopdeals>{{Cite web |title='A lot of people's BS meters are going to go off': GOP deals with Signalgate |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/26/trump-allies-signal-chat-defense-00251838 |website=Politico |date=2025-03-26}}</ref><ref name=":4" />
He opposed COVID-19 lockdowns. He said "When did this become...'flatten the curve' to 'we have to find a cure or everyone's going to die?{{' "}}<ref name=Politico>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/06/20/barstool-sports-republican-politics-portnoy-trump-495221 |title=How Republicans Became the 'Barstool' Party |website=Politico |date=June 20, 2021}}</ref>
In a 2015 blog post, he said: "I am voting for Donald Trump. I don't care if he's a joke. I don't care if he's racist. I don't care if he's sexist. I don't care about any of it. I hope he stays in the race and I hope he wins. Why? Because I love the fact that he is making other politicians squirm. I love the fact he says shit nobody else will say, regardless of how ridiculous it is."<ref name=Politico /> He endorsed Trump for the 2016 Presidential election.<ref name=":4" /> In 2020, he interviewed Trump at the White House. In 2024, he supported and voted for Donald Trump for president.<ref name=stands/>
He criticized the June 2022 ''Dobbs v. Jackson'' Supreme Court decision, which overturned ''Roe v. Wade'',<ref name="Baragona 2022"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Robertson |first=Derek | title=The Barstool Bros' Split Over Abortion Could Determine the Future of the GOP |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/07/22/roe-will-force-the-barstool-conservatives-to-choose-00047291 |website=Politico |date=July 22, 2022}}</ref> saying "It makes no sense how anybody thinks it's their right to tell a woman what to do with her body."<ref>{{cite news |last=Mordowanec |first=Nick |title=Dave Portnoy Condemns Roe v. Wade Ruling: 'This Is Just Pure Insanity' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/dave-portnoy-roe-v-wade-response-barstool-sports-1719050 |website=Newsweek |date=June 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/barstool-sports-founder-dave-portnoy-criticizes-roe-v-wade-decision-2022-6 |last=Clark |first=Travis |title=Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy rips into Roe v. Wade decision, says it's 'pure insanity' and 'we are going backwards in time' |website=Business Insider |date=June 24, 2022}}</ref> He said it is "dangerous" to vote for Republicans because they will appoint justices who are too conservative to the U.S. Supreme Court.<ref name="Baragona 2022"/>
In response to Signalgate, he called on President Trump to remove Mike Waltz from office, saying it was a "fuck-up of epic proportions."<ref name=gopdeals/>
In April 2025, he criticized tariffs in the second Trump administration saying "Welcome to Orange Monday," on his apolitical "Davey Day Trader" financial livestream after immediately losing $20 million or 15 percent of his net worth in the aftermath of Liberation Day. However, he said that he plans to keep supporting Trump calling him "a smart guy." and added "I think they’re smarter than me when it comes to these tariffs. I also think he’s playing a high-stakes game here, I'm gonna roll with him for a couple days, a couple weeks, see how this pans out."<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2025-04-08 |title=Joe Rogan, Dave Portnoy and Ben Shapiro are among Trump backers now questioning tariffs |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-criticism-musk-rogan-portnoy-ackman-7ee3cda2fe172d707af93e042e2009dd |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/dave-portnoy-rips-into-trump-s-tariff-disaster-after-losing-7-million-it-s-more-a-trade-deficit-tariff-101743874956238.html | title=Dave Portnoy rips into Trump's tariff disaster after losing $7 million: 'It's more a trade deficit tariff' | work=Hindustan Times | date=April 5, 2025}}</ref><ref name=stands>{{Cite news | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/us-news/story/dave-portnoy-lost-20m-in-3-days-but-stands-by-trump-heres-why-glbs-2705596-2025-04-08 | title=Dave Portnoy lost $20 million in 3 days but stands by Trump. Here's why | website=India Today | date=April 8, 2025}}</ref>
He was reported in June 2025 as discussing Greta Thunberg delivering aid to Gaza on a boat, with him saying: "she’s sailing there … and I hope they hit a fucking missile on her boat. Knock that boat down."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Raquel 'Rocky' |date=2025-06-05 |title=Dave Portnoy Screams 'Shut the F—k Up' at Barstool Host Kirk Minihane for Making 'Jew Jokes' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/dave-portnoy-jew-jokes-kirk-minihane-the-unnamed-show-podcast/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mahdawi |first=Arwa |date=2025-06-07 |title=Women of West Virginia: inform on yourself to the miscarriage police! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/07/miscarriage-abortion-west-virginia |access-date=2025-06-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Kipp |date=2025-06-05 |title=Dave Portnoy Called for Bombing Greta Thunberg in Same Podcast He Said Free Speech Should Not Apply to Violent Jokes |url=https://www.mediaite.com/media/podcasts/dave-portnoy-called-for-bombing-greta-thunberg-in-same-podcast-he-said-free-speech-should-not-apply-to-violent-jokes/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Mediaite |language=en}}</ref>
He said in September 2025 that the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show due to threats by the Trump appointed FCC Chair over his comments on the assassination of Charlie Kirk was not "cancel culture".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coffey-Behrens |first=Kelly |date=2025-09-18 |title=Dave Portnoy Stirs Up Controversy With His Take On Jimmy Kimmel Cancellation |url=https://theblast.com/725690/dave-portnoy-stirs-up-controversy-jimmy-kimmel-cancellation/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=The Blast |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-09-18 |title='Not cancel culture': Dave Portnoy reacts to Jimmy Kimmel's show suspension; tags it 'consequences' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/not-cancel-culture-dave-portnoy-on-jimmy-kimmels-show-suspension-calls-it-consequences/articleshow/123965943.cms |access-date=2025-09-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holleran |first=Andrew |date=2025-09-18 |title=Dave Portnoy Is Taking Heat For Comment On Jimmy Kimmel Punishment |url=https://thespun.com/sports-media/dave-portnoy-is-taking-heat-for-comment-on-jimmy-kimmel-punishment |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=The Spun |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2013 Boston mayoral campaign === In 2013, he ran for mayor of Boston after Mayor Thomas Menino retired.<ref name=bid>{{cite news | url=https://www.dotnews.com/2013/lower-mills-based-barstool-founder-dead-serious-about-mayoral-bid | title=Lower Mills-based Barstool founder: 'Dead serious' about mayoral bid | first=Gintautas | last=Dumcius | work=Dorchester Reporter | date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> During the 2013 Boston mayoral election, he identified as a libertarian.<ref name=bid/> After raising more than $17,000 in campaign contributions, he failed to submit enough nomination signatures to qualify for the ballot.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/06/13/crowded-field-could-create-lively-contest-for-boston-city-council-four-citywide-seats/G0XtQoj4oj4GudR1xSTbNI/story.html |title=Boston to face crowded ballot |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=June 14, 2013}}</ref>
==Personal life== ===Relationships=== Portnoy married Renee Satterthwaite in 2009,<ref>{{cite web |last=Black |first=Julia |date=2021-11-04 |title='I was literally screaming in pain': Young women say they met Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy for sex and it turned violent and humiliating |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/barstool-sports-dave-portnoy-sex-choking-violent-stoolies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110001958/https://www.businessinsider.com/barstool-sports-dave-portnoy-sex-choking-violent-stoolies |archive-date=2021-11-10 |website=Business Insider |quote=...Renee Satterthwaite, became his wife; they separated in 2017). |access-date=2025-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Downey |first=Amy J. |date=2010-11-23 |title=Is This Really Boston's Next Media Mogul? |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/2010/11/23/david-portnoy-profile-is-this-really-bostons-next-media-mogul/2/ |magazine=Boston |quote=He offers up a detailed description (at least for a dude) of his wedding in Newport a year ago, and of how he enjoys weekly dinner-and-a-movie dates with his wife, Renee. |access-date=2024-06-22}}</ref> and they separated in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/708564/el-pres-state-of-the-union |title=El Pres State of the Union |last=Portnoy |first=David |date=2017-01-24 |website=Barstool Sports |access-date=2023-09-30 |quote=Yes I'm separated right now from the First Lady.}}</ref> Portnoy has stated that he has allowed Renee access to all his money for her allegiance during the early days of Barstool.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy's Shocking Admission: His Former Partner Has Full Access To His $150M Cash Assets and $65M Property Portfolio |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/barstool-sports-founder-dave-portnoys-154526518.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217140244/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/barstool-sports-founder-dave-portnoys-154526518.html |archive-date=December 17, 2024 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=finance.yahoo.com |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref> From March 2021 to November 2023, Portnoy dated Silvana Mojica.<ref>{{cite news |last=Renouf |first=Taylor |date=2023-11-30 |title=Barstool boss Dave Portnoy breaks silence on devastating break-up with FashionNova ambassador Silvana Mojica |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/barstool-boss-dave-portnoy-breaks-silence-of-devastating-break-up-with-fashionnova-ambassador-silvana-mojica-c-12738809 |work=The West Australian |access-date=2023-11-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lockman |first1=JeanneTyler Moodee |title=President of Barstool Sports makes visit to Syracuse, rates Varsity Pizza |url=https://cnycentral.com/news/local/president-of-barstool-sports-makes-visit-to-syracuse-rates-varsity-pizza |website=WSTM |date=29 July 2022}}</ref>
=== Finances === In 2004, Portnoy filed for bankruptcy protection after large gambling losses.<ref name="NYT" /> He owed $59,000 to credit card companies and $18,000 to his father.<ref name="NYT" /> In January 2020, a tax lien for $11,795 was filed against Portnoy by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.<ref name="NYT" />
In 2019, Portnoy said his net worth was around $100 million, which was before he received his payout from Penn Entertainment.<ref name="NYT" />
=== Residences === Portnoy owns five personal residences worth a total of $95 million. His purchase of a 5,200 square foot residence in Nantucket for $43 million in 2023 was the highest price ever paid for a residence in the state of Massachusetts. In October 2025 he purchased a record-breaking $27.75 million 10,000 square foot waterfront compound in Islamorada, Florida. In 2021, he bought a 6,000 square foot waterfront house in Miami for $14 million and a 5,700 square foot house in Montauk, New York for $9.8 million.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/dave-portnoy-barstool-wife-money-homes/ | title=Dave Portnoy's Ex-Wife Still Has Access to All of His Money—but Does She Get a Share of His $65 Million Property Portfolio? | first=Claudine | last=Zap | work=Realtor.com | date=December 5, 2024}}</ref> He also bought a residence in Saratoga Springs, New York, a 1,522 sq. ft. house sitting on a 7,402 sq. ft. lot.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bahl |first=Dan|date=2023-04-06 |title=See Barstool Sports Founder's Luxurious Upstate New York Home |url=https://1045theteam.com/dave-portnoy-saratoga-home-photo-gallery/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=104.5 The Team ESPN Radio |language=en}}</ref> He bought the house in March, 2023, for $1.4 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=70 Fifth Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 {{!}} Zillow |url=https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/70-5th-Ave-Saratoga-Springs-NY-12866/32404093_zpid/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407061835/https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/70-5th-Ave-Saratoga-Springs-NY-12866/32404093_zpid/ |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Zillow |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Charitable giving=== In 2020, Portnoy donated $500,000 to the Barstool Fund, a relief effort for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through May 2021, the campaign raised over $39 million for 348 businesses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Conklin |first=Audrey |title=Barstool's Dave Portnoy raises nearly $30M for 167 small businesses — and counting |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/barstools-dave-portnoy-millions-small-business-fund | website=FOXBusiness |date=December 23, 2020}}</ref> In 2024, Portnoy donated $277,000 to the LifeLine Animal Project, an animal shelter in Atlanta, Georgia. The money was generated from t-shirt, hoodie, and hat sales on the Barstool Sports website themed after Miss Peaches, a dog Portnoy adopted from the shelter.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2024/02/28/barstool-sports-founder-donates-277k-atlanta-animal-shelter-organization/ |title=Barstool Sports founder donates $277K to Atlanta animal shelter organization |last=Dean |first=Hope |work=Atlanta News First |date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> After NYPD officer Jonathan Diller was killed on duty in March 2024, Portnoy raised more than $1.5 million for Diller's family, including $750,000 raised through a T-shirt sale on the Barstool Sports website and a $750,000 matching donation from Portnoy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2942896/barstool-dave-portnoy-raise-1-million-family-slain-nypd-officer/ |title=Barstool and Dave Portnoy raise $1.5 million for family of slain NYPD officer | last=Gentile | first=Luke |work=Washington Examiner | date=March 28, 2024}}</ref> Portnoy led a similar t-shirt sale campaign after Delaware State trooper Cpl. Matthew “Ty” Snook was killed in December 2025, raising nearly $500,000 for the police officer's family.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roebuck |first=Sarah |date=2025-12-26 |title=Barstool Sports founder raises nearly $500K for family of Del. trooper killed in DMV shooting |url=https://www.police1.com/police-heroes/barstool-sports-founder-raises-nearly-500k-for-family-of-del-trooper-killed-in-dmv-shooting |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=Police1 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2025, American alcoholic beverage brand High Noon introduced Lucky One Lemonade, a line of vodka-based canned lemonade, through a partnership with Portnoy and his rescue dog, Miss Peaches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madsen |first=Miona |date=2025-05-01 |title=Gallo expands RTD range with Lucky One |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2025/05/gallo-expands-rtd-range-with-lucky-one/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=The Spirits Business |language=en-US}}</ref> A portion of all sales from the drinks will go to support rescue dogs.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-05-25 |title=Lucky One Lemonade Debuts to Help Dogs |url=https://www.thebeveragejournal.com/lucky-one-lemonade-debuts-to-help-dogs/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=The Beverage Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> Through this partnership, Portnoy and High Noon have a goal to raise $1 Million Dollars to support rescue animals, by the end of Summer 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swartz |first=Kyle |date=2025-05-16 |title=Gallo Launches Lucky One Vodka Lemonade with Miss Peaches |url=https://bevinfogroup.com/2025/05/16/gallo-lucky-one-vodka-lemonade-miss-peaches/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Beverage Information Group |language=en-US}}</ref> They have joined with LifeLine Animal Project and Best Friends Animal Society as part of the "Our Pack Gives Back" initiative, running through September 1, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lucky One Lemonade {{!}} Our Mission |url=https://www.luckyonelemonade.com/our-mission.html |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.luckyonelemonade.com}}</ref>
===Controversial comments=== Critics allege that comments posted on Barstool Sports by Portnoy and others normalize rape culture. Comments that have sparked debate include a post on a 2010 blog satirizing an Australian judge, in which Portnoy said {{no break|"[E]ven}} though I never condone rape if you're a size 6 and you're wearing skinny jeans you kind of deserve to be raped right?"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/barstool-sports-rape-joke_n_1293328 |title=Barstool Sports Rape 'Joke' Sparks Blackout Party Backlash |website=HuffPost |last=Kingkade |first=Tyler |date=March 27, 2012 |access-date=January 22, 2024}}</ref> When confronted with his statement by Lisa Guerrero of ''Inside Edition'', Portnoy said: "Correct. I stand by that. I think it's a funny joke." Guerrero asked, "Do you know how offensive that is?" He responded, "No, I obviously don't."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insideedition.com/4302-inside-edition-investigates-blackout-parties |title=INSIDE EDITION Investigates Blackout Parties| website=Inside Edition |date=May 4, 2012 |access-date=January 22, 2024}}</ref>
In 2020, multiple videos of Portnoy surfaced that showed him using the N-word or joking about blackface.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/barstool-sports-dave-portnoy-racist-language-videos-1234693013/ |last=Spangler |first=Todd |title=Barstool Sports Founder Unapologetic About Using Racist Language in 'Comedy' Videos: 'I'm Uncancellable' |website=Variety |date=June 29, 2020}}</ref> ''Business Insider'' reported that Portnoy had made multiple "unprovoked, personal attacks online", including frequent "sexually harassing comments" toward ''Deadspin''<nowiki/>'s Laura Wagner. Portnoy has defended himself from allegations of sexism, saying: "I gave two girls their own radio show. We have hired girl after girl. They say it's a great place to work."<ref>{{cite web |last=Moses |first=Lucia |date=December 18, 2018 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/barstool-sports-dave-portnoy-responds-to-accusations-of-toxicity-and-misogyny-2018-12 |title='It's just not fair': Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy defends his site against accusations of toxicity and misogyny |website=Business Insider |access-date=January 22, 2024}}</ref>
=== NFL-related legal issues === Portnoy has twice been detained in NFL-related incidents. On May 12, 2015, he was arrested after he and three Barstool employees handcuffed themselves to each other on the floor of NFL headquarters in Manhattan and demanded to speak with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to protest Deflategate.<ref name="Forward" /><ref>{{cite news |first=Nik |last=DeCosta-Klipa |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2015/05/12/barstool-sports-employees-arrested-during-sit-in-at-nfl-offices/ |title=Barstool Sports employees arrested during sit-in at NFL offices |date=2015-05-12 |website=Boston.com}}</ref> He was arrested again in 2019 when he was placed in a holding cell at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a portion of Super Bowl LIII after creating fake passes to attend a press event the day before. He was prohibited from attending the game.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tmz.com/2019/01/29/barstool-sports-pft-commenter-arrested-at-super-bowl-media-event/ |title=Barstool Sports Stars Banned from Super Bowl Over Fake Press Passes |website=TMZ | date=January 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Todd |last=Prussman |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/02/03/video-barstool-sports-honcho-david-portnoy-hauled-out-of-super-bowl/ |title=Video: Barstool Sports honcho David Portnoy hauled out of Super Bowl |newspaper=Boston Herald |date=2019-02-04 |access-date=2019-02-04}}</ref>
As of 2026, he has been permitted to attend NFL related events again, including the Super Bowl.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Glasspiegel |first=Ryan |date=2026-01-27 |title=NFL: Dave Portnoy Not Banned From Super Bowl |url=https://frontofficesports.com/nfl-dave-portnoy-not-banned-from-super-bowl/ |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=Front Office Sports |language=en}}</ref> As such, he attended the 2026 Super Bowl along with other Barstool Sports employees, featuring the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arnold |first=Christian |date=February 8, 2026 |title=Dave Portnoy makes his triumphant return to Super Bowl after being dragged out of the last one |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dave-portnoy-makes-triumphant-return-225630623.html |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Sexual assault allegations === In November 2021, a ''Business Insider'' exposé alleged that Portnoy had engaged in violent and aggressive sexual encounters with three women and that he had filmed the women without their consent.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Black |first1=Julia |title=Young Women Say Sex With Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy Was Frightening |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/barstool-sports-dave-portnoy-sex-choking-violent-stoolies |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211107151013/https://www.businessinsider.com/barstool-sports-dave-portnoy-sex-choking-violent-stoolies |archive-date=November 7, 2021 |website=Business Insider |date=2021-11-04 |access-date=4 November 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> He claimed the sex was consensual.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thecut.com/2023/02/women-say-sex-with-dave-portnoy-was-violent-and-humiliating.html |title=Dave Portnoy Has Dropped His Lawsuit Against Insider | first1=Danielle | last1=Cohen | first2=Olivia | last2=Truffaut-Wong | work=The Cut |date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> Portnoy called the article a "hit piece", claiming that ''Business Insider'' tried to find evidence of wrongdoing by him for approximately eight months.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stabile |first=Angelica |date=November 9, 2021 |title=Dave Portnoy blasts Business Insider for 'sensational' hit piece on sex life: 'It's character assassination' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/dave-portnoy-business-insider-hit-piece-character-assassination |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109062740/https://www.foxnews.com/media/dave-portnoy-business-insider-hit-piece-character-assassination |archive-date=2021-11-09 |website=Fox News}}</ref> In February 2022, more sexual assault and harassment claims by young women were published in a second ''Business Insider'' article.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Licea |first=Julia Black, Melkorka |title=3 more women say Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy filmed them without asking during sex |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/dave-portnoy-new-women-sexual-misconduct-allegations-filming-sex-without-permission |website=Business Insider |access-date=2022-03-04 }}</ref>
On February 7, 2022, Portnoy announced a lawsuit against ''Business Insider'' and several of its employees. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in November.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barr |first=Jeremy |title=Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy sues over sexual assault claims in articles |date=February 7, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/02/07/portnoy-sues-insider/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarnoff |first=Marisa |title=Federal Judge Dismisses Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy's Defamation Lawsuit Over Reports of Sexual Misconduct, Violence |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/federal-judge-dismisses-barstool-sports-founder-dave-portnoys-defamation-lawsuit-over-reports-of-sexual-misconduct-violence/ |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=Law & Crime |date=2022-11-07}}</ref> Portnoy filed an appeal of the dismissal. In February 2023, he dropped his appeal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Peter |title=Barstool Sports Founder Drops Appeal of Insider Defamation Suit |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/barstool-sports-founder-drops-appeal-of-insider-defamation-suit |access-date=2023-05-04 | work=Bloomberg Law |date=February 2, 2023 }}</ref>
== Publications ==
* ''Sharks Have Feelings Too'', David Portnoy, Barstool Sports, Inc., 2016. * ''Cancel Me If You Can'', Dave Portnoy, Gallery Books, 2026.
== See also == * Barstool conservatism
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Twitter|stoolpresidente}} * {{IMDb name|8747776}}
{{authority control}} {{Barstool Sports}}
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