In 2003, Dave Portnoy founded Barstool Sports, which quickly gained popularity among young men through its irreverent and controversial content on social media platforms. The digital sports brand’s success continued with partnerships with ESPN and DraftKings. However, after partnering with ESPN to launch ESPN Bet, Penn Entertainment sold Barstool back to Portnoy for $1 million in 2023.
Portnoy expressed his excitement at regaining full control of the company, emphasizing the freedom to speak and operate without restrictions. Since then, Barstool has focused on its culture and sports creator content, emphasizing the talent and staff behind its programming. The company now seeks new media opportunities with talent agency UTA representing Portnoy and in-house creators.
