Billionaire Panthers Owner David Tepper Under Fire After Apparently Throwing Drink Into Crowd - Forbes

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Topline

Billionaire David Tepper, founder of Appaloosa Management and owner of the Carolina Panthers, has come under fire for appearing to toss a drink into the crowd during the Panthers’ 26-0 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, after the Panthers secured the unwanted title of worst record in the NFL.

Key Facts

Videos posted on social media appeared to show Tepper, the president and founder of Appaloosa Management, tossing a drink from a box seat at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium into the crowd below.

Tepper, who purchased the Panthers in 2018 for $2.3 billion, then appeared to storm away from his seat, where he was watching the game with Panthers’ general manager Scott Fitterer.

The incident took place in the fourth quarter, after Panthers’ rookie quarterback Bryce Young threw an interception to Jaguars’ safety Antonio Johnson with just under three minutes left to play, cementing the Panthers’ shutout loss.

The Panthers did not respond to Forbes’ request for comment, while league officials said the NFL is “aware” of the video, but had no comment.

Tepper, who appeared visibly frustrated with the outcome of the Panthers’ loss on Sunday, had previously shouted “f**k” as he was leaving the locker room after the team’s Nov. 26 loss to the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, The Athletic reported.

Chief Critics

Mike Florio, a sports reporter with NBC Sports, called on the NFL to “act swiftly and decisively,” saying Tepper “didn’t just cross the line” but “jumped over it with both feet” while comparing the incident to another in 2009 when late Tennessee Titans’ owner Bud Adams’ flipped his middle finger at a game (the league fined Adams $250,000). Charlotte Observer columnist Scott Fowler also suggested the Panthers reprimand Tepper, asking if “anyone ever tell[s]” Tepper “what a cartoonish villain of a sports owner he has turned himself into?”

Forbes Valuation

We estimate Tepper’s real time net worth at $20.6 billion, making the Appaloosa founder the world’s 91st richest person. As of August, the Panthers are valued at roughly $4.1 billion—the 26th most valuable team in the NFL—according to Forbes.

What To Watch For

At a dismal 2-14, the Panthers hold the worst record in the NFL with one game left to play, likely making the 2023-2024 season the franchise’s second worst since its first year in 1995. The Panthers will also miss out on taking the first overall draft pick at the NFL Draft in April—a selection awarded to the league’s worst team—due to a March 2023 trade with the Chicago Bears that sent the Panthers’ 2024 first-round draft pick and wide receiver D.J. Moore to Chicago in exchange for the top overall pick in last year’s draft.

Surprising Fact

With the Panthers continuing to lose, tickets for Carolina’s final home game of the season start at $19, the cheapest Week 18 game in the NFL, according to TicketIQ.