Today Tucker Carlson uploaded a “Tucker on X” interview with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, describing his recent acquisition of the company he founded for $1 as “the most impressive business transaction of our lifetime.”
Noting that Portnoy was paid $100 million to sell Barstool Sports, and then entered a period of semi-retirement, Carlson congratulated Portnoy on the recent purchase.
Portnoy, repurchased his company for a nominal fee of $1. This transaction took place with Penn Entertainment, which had previously bought the sports media site in a two-part deal beginning in 2020 and concluding in February this year, reportedly for $551 million, according to Axios.
Carlson uploaded the interview to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday afternoon, writing, “Dave Portnoy founded Barstool Sports and just completed the most impressive business transaction of our lifetime. He also just got into an epic fight and shared the video with us first.” The full interview is 50 minutes long.
Dave Portnoy founded Barstool Sports and just completed the most impressive business transaction of our lifetime. He also just got into an epic fight and shared the video with us first. Watch. pic.twitter.com/6LSFLTczzM
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 31, 2023
“We sold the company,” said Portnoy, noting that the publicly related gambling company that bought it took issue with Barstool Sports’ coverage and Portnoy’s occasional conservative political bent. He claimed that his high profile kept the company from receiving gambling licenses in key states, including his home state of Michigan.
Portnoy’s repurchase came after Barstool Sports exited the sportsbook industry, as reported by CBS News. Since the repurchase, there have been significant changes within the company, including layoffs affecting nearly 25% of staff, as reported by Yahoo Finance. The reasons behind these layoffs are unclear, but Portnoy has admitted that the company is “losing a lot,” as per the Daily Mail.
Still, Portnoy acknowledged the vast numbers of people who doubt the company will succeed under his leadership after Carlson acknowledged his “passionate haters.”
“We have fervent, fervent haters,” Portnoy acknowledged, “they are quite devoted to it.”
