Dave Portnoy Eyes $1.8 Million Payday as NFL Lifts Super Bowl Ban

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Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, is sitting on a potential $1.8 million payout if the New England Patriots upset the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Portnoy placed a $50,000 bet on the Patriots at 35-1 odds back in October. The 2026 Super Bowl also marks the end of Portnoy's long-running feud with the NFL, as the league has lifted its ban on him attending the game.

Why it matters

Portnoy is a polarizing figure in the sports media landscape, known for his brash personality and willingness to take big risks on sports bets. His potential $1.8 million payout would cement his reputation as one of the most daring and headline-grabbing figures in sports betting. The lifting of his Super Bowl ban also represents a thawing of tensions between Portnoy and the NFL, which had previously clashed over his antics.

The details

Portnoy's $50,000 bet on the Patriots was the biggest reported futures wager on the team. He has a history of making high-stakes Super Bowl bets, including a $1 million wager on the Buffalo Bills in 2025 and a $500,000 bet on the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024, which he won. Portnoy was previously banned from attending the Super Bowl after being escorted out of the 2019 Super Bowl LIII Media Day for falsifying media credentials, sparking a public feud with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

• Portnoy placed the $50,000 bet on the Patriots in October 2025.
• Portnoy was banned from attending the Super Bowl in 2019 after being escorted out of Super Bowl LIII Media Day.
• The NFL confirmed that Portnoy can purchase a ticket to Super Bowl LX less than 24 hours after he announced the ban had been lifted on social media.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The outcome of Super Bowl LX will determine whether Portnoy's $50,000 bet on the Patriots pays out $1.8 million.