Is Barstool Sports Stock Publicly Traded?

ByCraig Stephens Updated on

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Barstool Sports logo. Can you buy Barstool Sports stock?

Can you buy Barstool Sports Stock? This article explains the current ownership structure which changed in August 2023. 

Barstool Sports Stock News

08/30/2023: Barstool Sports to cut staff by nearly 25%
08/08/2023: ESPN launches sportsbook with Penn
08/08/2023: Breaking: Portnoy Now Owns 100% of Barstool
02/17/2023: Barstool Sports is acquired by Penn Entertainment
Older news…

About Barstool Sports

Barstool Sports is a sports and lifestyle media company with diversified entertainment assets. Properties include its website, podcasts, radio content, sportsbook (betting), branded bars, a boxing promotion company, videos, and various social media presence. 

Its website features a variety of content subjects, including sports, pop culture, “chicks, and humor targeted toward young men.

65% of its audience is under the age of 45, and 38% is under the age of 34, according to an investor report. 

The company was founded in 2003 by David Portnoy in the Boston metro area. He remains “Chief of Content.” Erika Nardini is now CEO.

Barstool Sport is headquartered in New York City.

Is Barstool Sports Stock Publicly Traded?

No.

Who Owns Barstool Sports?

David Portnoy owns 100% of Barstool Sports as of August 8th, 2023. 

WTF Happened with Penn National Gaming?

Barstool and Penn had an ownership deal dating back to January 2020 when Penn National Gaming purchased a 36% stake in Barstool Sports for $168 million, valuing the company at $450 million.

The deal included warrants that would give Penn a 50%+ stake if exercised after three years and the option to buy out the remainder of the company. 

Furthermore, Penn got exclusive access to Barstool’s audience to market sports betting for the next 40 years. 

Penn declared its intent to exercise its option to buy the entire Barstool Sports in August 2022. Then on February 17th, 2022, Penn acquired 100% of Barstool Sports. It paid $388 million for the remaining stake. 

From February 2022 through July 2023, Penn National Gaming owned Barstool Sports and used the platform to market its Barstool Sportsbook App.

Shit Hit the Fan on August 8th, 2023

Portnoy posted a video on X (Twitter) on August 8th to declare that he now owned Barstool Sports outright (100%) and would never sell again. Here’s the video:

He stated that gambling regulations hindered Barstool Sport’s ability to create the kind of controversial content that makes the site what they are.

Details of what he paid are unclear, but the deal gives Penn the rights to get 50% of proceeds if Portnoy sells the company in the future, making it very unlikely he ever sells. He stated he would give it away to friends or future generations.

On the same day, ESPN and Penn launched ESPN Bet, a rebrand of the previous betting app with Barstool. ESPN has a much larger audience, and has been looking to get into the gambling business. 

Barstool Sports Stock Price Today

There is no Barstool Sports stock price. It is a private company.

How to Buy Barstool Sports Stock

Individual investors cannot by Barstool Sports stock. 

As of August 2023, Portnoy owns 100%. Unless he seeks venture capital funding or starts giving away shares to friends and employees, it is unlikely any pre-IPO stock will become available. 

Will there be a Barstool Sports IPO?

Probably not.

Portnoy has declared his intent to hold it forever and never sell. 

He tends to change his mind a lot, so an IPO is always possibility. 

Popular Barstool Sports Twitter (X Corp) Handles

Barstool Sports Twitter — @barstoolsports

Dave Portnoy Twitter (El Pres Twitter) — @stoolpresidente

Big Cat Twitter — @BarstoolBigCat

KFC Twitter — @KFCBarstool

Pardon My Take Twitter (Podcast) — @PardonMyTake

Spittin Chiclets Twitter (Podcast) — @spittinchiclets

Barstool News Archive

08/17/2022: Penn to Buy Rest of Online Gaming Partner Barstool Sports
02/23/2022: Dave Portnoy: DraftKings And Penn National Should Merge Sportsbooks
02/06/2020: Penn National’s investment in Barstool Sports is ‘going to be worth a ton,’ investor says
01/29/2020: Penn National Gaming to buy a stake in Barstool for $163 million
01/07/2016: Chernin Group Acquires Majority Stake of Barstool Sports Site

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