Widow of Paddy Power Co-Founder, Leaves Estate Valued at More Than €861 Million
Sabena Power, widow of Paddy Power co-founder David Power, has left an estate valued at more than €861 million, according to documents published by the Probate Office. The figure places her estate among the largest ever recorded in Ireland and represents the culmination of a family fortune built over several generations in the bookmaking industry.
A Legacy Rooted in Irish Bookmaking
Mrs Power, who passed away peacefully at her home in September 2025, was the wife of David Power, a third-generation bookmaker who co-founded Paddy Power in 1988 through the merger of three established Irish betting businesses. The company subsequently grew into one of the most recognisable names in European gambling and, following a series of corporate consolidations, became part of Flutter Entertainment, now among the largest online betting operators in the world.
David Power died in July 2024 at the age of 77, having spent more than five decades in the industry. Mrs Power, originally from the O’Doherty family, met her husband in 1967, and the couple remained prominent figures in Irish racing and social circles for much of their lives.
Under the terms of the will, the assets are to be divided among the couple’s four adult children. In addition to the principal divisions of the estate, the will includes a number of smaller, specific bequests, including a sum of €50,000, reflecting what probate records indicate was a detailed and carefully structured distribution.
The valuation of the estate highlights the substantial wealth generated by the Paddy Power business, which evolved from a traditional chain of Irish betting shops into a global digital gambling enterprise. For industry professionals, the size of the estate provides a measure of the commercial scale achieved by the founders of what began as a domestic retail bookmaking operation.
The family’s connection to the gambling sector remains significant. Paddy Power, established in 1988, developed a reputation for disruptive marketing and aggressive expansion before merging with Betfair in 2016 to form Paddy Power Betfair, which later rebranded as Flutter Entertainment. The company now operates a broad portfolio of betting and gaming brands across multiple regulated markets.
