Former University Of Utah Football Player, Business Associate, Sues Tony Finau For $16 Million
Oct 1, 2020, 3:21 PM
Tony Finau of the United States plays a shot on the fifth hole during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – PGA Tour golfer Tony Finau, his brother, Gipper, father, Gary and agent Christopher Armstrong are being sued by a former business associate to the Finau family, Molonai Hola for $16 million.
The suit has been filed in Utah’s 3rd District Court and claims that Hola paid for Finau’s expenses for multiple years with the agreement that he will be reimbursed but is yet to be compensated.
Statement From Finau Camp
KSL Sports received the following statement from Armstrong regarding the lawsuit: “We are aware of the matter and have the utmost faith in the legal process. We will not be making further comment at this time.”
According to a report, Tony Finau is being sued for $16 million by a former business associate: https://t.co/YsvqUBKQHd pic.twitter.com/3pKsM5zmlm
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 28, 2020
Financial Specifics
Hola’s relationship with the Finau family began in 1977 when Finau was still in grade school. Hola reportedly paid for both Finau and his brother Gipper’s expenses for multiple years. Specific payments included mortgage payments, medical insurance, a new car and multiple golf-related expenses such as travel costs and tournament fees.
According to Hola, the total sum in which he paid the Finau family totaled $592,371.37 over multiple years. Furthermore, Hola claims that he and the Finau family agreed that he would receive 20 percent of any future professional earnings made by the Finau family.
Thus far, Finau has made $20,294,565 in official PGA earnings.
The suit details the $592,371.37 plus interest and compensatory damages totaling $16 million.
Hola, according to his LinkedIn profile, played football for the University of Utah between 1983-1987 before attending the Harvard Business School in 2002. Currently, Hola is the President, CEO and Founder of Pacific Pure Energy and hopes to “develop 20 Marriott hotels and build a management company to manage these 20 and other hotels on the islands of Hawaii.”
