Jack Hughes’ agent forced to confirm USA hockey star isn’t marrying Indian billionaire heiress
Jack Hughes’ agent was forced to deny viral reports claiming the USA hockey star was set to marry an Indian billionaire heiress
Team USA’s Jack Hughes is 24 years old(Image: Getty)
A case of mistaken identity briefly sent international headlines into overdrive.
Jack Hughes, the U.S. Olympic hockey hero who scored the overtime winner against Canada in the 2026 Winter Games gold medal match, is not marrying Indian billionaire heiress Ayesha Arora, despite widespread reports across several Indian news outlets suggesting otherwise.
The confusion grew large enough that Hughes’ agent was forced to step in publicly. Pat Brisson confirmed to Forbes that the reports were incorrect, clarifying that the groom in question is a different man who shares the same name. Meanwhile, Hughes dismissed Donald Trump’s sexism storm with a three-word comment.
Arora is the eldest daughter of Nikesh Arora, the billionaire executive and CEO of Palo Alto Networks. Her multi-day wedding celebrations began in Delhi before moving to Jodhpur, with events including a Holi party and a Sangeet.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place at Umaid Bhawan Palace, the same venue where Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas held their wedding in 2018.
Several outlets incorrectly identified the groom as the NHL star, fueling speculation that the 24-year-old American athlete was preparing for a high-profile international marriage just weeks after his Olympic triumph.
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Nikesh Arora is the CEO and Chairman of cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks(Image: Getty)
Brisson’s clarification put an end to the rumors before the ceremony took place.
Hughes, a center and alternate captain for the New Jersey Devils, has been firmly in the public eye since the Olympics. His golden goal in overtime against Canada cemented his status as a national sports figure, particularly after he famously lost multiple teeth during the third period of the championship game but returned to score the decisive tally.
That victory celebration later became entangled in political controversy when FBI Director Kash Patel was filmed in the locker room during a congratulatory call from Donald Trump.
Jack and Quinn Hughes were stars of the men’s hockey team(Image: Getty Images)
Trump later honored the team during his State of the Union address, and members of the squad were photographed during their White House visit.
Adding to the intrigue, tabloids have previously linked Hughes to Canadian singer-songwriter Tate McRae, with speculation about a possible relationship circulating since late last year. Neither has publicly confirmed those reports.
Meanwhile, Arora’s wedding is expected to draw prominent guests from the worlds of business and politics. Reports indicate that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is among those attending the celebrations, which have featured heightened security due to the high-profile guest list.
Nikesh Arora, formerly a top executive at Google and SoftBank, has built a fortune estimated in the billions through his leadership in the tech industry. His daughter’s wedding has been widely covered in Indian business and entertainment media.