MIAMI, FL — Cameras captured Miami Sharks owner Richard Whitmore engaging in what experts believe was a high-five Sunday afternoon after his team scored a go-ahead touchdown against the Washington Sentinels, providing the latest evidence that the billionaire businessman has, at some point in his life, interacted with another human being.
Whitmore, 58, was seen turning toward his wife, 34-year-old former model Ashley Whitmore, and raising his right hand with the tentative enthusiasm of a man who had recently learned the gesture existed. Ashley, who appeared to recognize what was happening, met his palm with her fingers, absolutely nailing the common gesture.
The couple then exchanged a brief, uncomfortable smile before turning their attention back to the field, where thousands of commoners continued celebrating their modern day bread and circuses.
“Richard is a very passionate owner,” said a Sharks spokesperson, who confirmed that Whitmore had watched the entire game from his luxury box rather than the stands, where he might have been exposed to the sort of unfiltered enthusiasm typically associated with people who pay for their own parking. “He loves this team, and sometimes that passion just comes out. You can’t manufacture that kind of excitement.”
Whitmore, who purchased the franchise for $4.2 billion in 2022, reportedly learned the high-five after watching a YouTube video called “How To Relate to the Repressed Underclass.” Sources close to the owner say he has since deployed it selectively, including after closing a lucrative television deal and once when a valet returned his Porsche without a scratch.
Sunday’s celebration marked the first time the gesture had been performed on national television.
Eyewitnesses described Whitmore’s gesture as as “technically a high-five” but lacking the fluidity of someone who had ever needed to celebrate anything without first checking whether it was appropriate for the occasion. His arm rose slowly, his fingers remained rigid, and the resulting contact clearly showed two people experiencing “joy.”
Ashley, meanwhile, appeared considerably more comfortable with the celebration, having reportedly attended several professional sporting events before marrying Whitmore. She did not appear to notice the cameras, though sources said she had been briefed on the possibility of being shown on television before kickoff.
The high-five came moments after Sharks quarterback Darius King scrambled for a 33-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds remaining, giving Miami a 27-24 lead and sending the stadium into a frenzy. Fans leaped from their seats, strangers embraced, and one shirtless man in the upper deck reportedly attempted to climb a railing before being restrained by his friends.
The moment drew widespread attention on social media, where viewers praised the broadcast for offering a rare glimpse into the personal lives of America’s wealthiest sports enthusiasts.
“I love seeing the owners get into it,” one viewer posted. “It’s nice to know they’re just like us.”
That sentiment was echoed by several fans, although others noted that Whitmore’s celebration took place in a climate-controlled suite with catered food, premium liquor, and a private restroom, roughly 150 feet above people who had spent $380 on tickets to sit in the rain.
League officials declined to comment on whether owners would be encouraged to participate in additional displays of spontaneous human emotion during future broadcasts.
At press time, Whitmore had not commented on the high-five, though his representatives confirmed that he was pleased with the team’s performance and would be reviewing footage of the celebration with his communications staff.
