On a cold January day in 1996, a tragedy rocked the world of wrestling. Dave Schultz, a beloved Olympic wrestling champion and coach, was murdered in cold blood outside his home on the sprawling Foxcatcher estate. The man who pulled the trigger was John Eleuthère du Pont, an eccentric millionaire and member of the storied DuPont family, whose chemical empire had transformed modern life—and left behind a trail of environmental devastation.
The tragic events leading to Schultz’s death were set against a backdrop of wealth, mental illness, and a deeply flawed patronage system. The DuPont family, known for their innovations like Teflon, had amassed immense power and influence since their company’s founding in 1802. The DuPont family’s rise to prominence began when they established a gunpowder mill along the banks of the Brandywine Creek in Delaware. Leveraging advanced techniques he had learned in France, du Pont quickly turned his business into America’s leading supplier of gunpowder, fueling the nation’s wars and westward expansion. By the mid-19th century, the family had amassed significant wealth, laying the foundation for a chemical empire that would later revolutionize industries with products like nylon, Kevlar, and Teflon. Yet, behind their legacy of scientific breakthroughs lay troubling secrets, from environmental pollution to personal scandal. John du Pont, the scion of this empire, embodied the dark contradictions of privilege unchecked by accountability.
The Patronage of Foxcatcher
John du Pont’s fascination with wrestling began in the 1980s. A man of immense wealth but plagued by insecurities, du Pont saw the sport as a means to achieve the respect and validation he felt had eluded him his entire life. He established Team Foxcatcher on his Pennsylvania estate, offering world-class training facilities and financial support to America’s top wrestlers.
At the time, Eastern block had full time athletes, while the American wrestlers were barely making ends meet and received no support from the state.
For athletes like Dave Schultz, who faced significant financial struggles despite their Olympic achievements, the promise of stability and resources was alluring.
However, beneath the veneer of generosity, du Pont’s behavior was escalating in a troubling manner. Wrestlers and staff at Foxcatcher Farm described him as increasingly paranoid and erratic. He carried guns, installed excessive security measures, and exhibited odd delusions—believing trees and walls were spying on him. Despite these warning signs, many athletes remained silent, trapped by their reliance on his financial support.
Schultz, known for his warmth and loyalty, became both a confidant and a target of du Pont’s obsession. Unlike other wrestlers who distanced themselves, Schultz stayed, perhaps out of a sense of duty to protect his teammates from du Pont’s growing instability.
Du Pont’s Descent into Madness
John du Pont’s mental health had long been a source of concern. His marriage to Gale Wenk in the 1980s ended amid allegations of abuse and threats.
Wenk recounted harrowing episodes of violence in an episode of 30 for 30, including an incident where du Pont strangled her and chillingly declared, “I could kill you and never spend a day in jail because of who I am.” This sense of impunity, rooted in his family’s wealth and influence, pervaded his life.
As the years passed, du Pont became increasingly unhinged. His fixation on control extended to the wrestlers he sponsored, particularly Mark Schultz. Mark eventually left Foxcatcher, citing du Pont’s invasive and erratic behavior, but Dave remained, likely underestimating the extent of du Pont’s unraveling.
The Murder of Dave Schultz
On January 26, 1996, the tensions at Foxcatcher reached a horrifying climax. Du Pont drove to Schultz’s home and confronted him. Witnesses reported that Schultz greeted him with his characteristic warmth, saying, “Hi, coach.” Without warning, du Pont pulled a gun and fired multiple shots, killing Schultz in front of his wife and children.
Du Pont barricaded himself in his mansion for two days before surrendering to police. During his trial, his defense argued that he was mentally ill, and he was ultimately convicted of third-degree murder, avoiding a first-degree charge. He died in prison in 2010.
The Legacy of the DuPont Family
The DuPont family’s legacy looms large over this tragedy. While John du Pont’s personal actions were isolated, they reflected the broader ethos of a family accustomed to wielding power without accountability. DuPont’s chemical innovations, such as Teflon, revolutionized industries but also introduced “forever chemicals” like PFOA into the environment. These substances, linked to cancer and other health issues, persist in soil and water, a grim metaphor for the indelible impact of unchecked privilege. According to a salon article:
“Due to its ubiquitous use, the chemical can now be found in trace amounts in the bloodstream of more than 98 percent of Americans, and even in umbilical cord blood and breast milk, according to the Centers for Disease Control.”
Du Pont’s crime was not just the act of a single disturbed individual but the culmination of systemic failures—from a family legacy that prioritized image over integrity to a society that allowed wealth to shield wrongdoing. Dave Schultz’s death serves as a somber reminder of the human cost of these failures, marking a dark chapter in the history of wrestling and the DuPont dynasty.
