Moneyball: What Happened To Peter Brand (Aka Paul DePodesta) In Real Life?

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Originating as the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901 and later moving to Kansas City in the 1950s, the Oakland Athletics have been part of Major League Baseball since their shift to Oakland in 1968. However, a new chapter is approaching: The team plans to relocate to Las Vegas by 2027, playing in West Sacramento temporarily until their stadium in Vegas is built. Though they boast a rich history, the A’s are particularly recognized in popular culture for their “Moneyball” era, a groundbreaking time in the early 2000s.

By employing sabermetrics, the Oakland A’s discovered cost-effective players who possessed underestimated abilities. This innovative tactic, famously dubbed Moneyball, enabled them to construct a team capable of winning championships despite financial limitations. At the helm of this revolutionary strategy was General Manager Billy Beane, who received substantial assistance from his right-hand man Paul DePodesta. Their collaborative work became the focus of a 2003 book and eventually a film titled “Moneyball,” directed by Aaron Sorkin and Bennett Miller, which remains one of the greatest baseball movies ever made.

In the film, Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, yet surprisingly, Paul DePodesta, who is almost every other key figure’s real-life counterpart, isn’t part of the narrative. However, this doesn’t imply that DePodesta wasn’t depicted in the movie; instead, he served as the inspiration for a fresh, fictionalized character. So, if you’re wondering about Paul DePodesta’s whereabouts, keep reading to find out more.

Who is Paul DePodesta in Moneyball?

Paul DePodesta is prominently featured in Michael Lewis’ book “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game.” Despite this, DePodesta wasn’t satisfied with his representation in the story about the Oakland Athletics’ innovative player-recruitment strategy, and he wasn’t comfortable with the increased media scrutiny. Consequently, when it was time for the movie adaptation, DePodesta requested a name change for his character, which ultimately resulted in the creation of Peter Brand, portrayed by Jonah Hill.

The brand, as portrayed in the story, is largely associated with executive Paul DePodesta under A’s General Manager Billy Beane. However, those who know DePodesta and have collaborated closely with him, such as journalist Jason Reid, suggest that the character of Brand is essentially DePodesta himself, serving as a stand-in for him in the narrative. They also point out that the character Brand doesn’t resemble the actual DePodesta in terms of his personality traits.

Back in 2011, when I delved into the movie analysis for The Washington Post, it became clear that the film glossed over a significant chunk of the real tale. Contrary to Hill’s portrayal, DePodesta wasn’t the green-behind-the-ears, socially awkward executive. Instead, as Reid put it, he was sharp and strategic. To add to that, DePodesta isn’t someone who needs guidance on athletic fields; he played both baseball and football at Harvard, after all.

How Paul DePodesta feels about Moneyball

Even though Paul DePodesta requested his name to be taken out of the film, it doesn’t imply he didn’t support or appreciate it. Instead, he felt uncomfortable with his name being attached to a character that didn’t accurately represent him. As DePodesta said in an interview with Nautilus, “The portrayal of me in the movie was going to be very close to how 99.9% of the public perceived me. People would assume that whatever they saw on screen was completely true, but in reality, it wasn’t.

Despite understanding that alterations would be necessary for his character within the narrative, DePodesta had more than just that on his mind. He was also apprehensive about the increased attention he’d receive from the film. Recall, he had already experienced some of this when the book initially came out, which wasn’t pleasing for a man who preferred to avoid the limelight. However, despite these reservations, DePodesta never had any issues with the movie. In fact, it was the film that made him realize his significance in baseball history. As he put it, “It wasn’t until I saw the movie, which placed the streak in a historical context, that I realized, ‘Wow, I was fortunate to be a part of that.’

Regarding the film itself, DePodesta is content with how the Moneyball era is depicted, stating to the Wall Street Journal, “For me, it’s more tolerable if everyone understands it’s a movie, not a documentary.” It’s a sensible and practical perspective on a movie that deviated significantly from the real story.

Where is Paul DePodesta today?

In 2011, the movie “Moneyball” was released, but the events it depicted actually occurred a decade prior. At that time, Paul DePodesta, similar to Peter Brand in the film, was relatively new to the game as a front office executive. It’s been over two decades since the A’s had their memorable run. So, what happened to DePodesta afterward? Interestingly, after the 2001 season and especially following the publication of the “Moneyball” book, DePodesta gained significant attention and became one of the most sought-after executives in the sport.

In 2004, just under a year following its release, DePodesta was recruited from the Athletics by another California team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and appointed as their General Manager. During his leadership, the team secured a division title, but after the 2005 season, where the Dodgers ended up in fourth place, he was let go. Swiftly, he found himself working with the Dodgers’ in-state competitors, the Padres, who brought him on board as a Special Assistant for Baseball Operations under GM Sandy Alderson.

In 2010, when Alderson became General Manager for the New York Mets, DePodesta followed him, moving across the country to serve as Vice President of Player Development and Scouting in Queens. However, DePodesta’s professional path took an unexpected turn in 2016, as he decided to leave baseball and enter the world of football, joining the Cleveland Browns front office as Chief Strategy Officer. As of 2025, he continues to hold this position.

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2025-02-22 20:30