Tucker Budzyn, Beloved Golden Retriever and Social-Media Star, Dies at 8

Tucker Budzyn, the Michigan-based golden retriever who amassed a massive online following, died on September 2, 2026 after complications from intestinal lymphoma. Courtney Budzyn announced the diagnosis, noting that chemotherapy had placed Tucker in partial remission. The treatment left a perforation in his intestine, which became infected overnight. Veterinary staff administered antibiotics and fluids, but Tucker’s temperature continued to rise and he was euthanized the following morning.

New York PostTucker Budzyn, the Golden Retriever with 27 Million Followers, Has Died at 8 After a Lymphoma Diagnosis

Courtney Budzyn adopted Tucker as an eight-week-old puppy in June 2018 and created his Instagram page that same month. Viral clips of Tucker pawing at an ice cube and playing with a black plastic hair clip launched his fame. Over the next eight years, his accounts grew to 27.1 million followers across TikTok (11.8 M), YouTube (5.9 M), Facebook (4.9 M), Instagram (4.4 M) and X (?70 K). The family quit their previous jobs—Courtney as a house cleaner and her husband Mike as a civil engineer—to manage Tucker and his son Todd’s online presence full-time.

New York Post

Courtney Budzyn has disclosed that a 30-minute YouTube pre-roll can generate $40,000 – $60,000, while Instagram story packages bring about $20,000 for three to eight stories. These figures illustrate the commercial scale of Tucker’s digital influence.

New York Post

In a tearful Instagram video, Courtney Budzyn said she had considered posting only a photo of Tucker’s ashes but chose to explain the situation because “he was yours, too.” She described the final three weeks as “the time of his life,” recalling pool jumps, roller-blading outings, and twice-daily chicken meals given alongside his medication.

Tucker Budzyn, the Golden Retriever with 27 Million Followers, Has Died at 8 After a Lymphoma Diagnosis

• “I thought that was the last sad video I was gonna make, but it’s not … Tucker’s gone,” — Tucker Budzyn

New York Post

• “His temperature kept rising, and there was nothing — nothing was changing it. We had to let him go. Tucker, I love you so much,” — Tucker Budzyn

New York Post

• “A YouTube-paid post can be anywhere from $40,000 to $60,000 for a 30-minute pre-roll,” — Tucker Budzyn

New York Post

• “Instagram, we make about $20,000 for anywhere from three to eight stories.” — Tucker Budzyn

New York Post