Robert Kraft

Robert Kraft
Name	Robert Kraft
Caption	Robert Kraft in 2019
Birth date	5 June 1941
Birth place	Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education	Columbia University (BA), Harvard University (MBA)
Occupation	Businessman, investor, philanthropist
Spouse	Myra Hiatt (m. 1963; died 2011), Dana Blumberg (m. 2022)
Children	4, including Jonathan Kraft
Net worth	$11.1 billion (2024, Forbes)
Known for	Owner of the New England Patriots, New England Revolution, and Kraft Group

Robert Kraft is an American billionaire businessman, investor, and philanthropist, best known as the chairman and chief executive officer of the Kraft Group. His most prominent public role is as the owner of the National Football League's New England Patriots and Major League Soccer's New England Revolution. Through his ownership of the Patriots, he oversaw one of the most successful dynasties in professional sports history, with the team winning six Super Bowl titles under the leadership of coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Kraft's business acumen, spanning manufacturing, sports, and entertainment, alongside his extensive charitable work, has made him a significant figure in both the American business community and the world of sports ownership.

Early life and education

Robert Kraft was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, to a Conservative Jewish family. He attended Brookline High School where he was a standout student and athlete. For his undergraduate studies, he earned a scholarship to Columbia University, graduating in 1963 with a degree in American history. At Columbia, he played on the varsity football team under coach Buff Donelli and was a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He subsequently attended Harvard Business School, receiving his Master of Business Administration in 1965. His early career included a brief stint at the Rand-Whitney Group, a packaging company based in Worcester, Massachusetts, which would become the foundation for his future business empire.

Business career

Kraft's business career began in earnest when he and his father-in-law founded the International Forest Products company, a paper and packaging commodities trader. He later acquired the Rand-Whitney Group outright, transforming it into a cornerstone of his holdings. In 1998, he consolidated his diverse business interests under the umbrella of the Kraft Group, a holding company with ventures in packaging, sports entertainment, real estate development, and private equity. His most significant and transformative business move came in the realm of professional sports, beginning with his acquisition of Foxboro Stadium and the surrounding land in 1988, which positioned him to later purchase the New England Patriots franchise itself.

Ownership of the New England Patriots

Kraft purchased the New England Patriots in 1994 for a then-record $172 million, saving the team from a potential relocation to St. Louis. His tenure is marked by unprecedented success, including the construction of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which opened in 2002. Under his ownership, the Patriots appeared in eleven Super Bowls, winning championships in Super Bowl XXXVI, Super Bowl XXXVIII, Super Bowl XXXIX, Super Bowl XLIX, Super Bowl LI, and Super Bowl LIII. This dynasty was built around the partnership of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, making the franchise one of the most valuable in the NFL. Kraft also played a key role in NFL labor disputes, helping to negotiate the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, and serves on several influential league committees.

Philanthropy and public life

Kraft and his late wife, Myra Kraft, were noted philanthropists, with their giving focused on education, healthcare, and Jewish causes. Major beneficiaries include the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Kraft Stadium at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and numerous donations to Brandeis University and his alma maters, Columbia University and Harvard University. He established the Myra Kraft Giving Back Scholarship Fund at Brandeis. Kraft is also known for his advocacy against antisemitism and was awarded the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Humanitarian Award. In 2019, he received the Legion of Honour from France for his philanthropic efforts following the Notre-Dame de Paris fire.

Personal life

Kraft was married to Myra Hiatt from 1963 until her death from ovarian cancer in 2011. The couple had four sons: Jonathan Kraft, Daniel Kraft, Joshua Kraft, and David Kraft. Jonathan Kraft serves as president of the Kraft Group and is a key executive with the Patriots. In October 2022, Kraft married physician Dana Blumberg in a ceremony at Hall des Lumières in New York City. A lifelong resident of Massachusetts, he maintains homes in Brookline, Chestnut Hill, and Palm Beach, Florida. He is a prominent figure in the American Jewish community and maintains close friendships with figures like Bill Clinton and Sheldon Adelson.

Controversies and legal issues

In February 2019, Kraft was charged with two counts of soliciting prostitution at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida, as part of a wider human trafficking investigation. He pleaded not guilty and later issued a public apology for his actions, while the charges were eventually dropped after an appeal regarding the suppression of video evidence. The NFL conducted its own investigation under the Personal Conduct Policy but did not suspend him, instead issuing a $1 million fine and banning him from NFL activities for several games. The incident drew significant media attention from outlets like ESPN and The Boston Globe. Separately, his ownership tenure has also seen controversies related to the Deflategate scandal and the team's handling of player Aaron Hernandez.

Category:American businesspeople Category:Sports executives Category:National Football League owners Category:Philanthropists