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Robert Kraft

From Alfawiki
Robert Kraft
Born
Robert Kenneth Kraft

(1941-06-05) June 5, 1941 (age 85)
Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, businessman, sports team owner
Years active1960s–present
Known forChairman and CEO of the Kraft Group; owner of New England Patriots, New England Revolution, Boston Uprising

Robert Kenneth Kraft (born June 5, 1941) is an American billionaire entrepreneur, serving as chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group, a diversified holding enterprise with interests spanning paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development, and private equity. Since 1994, Kraft has been the owner of the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL). He also established and continues to own the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS) since 1996. In 2017, Kraft introduced the Boston Uprising, an Overwatch League esports team that remained active until its dissolution in January 2024. As of July 2024, Forbes estimates his net worth at approximately US$11.1 billion.

Early life and education

Kraft was born in Brookline, Massachusetts to Sarah Bryna (Webber) and Harry Kraft, who was involved in dress manufacturing in Boston. Raised within a Modern Orthodox Jewish household, his father had aspirations for him to pursue a rabbinical path. Kraft attended Edward Devotion School before graduating from Brookline High School. His religious commitments limited his participation in athletic activities during his high school years.

Awarded an academic scholarship to Columbia University, Kraft held the position of class president while competing in tennis and lightweight football. He met Myra Hiatt in 1962, marrying her the following year. Kraft completed his undergraduate degree at Columbia in 1963 and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School two years later, in 1965.

At 27 years old, Kraft was elected chairman of the Newton Democratic City Committee. Although he contemplated running for Congress in 1970, he ultimately decided against it due to family considerations and the political atmosphere after a close friend's suicide.

Business career

Kraft launched his professional journey at Rand-Whitney Group, a packaging firm based in Worcester managed by his father-in-law, Jacob Hiatt. In 1968, he took control via a leveraged buyout and has remained chairman since. In 1972, he created International Forest Products, specializing in physical paper commodity trading. Together, these enterprises represent the largest privately owned paper and packaging companies in the United States. Kraft founded International Forest Products anticipating expansion in global commerce fueled by advancements in international communication and transport.

By 1997, International Forest Products ranked among the top 100 exporters/importers in the U.S., securing the No. 7 spot on the Journal of Commerce list by 2001. In 1991, Kraft indicated that clients included Avon, Kodak, as well as manufacturers of cosmetics and toys. The company produced corrugated and folding cartons used for packaging a wide range of products from Patriot missiles to Estee Lauder cosmetics and Polaroid cameras. Under the Kraft Group umbrella established in 1998, Kraft broadened his business portfolio.

Additionally, Kraft invested in New England Television Corp., which acquired Boston’s channel 7 license in 1982. He joined its board following WNEV-TV’s replacement of WNAC-TV and was appointed president of the corporation in 1986. By 1991, Kraft divested his shares for an estimated $25 million.

Boston Lobsters

In 1974, Kraft partnered with Harold Bayne, Herbert Hoffman, Bob Mades, and Paul Slater to acquire the Boston Lobsters franchise within World TeamTennis (WTT). The ownership group invested significantly to recruit elite players such as Martina Navratilova, elevating the Lobsters to a leading position within WTT. Following the conclusion of the 1978 season, Kraft announced that the franchise would cease operations shortly before the league itself folded. Subsequently, Kraft was considered a potential candidate to acquire both the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics.

New England Patriots

A devoted New England Patriots supporter and season ticket holder since 1971, Kraft's initial involvement began in 1985 when he purchased a 10-year option on Foxboro Raceway, located next to the Patriots' stadium. This strategic acquisition blocked owner Billy Sullivan from hosting non-Patriot events during race days and marked the beginning of Kraft’s pursuit to obtain both the stadium and the franchise. Financial difficulties plagued the Sullivan family due to poor investments, notably connected to The Jackson Five's 1984 Victory Tour, which had used Sullivan Stadium as collateral.

In 1988, Kraft outbid rivals to acquire Foxboro Stadium for $22 million amid bankruptcy proceedings. Although he was unsuccessful in his early attempts to purchase the Patriots franchise—losing out to Victor Kiam—Kraft thwarted efforts to relocate the team by strictly enforcing lease agreements. Kiam later sold the franchise to James Orthwein in 1992.

Orthwein aimed to move the team to St. Louis in 1994 and offered Kraft $75 million to relinquish the stadium lease, an offer Kraft refused. When Orthwein decided to sell the team, any prospective buyer had to engage with Kraft due to existing operational covenants. Kraft initiated a hostile takeover bid of $172 million, surpassing Stan Kroenke’s $200 million proposal, which included plans for relocation. Confronted with legal obstacles over lease enforcement, Orthwein ultimately accepted Kraft’s bid—the highest sale price for an NFL team at that time.

Kraft acknowledged that his enthusiasm led him to "break every one of my financial rules" in acquiring the Patriots. After receiving NFL approval, the team sold out every game during the 1994 season—the first complete sell-out in franchise history—and has maintained continuous sell-outs ever since. As of 2023, Forbes estimated the Patriots’ value at $7 billion.

In 1998, Kraft considered moving the franchise to Hartford, Connecticut, following a state-supported stadium proposal but ultimately decided to construct a new facility in Foxborough with funding from Massachusetts. In 2002, he invested $350 million in building a stadium initially named CMGI Field, later rebranded as Gillette Stadium. By 2007, Kraft expanded the surrounding area into Patriot Place—a $375 million open-air retail and entertainment destination featuring The Hall at Patriot Place museum and the CBS Scene restaurant.

On January 27, 2000, Kraft orchestrated a trade involving a first-round draft pick to secure Bill Belichick as head coach—a decision met with skepticism at first but later recognized as crucial as Belichick guided the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships, nine conference titles, and sixteen division crowns. The Patriots also selected quarterback Tom Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 draft; Brady’s career from 2001 to 2019 alongside Belichick and Kraft created one of football’s most dominant dynasties despite subsequent personal tensions.

Under Kraft’s stewardship, the Patriots evolved from occasional playoff contenders into a powerhouse franchise with twenty-one playoff appearances over twenty-seven years—compared to just six in previous decades—and captured nineteen AFC East titles including an eleven-year streak from 2009 through 2019. Between 1996 and 2018, they reached ten Super Bowls, winning six. Prior to Kraft’s ownership, they had never exceeded eleven wins in a single season; since then they have achieved at least twelve victories fourteen times.

Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday credited Kraft with playing a key role in resolving the 2011 NFL lockout: "He is a man who helped us save football."

During a 2005 visit to Saint Petersburg, Kraft presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with his third Super Bowl ring as a gesture "out of respect and admiration." Subsequent reports revealed that Kraft did not originally intend it as a gift but issued statements under White House pressure after Putin retained the ring. The ring is currently displayed among Kremlin state gifts.

Former Patriot Ryan O'Callaghan praised Kraft for his support when he publicly came out as gay in 2017; Kraft invited him to a reception celebrating his bravery and assured him he would "forever be a Patriot."

Soccer

In 1996, Kraft established the New England Revolution, a founding team of Major League Soccer, which shared Foxboro Stadium with the Patriots. Additionally, he owned the San Jose Clash (renamed San Jose Earthquakes) between 1998 and 2000.

Kraft showed interest in acquiring English Premier League club Liverpool in 2005, then reigning Champions League titleholders, praising it as "an excellent brand" and expressing openness to expansion opportunities. Nevertheless, Liverpool was ultimately sold to American investors George Gillett and Tom Hicks; today, it is under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group, the same entity that controls the Boston Red Sox.

By 2017, Kraft’s curiosity about purchasing a Premier League team persisted, although he highlighted concerns regarding the lack of a salary cap in English football.

Kraft held the position of Honorary Chairman for the joint Canada–Mexico–United States 2026 FIFA World Cup bid, which successfully secured the rights to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In 2019, Kraft appointed Bruce Arena as both head coach and sporting director for the New England Revolution. Under his leadership, the team achieved its first playoff victory in six years during the 2020 season, marking a key accomplishment during Kraft’s tenure.

Esports

In July 2017, Blizzard Entertainment announced that Kraft had acquired ownership of the Boston Uprising, one of the original seven franchises in the professional esports Overwatch League. The team participated in Season 1, beginning preseason on December 6, 2017, followed by the regular season starting January 10, 2018. Boston Uprising concluded the league’s inaugural season ranked third.

Philanthropy

The Kraft family has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars toward initiatives spanning education, healthcare, youth athletics, and causes supporting both American and Israeli communities. Their philanthropic efforts include backing institutions such as Columbia University, Harvard Business School, Brandeis University, Boston College, Tufts University, and Boston’s Boys & Girls Clubs.

In 1989, they created the Passport to Israel Fund to facilitate teen trips to Israel. Their support extends to American Football Israel, including sponsorship of Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem and involvement with the Kraft Family Israel Football League. In 1990, they endowed the Kraft-Hiatt chairs in comparative religion at Brandeis and Holy Cross—the nation’s first interfaith endowed academic positions.

Kraft donated $11.5 million in 2000 to establish the Columbia/Barnard Hillel center. Following a $5 million gift to Columbia athletics in 2007, Lawrence A. Wien Stadium’s playing field was named Robert K. Kraft Field.

In 2011, they committed $20 million to Partners HealthCare for founding the Kraft Family National Center for Leadership and Training in Community Health, aimed at enhancing access to care at New England community health centers. The Krafts are also supporters of Boston’s Dana–Farber Cancer Institute.

After the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Kraft matched donations up to $100,000 for victims through the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.

In 2017, Kraft contributed $6 million to construct Israel’s first American football field meeting regulation size standards and inaugurated the Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem alongside NFL Hall of Famers. Since then, he has led several "Touchdown in Israel" missions involving Patriots players. That year also saw him fund a van for Massachusetts General Hospital’s Kraft Center for Community Health to combat Boston’s opioid crisis by delivering addiction treatment directly within neighborhoods.

In 2018, Kraft provided $10 million toward renovating Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ headquarters located downtown Boston. The following year, he co-hosted “Final Whistle on Hate,” a charity soccer game between New England Revolution and Chelsea F.C., raising nearly $4 million against antisemitism; Kraft personally donated $1 million.

In June 2019, Kraft was honored with Israel's Genesis Prize and pledged $20 million to create a foundation dedicated to fighting antisemitism and opposing the BDS movement. The subsequent month he pledged $100,000 to assist families affected by a fatal motorcycle crash and gave $20,000 toward a Worcester firefighter memorial.

Kraft co-founded the REFORM Alliance criminal justice reform initiative alongside Jay-Z and others; he hosted more than 50 children of incarcerated parents at a Patriots game via private jet transportation. By 2019, he had led 27 missions to Israel.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Kraft collaborated with Tencent to procure 1.2 million N95 masks for healthcare workers in New York and Massachusetts. Utilizing the Patriots’ private aircraft for shipment from China, these masks were distributed across New York City, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In May 2021, this plane also delivered 500,000 vaccine doses to El Salvador.

In May 2020, Kraft auctioned his Super Bowl LI ring with proceeds directed toward aiding individuals facing food insecurity due to COVID-19.

In October 2021, after a canceled charter flight left University of Rhode Island Rams football team stranded, Kraft loaned them the Patriots’ team plane at no cost.

Harvard Business School announced in April 2022 the creation of the Robert K. Kraft Family Fellowship Fund backed by a $24 million commitment aimed at supporting students with financial need.

On October 30, 2022, Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) launched an NFL ad campaign titled ”Stand Up to Jewish Hate” addressing antisemitic remarks made by public figures. He invested $25 million into this ongoing initiative introduced in March 2023 designed to raise awareness about online antisemitism through advertisements aired during major sporting events and via social media influencers.

Amid pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University during the Gaza War in April 2024, Kraft halted funding for Columbia citing what he described as "virulent hate" directed at Jewish students and staff on campus.

Personal life

In June 1963, Kraft wed Myra Nathalie Hiatt, who graduated from Brandeis University in 1964 and was the daughter of the businessman and philanthropist Jacob Hiatt. She died in July 2011 at age 68 due to ovarian cancer. The Kraft family were congregants of Temple Emanuel located in Newton, Massachusetts. During the 2011 season, Patriots jerseys featured a patch bearing her initials (MHK) as a tribute. Together, they had four sons: Jonathan A., Daniel A., Joshua M., and David H. Kraft.

By June 2012, Kraft had entered a relationship with actress Ricki Noel Lander, who was 38 years younger than him. He played a role in helping her produce an audition video for the movie The Internship, which attracted public scrutiny because of its suggestive nature; Kraft later conveyed remorse regarding the video’s release. Their relationship concluded in 2018.

Kraft contributed $1 million to support Donald Trump’s inauguration festivities in 2017. In 2020, NBA coach Gregg Popovich publicly criticized Kraft for backing Trump while simultaneously promoting social justice causes.

In 2019, Kraft was charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly soliciting prostitution at a Florida day spa. He entered a plea of not guilty and opted for a jury trial. Authorities had installed covert cameras amid suspicions of human trafficking; however, a judge ruled the footage inadmissible based on privacy rights. Subsequently, a Florida appeals court determined that Kraft’s constitutional protections had been violated, resulting in all charges being dismissed. U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz ordered the destruction of the surveillance videos.

Early in 2022, Tommy Hilfiger announced Kraft’s engagement to Dana Blumberg at the amfAR Gala Palm Beach event. The couple married in New York City in October of that year.

Awards and honors

NFL

NCAA

MLS

  • Owner of New England Revolution: achievements include the 2021 Supporters Shield, 2007 U.S. Open Cup, and 2008 North American SuperLiga victories

Organizational

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