Early Life and Education of Robert Kraft: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Robert Kraft, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Robert Kraft is an American billionaire businessman, best known as the chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group. His portfolio includes holdings in paper, sports, real estate, and private equity. Kraft is most prominently recognized as the owner of the New England Patriots (NFL) since 1994 and the New England Revolution (MLS) since its founding in 1996. He also founded the Boston Uprising Overwatch League esports team in 2017, which disbanded in early 2024. With an estimated net worth of $11.1 billion as of July 2024, Kraft remains a significant figure in both the business and sports worlds.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

June 5, 1941: Robert Kraft's Birth

On June 5, 1941, Robert Kenneth Kraft was born. He would later become a billionaire businessman and the chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group.

Others born on this day/year

1962: Meeting Myra Hiatt

In 1962, Kraft met Myra Hiatt at a delicatessen in Boston's Back Bay.

June 1963: Marriage to Myra Hiatt

In June 1963, Robert Kraft married Myra Hiatt.

June 1963: Robert Kraft Marries Myra Nathalie Hiatt

In June 1963, Robert Kraft married Myra Nathalie Hiatt, a 1964 graduate of Brandeis University.

1965: Graduation from Harvard Business School

In 1965, Kraft received an MBA from Harvard Business School.

1971: Season Ticket Holder

Since 1971, Kraft has been a New England Patriots season ticket holder, when the team moved to Schaefer Stadium.

1989: Passport to Israel Fund Launched

In 1989, Myra and Robert Kraft launched the Passport to Israel Fund in collaboration with Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJP) to help parents send their teenage children to Israel.

1990: Kraft Funds Professorship

In 1990, Kraft, his wife, and his father-in-law funded a joint professorship between Brandeis University and the College of the Holy Cross, forming the Kraft-Hiatt endowed chairs in comparative religion.

2000: Kraft Donates to Construct Columbia/Barnard Hillel

In 2000, Kraft donated $11.5 million to construct the Columbia/Barnard Hillel, which is made of the same white stone used in Jerusalem.

2005: Gift of Super Bowl Ring to Vladimir Putin

In 2005, Kraft gave his Super Bowl ring to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Saint Petersburg; it is now on display at the Kremlin.

2007: Robert K. Kraft Field Named

In 2007, after a $5 million payment to Columbia's intercollegiate athletics program, the playing field at Columbia's Lawrence A. Wien Stadium at the Baker Field Athletics Complex was named Robert K. Kraft Field.

July 20, 2011: Death of Myra Nathalie Hiatt Kraft

On July 20, 2011, Myra Nathalie Hiatt Kraft, Robert Kraft's wife, died of ovarian cancer at the age of 68.

2011: Krafts Pledge to Partners HealthCare

In 2011, the Krafts pledged $20 million to Partners HealthCare to launch the Kraft Family National Center for Leadership and Training in Community Health, an initiative designed to improve access to quality healthcare at community health centers throughout New England.

June 2012: Kraft Begins Dating Ricki Noel Lander

In June 2012, Kraft began dating actress Ricki Noel Lander, who was 38 years his junior.

July 2012: Kraft Assists Lander with Audition Video

In July 2012, Kraft assisted Ricki Noel Lander in creating an audition video for a role in The Internship, which later caused controversy when it was made public.

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2013: Kraft Matches Donations for Boston Marathon Victims

Following the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, Kraft announced he would match up to $100,000 in donations made for the victims through the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.

June 2017: Grand Opening of Kraft Family Sports Campus

In June 2017, Kraft, along with several NFL Hall of Famers, traveled to Israel for the grand opening of the new Kraft Family Sports Campus.

2017: Kraft Donates to Trump's Inauguration

In 2017, Kraft donated $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration day celebrations and had made donations to his presidential campaign as well.

2017: Support for Ryan O'Callaghan

In 2017, after former Patriot Ryan O'Callaghan publicly came out as gay, Kraft supported him and invited him to a reception.

2018: Kraft and Lander Break Up

In 2018, Kraft and Ricki Noel Lander broke up.

2018: Kraft Donates to Combined Jewish Philanthropies

In 2018, Kraft donated $10 million to Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston for the renovation of its headquarters in downtown Boston.

June 2019: Kraft Receives Israel's Genesis Prize

In June 2019, Kraft received Israel's Genesis Prize. While at the event in Jerusalem, Kraft pledged $20 million to establish a foundation that will fight antisemitism and combat the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

2019: Kraft's Charitable Activities

In 2019, Kraft pledged $100,000 to the families of seven motorcyclists killed in a crash and donated $20,000 to honor fallen firefighter Christopher Roy. He also teamed with Jay-Z, Meek Mill, and Michael G. Rubin to announce the REFORM Alliance for criminal justice reform. Additionally, Kraft invited children with incarcerated parents to a Patriots game and, as of 2019, had led 27 missions to Israel.

2019: Kraft Faces Solicitation Charges

In 2019, Kraft was among 25 people facing first-degree misdemeanor charges for soliciting prostitution at a day spa. The charges were later dropped after a court ruled that prosecutors could not use hidden camera videos in their case due to privacy concerns.

2019: Final Whistle on Hate Soccer Match

In 2019, Kraft, along with Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, hosted a soccer match between the New England Revolution and Chelsea F.C., called Final Whistle on Hate, to raise money to combat antisemitism. The match raised an estimated $4 million, with Kraft personally contributing $1 million toward the fund.

May 2020: Kraft Auctions Super Bowl LI Ring

In May 2020, Kraft put his Super Bowl LI ring up for auction with proceeds designated to help feed those facing food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Kraft Purchases and Donates Masks

In 2020, Kraft partnered with Tencent to purchase 1.2 million N95 masks to donate to medical workers in New York and Massachusetts to help combat the coronavirus pandemic, sending the Patriots' private team plane to China to pick up the supplies.

2020: Popovich Calls Kraft Hypocritical

In 2020, NBA coach Gregg Popovich called Kraft "hypocritical" for supporting Trump while claiming to advocate for social justice.

January 6, 2021: Kraft Distances Himself from Trump after Attack

It was reported that Kraft had initially distanced himself from Donald Trump in the years following the January 6, 2021 attack.

May 2021: Patriots Plane Delivers Vaccines to El Salvador

In May 2021, the Patriots' team plane, owned by Kraft, was used to deliver 500,000 vaccines to El Salvador.

October 2021: Kraft Lends Patriots Plane to URI Rams

In October 2021, Kraft lent the Patriots team plane to the University of Rhode Island Rams football team after their charter flight fell through and covered all costs.

April 2022: Robert K. Kraft Family Fellowship Fund Created

In April 2022, Harvard Business School announced the creation of the Robert K. Kraft Family Fellowship Fund, committing $24 million to benefit potential students with limited means to attend HBS.

October 2022: Kraft Marries Dana Blumberg

In October 2022, Kraft married Dana Blumberg in New York City. They had reportedly begun dating in 2017.

October 30, 2022: Foundation to Combat Antisemitism Airs "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" Ad

On October 30, 2022, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS), which was founded by Kraft, sponsored an ad encouraging people to denounce hate against Jewish people. The ad aired during NFL games and was titled "Stand Up to Jewish Hate."

March 2023: "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" Campaign Launched

In March 2023, Kraft invested $25 million in the "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" campaign which launched through the foundation to raise awareness concerning antisemitism found online.

January 2024: Boston Uprising Disbandment

In January 2024, the Boston Uprising, an Overwatch League esports team founded by Kraft, disbanded.

April 2024: Kraft Stops Funding Columbia University

In April 2024, during the Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus protests and occupations during the Gaza War, Kraft stopped funding Columbia University because of its treatment of Jewish students and staff, citing "virulent hate."