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 and the owner of the New England Patriots (NFL) since 1994. He also owns the New England Revolution (MLS), which he founded in 1996, and previously owned the Boston Uprising (Overwatch League). As of July 2024, his estimated net worth is $11.1 billion, reflecting his success in paper and packaging, sports, real estate, and private equity.

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, the American billionaire businessman, was born.

Others born on this day/year

1962: Kraft Met Myra Hiatt

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

June 1963: Marriage to Myra Nathalie Hiatt

In June 1963, Kraft married Myra Nathalie Hiatt, a 1964 graduate of Brandeis University and the daughter of the late Worcester, Massachusetts, businessman and philanthropist Jacob Hiatt.

June 1963: Kraft Married Myra Hiatt

In June 1963, Robert Kraft married Myra Hiatt.

1964: Myra Hiatt Graduates from Brandeis University

In 1964, Myra Nathalie Hiatt, Robert Kraft's wife, graduated from Brandeis University.

1965: Kraft Received MBA from Harvard Business School

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

1968: Kraft Gained Control of Rand-Whitney Group

In 1968, Robert Kraft gained control of the Rand-Whitney Group, a packaging company, through a leveraged buyout and remains the chairman.

1970: Kraft Considered Running for Office

In 1970, Robert Kraft considered running against Representative Philip J. Philbin but chose not to due to privacy concerns. He was also discouraged by the suicide of his friend H. James Shea Jr.

1971: Kraft Became a Patriots Season Ticket Holder

In 1971, Robert Kraft became a season ticket holder for the New England Patriots when the team moved to Schaefer Stadium.

1972: Kraft Founded International Forest Products

In 1972, Robert Kraft founded International Forest Products, a trader of physical paper commodities.

1984: The Jackson Five Victory Tour

In 1984, the Jackson Five Victory Tour caused financial problems for the Sullivans, who had to pledge Sullivan Stadium as collateral.

1988: Sullivan Forced to Sell Controlling Interest

In 1988, financial problems forced Billy Sullivan to sell controlling interest of the Patriots.

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-Hiatt Endowed Chairs Funded

In 1990, Kraft, along with his wife and father-in-law, funded a joint professorship between Brandeis University and the College of the Holy Cross, establishing the Kraft-Hiatt endowed chairs in comparative religion, which was the first inter-religious endowed chairs in the United States.

1992: Kiam Sold the Patriots to Orthwein

In 1992, Victor Kiam was forced to sell the Patriots to James Orthwein.

1998: Kraft Formed the Kraft Group

In 1998, Robert Kraft formed the Kraft Group as an umbrella for his various interests.

2000: Donation to 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: Kraft Gave Putin His Super Bowl Ring

In 2005, during a visit to Saint Petersburg, Robert Kraft gave Russian President Vladimir Putin his Super Bowl ring, which 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.

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: Began Dating Ricki Noel Lander

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

July 2012: Assisted Lander in Audition Video

In July 2012, Kraft assisted Lander in creating an audition video for a role in The Internship.

2013: Matching Donations for Boston Marathon Bombing 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: Donation to Trump Inauguration

In 2017, Kraft donated $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration day celebrations.

2017: Kraft Supported Ryan O'Callaghan

In 2017, Robert Kraft supported former Patriot Ryan O'Callaghan when he publicly came out as gay.

2017: Relationship with Dana Blumberg Begins

Reportedly, Kraft and Blumberg had begun dating in 2017.

2018: Breakup with Ricki Noel Lander

In 2018, Kraft and Lander broke up.

2018: Donation 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 Genesis Prize and Pledges to Fight Antisemitism

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: Support for Families and Criminal Justice Reform

In 2019, Kraft pledged $100,000 to the families of seven motorcyclists killed in a crash. Kraft also teamed with recording artists Jay-Z and Meek Mill, as well as Michael G. Rubin, to announce a foundation of criminal justice reform called REFORM Alliance.

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.

2019: Tom Brady Left Patriots

In 2019, Tom Brady stopped being the team's starter.

May 2020: Super Bowl LI Ring Auctioned for Food Insecurity

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: Partnership with Tencent to Donate N95 Masks

In 2020, Kraft partnered with Chinese company Tencent to purchase 1.2 million N95 masks to donate to medical workers in New York and Massachusetts to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.

2020: Gregg 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 Trump in the years following the January 6, 2021 attack.

May 2021: Patriots plane delivers vaccines to El Salvador

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

October 2021: Kraft Lends Patriots Team Plane to URI Rams

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

April 2022: Robert K. Kraft Family Fellowship Fund at Harvard Business School

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.

October 30, 2022: Foundation to Combat Antisemitism 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: The Boston Uprising Disbanded

In January 2024, the Boston Uprising, Robert Kraft's Overwatch League esports team, 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."