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.
On June 5, 1941, Robert Kenneth Kraft, the American billionaire businessman, was born.
In 1962, Robert Kraft met Myra Hiatt at a delicatessen in Boston's Back Bay.
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.
In June 1963, Robert Kraft married Myra Hiatt.
In 1964, Myra Nathalie Hiatt, Robert Kraft's wife, graduated from Brandeis University.
In 1965, Robert Kraft received an MBA from Harvard Business School.
In 1968, Robert Kraft gained control of the Rand-Whitney Group, a packaging company, through a leveraged buyout and remains the chairman.
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.
In 1971, Robert Kraft became a season ticket holder for the New England Patriots when the team moved to Schaefer Stadium.
In 1972, Robert Kraft founded International Forest Products, a trader of physical paper commodities.
In 1974, Robert Kraft and others purchased the Boston Lobsters of World TeamTennis (WTT).
Following the 1978 season, Robert Kraft announced that the Boston Lobsters franchise would fold.
In 1982, Robert Kraft was an investor in New England Television Corp., which gained control of the channel 7 license for Boston.
In 1984, the Jackson Five Victory Tour caused financial problems for the Sullivans, who had to pledge Sullivan Stadium as collateral.
In 1985, Robert Kraft bought a 10-year option on Foxboro Raceway, preventing Patriots owner Billy Sullivan from holding non-Patriot events at the stadium.
In 1986, Robert Kraft was named president of New England Television Corp.
In 1988, Robert Kraft bought Sullivan Stadium out of bankruptcy court for $22 million. The purchase included the stadium's lease to the Patriots through 2001.
In 1988, financial problems forced Billy Sullivan to sell controlling interest of the Patriots.
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.
In 1991, Robert Kraft discussed the business of International Forest Products, mentioning that they do things for a number of companies, including Avon, Kodak, cosmetics companies, candies, and toys, and that the company produced packaging for products ranging from the Patriot missile to Estee Lauder.
In 1991, Robert Kraft exercised his option to sell his shares in New England Television Corp. for an estimated $25 million.
In 1992, Victor Kiam was forced to sell the Patriots to James Orthwein.
Following the NFL's approval of the sale in 1994, the Patriots sold out their entire 1994 season, marking the first full sell-out in franchise history.
In 1996, Robert Kraft founded the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS).
In 1996, the Patriots represented the AFC in the Super Bowl and lost.
In 1997, International Forest Products became a top 100 US exporter/importer.
From 1998, Robert Kraft also owned the San Jose Clash (later San Jose Earthquakes).
In 1998, Robert Kraft considered moving the Patriots to Hartford, Connecticut, but ultimately built a new stadium in Foxborough.
In 1998, Robert Kraft formed the Kraft Group as an umbrella for his various interests.
On January 27, 2000, Robert Kraft traded a first-round draft pick to the New York Jets for the rights to hire Bill Belichick as head coach.
In 2000, Kraft donated $11.5 million to construct the Columbia/Barnard Hillel, which is made of the same white stone used in Jerusalem.
Until 2000, Robert Kraft also owned the San Jose Clash (later San Jose Earthquakes).
In 2001, International Forest Products was ranked No. 7 on the Journal of Commerce's list of top US exporters/importers.
In 2001, Tom Brady became the Patriots' starting quarterback.
The stadium lease for the Patriots, which Robert Kraft bought in 1988, ran through 2001.
In 2002, Robert Kraft financed a $350-million stadium for the Patriots, initially called CMGI Field but later renamed Gillette Stadium.
In November 2005, Robert Kraft met with Rick Parry, the chief executive of English Premier League team Liverpool, expressing interest in investing in the club.
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.
In 2007, Robert Kraft began to develop the land around Gillette Stadium, creating a $375-million open-air shopping and entertainment center called Patriot Place, including "The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon" and the "CBS Scene" restaurant.
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.
In 2007, the Patriots finished the regular season undefeated before losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
From 2009, the Patriots won 11 AFC East titles in a row.
On July 20, 2011, Myra Kraft died of ovarian cancer, at the age of 68.
In 2011, Robert Kraft played a key role in helping to settle the NFL lockout.
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.
In 2011, the Patriots represented the AFC in the Super Bowl and lost.
In June 2012, Kraft began dating actress Ricki Noel Lander, who was 38 years his junior.
In July 2012, Kraft assisted Lander in creating an audition video for a role in The Internship.
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.
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.
In July 2017, Kraft bought ownership in the Boston Uprising, one of the first seven teams for the professional esports Overwatch League.
In October 2017, Robert Kraft said that he was "still intrigued" by the possibility of buying a Premier League football club, but that he was concerned about the lack of a salary cap in British football.
Preseason for the Overwatch League began December 6, 2017.
In 2017, Kraft donated $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration day celebrations.
In 2017, Robert Kraft founded the Boston Uprising, an Overwatch League esports team.
In 2017, Robert Kraft supported former Patriot Ryan O'Callaghan when he publicly came out as gay.
In 2017, Robert Kraft was named the Honorary Chairman of the board of directors for the successful joint Canadian-Mexican-American bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In 2017, the Patriots represented the AFC in the Super Bowl and lost.
Reportedly, Kraft and Blumberg had begun dating in 2017.
The regular season for the Overwatch League started on January 10, 2018.
In 2018, Kraft and Lander broke up.
In 2018, Kraft donated $10 million to Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston for the renovation of its headquarters in downtown Boston.
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.
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.
In 2019, Kraft was among 25 people facing first-degree misdemeanor charges for soliciting prostitution at a day spa. All charges were eventually dropped due to privacy concerns and constitutional rights violations.
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.
In 2019, Robert Kraft hired Bruce Arena as head coach and sporting director of the New England Revolution.
Until 2019, the Patriots had won 11 AFC East titles in a row.
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.
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.
In 2020, NBA coach Gregg Popovich called Kraft "hypocritical" for supporting Trump while claiming to advocate for social justice.
In 2020, the New England Revolution had their first playoff win in six years.
It was reported that Kraft had initially distanced himself from Trump in the years following the January 6, 2021 attack.
In May 2021, the Patriots' private team plane was used to deliver 500,000 vaccines to El Salvador.
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.
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.
In October 2022, Kraft married Dana Blumberg in New York City.
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."
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.
In 2023, the Patriots were estimated by Forbes to be worth $7 billion, making them one of the most valuable franchises in the NFL.
In January 2024, the Boston Uprising, Robert Kraft's Overwatch League esports team, disbanded.
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."
As of July 2024, Robert Kraft has an estimated net worth of US$11.1 billion according to Forbes.
In February 2025, Trump named Kraft's wife, Dana Blumberg, to the board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
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