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|networth = [[United States dollar|US $]] 4.17 [[1,000,000,000 (number)|billion]] ''(June 2017)''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-kraft/ |title=Robert Kraft |work=[[Forbes]] |accessdate=24 Sep 2016}}</ref>
|networth = [[United States dollar|US $]] 4.17 [[1,000,000,000 (number)|billion]] ''(June 2017)''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-kraft/ |title=Robert Kraft |work=[[Forbes]] |accessdate=24 Sep 2016}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''Robert Kenneth Kraft'''<ref name="Family Man" /> (born June 5, 1941) is an American businessman. He is the [[Chair (official)|chairman]] and [[chief executive officer]] of the [[Kraft Group]], a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, [[real estate development]] and a [[private equity]] portfolio. His sports holdings include the [[National Football League]]'s [[New England Patriots]], [[Major League Soccer]]'s [[New England Revolution]], and the stadium in which both teams play, [[Gillette Stadium]].
'''Robert Kenneth Kraft'''<ref name="Family Man" /> (born June 5, 1941) is an American businessman. He is the [[Chair (official)|chairman]] and [[chief executive officer]] of the [[Kraft Group]], a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, [[real estate development]] and a [[private equity]] portfolio. His sports holdings include: the [[National Football League]]'s [[New England Patriots]], [[Major League Soccer]]'s [[New England Revolution]] and the stadium in which both teams play, [[Gillette Stadium]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Kraft was born in [[Brookline, Massachusetts]]. His father, Harry Kraft, a dress manufacturer in Boston's [[Chinatown, Boston|Chinatown]], was a respected Jewish lay leader at Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline and wanted his son to become a rabbi.<ref name="Family Man">{{cite news|last1=Kindleberger|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8258739.html|first1=Richard|title=The family man: Ties that bind pull at Patriots bidder, the complex Robert Kraft|work=The Boston Globe|date=December 19, 1993}}</ref> The Krafts were an observant [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jewish]] family. Robert grew up in Brookline, where he attended the [[Edward Devotion School]]<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/books/chapters/0122-1st-walla.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0 New York Times: "'Between You and Me'" By MIKE WALLACE with GARY PAUL GATES] January 22, 2006</ref> and in 1959, he graduated from [[Brookline High School]], where he was senior class president.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/11/14/kraft_cements_his_love_for_the_old_alma_mater/ |work=Boston Globe |date=November 14, 2014 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=Kraft cements his love for the old alma mater: Brookline High fetes Patriot owner |author=Susanna Baird}}</ref><ref name=MassLive>[http://www.masslive.com/patriots/index.ssf/2011/09/new_england_patriots_owner_rob.html Massachusetts Live: "For New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, an off-season of personal tragedy, professional triumph" By HOWARD ULMAN] September 6, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jspace.com/news/articles/jewish-owners-face-off-in-super-bowl-xlvi/7386 | title=Jewish Owners Face Off in Super Bowl XLVI | publisher=Jspace | date=February 4, 2012| author=Jspace Staf}}</ref> During high school, Kraft was unable to participate in most sports because it interfered with his after-school Hebrew studies and observance of the Sabbath.<ref name="Family Man" />
Kraft was born in [[Brookline, Massachusetts]]. His father -- Harry Kraft, a dress manufacturer in Boston's [[Chinatown, Boston|Chinatown]] -- was a respected Jewish lay leader at Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline and wanted his son to become a [[rabbi]].<ref name="Family Man">{{cite news|last1=Kindleberger|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8258739.html|first1=Richard|title=The family man: Ties that bind pull at Patriots bidder, the complex Robert Kraft|work=The Boston Globe|date=December 19, 1993}}</ref> The Krafts were an observant [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jewish]] family. Robert grew up in Brookline, where he attended the [[Edward Devotion School]]<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/books/chapters/0122-1st-walla.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0 New York Times: "'Between You and Me'" By MIKE WALLACE with GARY PAUL GATES] January 22, 2006</ref> and in 1959, he graduated from [[Brookline High School]], where he was senior class president.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/11/14/kraft_cements_his_love_for_the_old_alma_mater/ |work=Boston Globe |date=November 14, 2014 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=Kraft cements his love for the old alma mater: Brookline High fetes Patriot owner |author=Susanna Baird}}</ref><ref name=MassLive>[http://www.masslive.com/patriots/index.ssf/2011/09/new_england_patriots_owner_rob.html Massachusetts Live: "For New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, an off-season of personal tragedy, professional triumph" By HOWARD ULMAN] September 6, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jspace.com/news/articles/jewish-owners-face-off-in-super-bowl-xlvi/7386 | title=Jewish Owners Face Off in Super Bowl XLVI | publisher=Jspace | date=February 4, 2012| author=Jspace Staf}}</ref> During high school, Kraft was unable to participate in most sports because it interfered with his after-school Hebrew studies and observance of the Sabbath.<ref name="Family Man" />


Kraft attended [[Columbia University]], where he served as class president.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/columbia?a=d&d=cs19630312-01.1.1&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------|accessdate=March 2, 2015 |publisher=Columbia Spectator |date=March 12, 1963 |title=Withhold Class Funds, Letter Asks Seniors: Kraft Claims Message Will Not Hurt Drive |author=Michael Drosnin}}</ref> While at Columbia, Kraft joined [[Zeta Beta Tau]] Fraternity and played running back and safety on the school's freshman and [[Sprint Football|lightweight football]] teams.<ref name="Family Man" /><ref name=MassLive /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zbt.org/who-we-are/notable-alumni.html|title=Notable Alumni|author=Magbic Aleman|publisher=|accessdate=26 March 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://nesn.com/2012/06/robert-kraft-to-be-inducted-to-columbia-university-athletics-hall-of-fame "Robert Kraft to Be Inducted to Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame" by Paige Allen] June 18, 2012</ref> On February 2, 1962, Kraft met [[Myra Kraft|Myra Hiatt]] at a delicatessen in [[Back Bay, Boston|Boston's Back Bay]].<ref name="Family Man" /> They married in June 1963.<ref name="Giving Large">{{cite news|last1=Paulson|first1=Michael|title=Giving Large|work=The Boston Globe|date=March 18, 2007}}</ref> That same year, Kraft graduated from Columbia, and in 1965, he received an [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] from [[Harvard Business School]].<ref name="Family Man" />
Kraft attended [[Columbia University]], where he served as [[class president]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/columbia?a=d&d=cs19630312-01.1.1&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------|accessdate=March 2, 2015 |publisher=Columbia Spectator |date=March 12, 1963 |title=Withhold Class Funds, Letter Asks Seniors: Kraft Claims Message Will Not Hurt Drive |author=Michael Drosnin}}</ref> While at Columbia, Kraft joined [[Zeta Beta Tau]] Fraternity and played running back and safety on the school's freshman and [[Sprint Football|lightweight football]] teams.<ref name="Family Man" /><ref name=MassLive /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zbt.org/who-we-are/notable-alumni.html|title=Notable Alumni|author=Magbic Aleman|publisher=|accessdate=26 March 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://nesn.com/2012/06/robert-kraft-to-be-inducted-to-columbia-university-athletics-hall-of-fame "Robert Kraft to Be Inducted to Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame" by Paige Allen] June 18, 2012</ref> On February 2, 1962, Kraft met [[Myra Kraft|Myra Hiatt]] at a [[delicatessen]] in [[Back Bay, Boston|Boston's Back Bay]].<ref name="Family Man" /> They married in June 1963.<ref name="Giving Large">{{cite news|last1=Paulson|first1=Michael|title=Giving Large|work=The Boston Globe|date=March 18, 2007}}</ref> That same year, Kraft graduated from Columbia, and in 1965, received an [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] from [[Harvard Business School]].<ref name="Family Man" />


At the age of 27, Kraft was elected chairman of the [[Newton, Massachusetts|Newton]] Democratic City Committee. He considered running against [[Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district]] Representative [[Philip J. Philbin]] in 1970, but chose not to, citing the loss of privacy and strain on his family entering politics would have caused. He was further discouraged from entering politics by the suicide of his friend, State Representative [[H. James Shea, Jr.]]<ref name="Family Man" />
At the age of 27, Kraft was elected chairman of the [[Newton, Massachusetts|Newton]] Democratic City Committee. He considered running against [[Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district]] Representative [[Philip J. Philbin]] in 1970, but chose not to, citing the loss of privacy and strain on his family entering [[politics]] would have caused. He was further discouraged from entering politics by the suicide of his friend, State Representative [[H. James Shea, Jr.]]<ref name="Family Man" />


==Business career==
==Business career==
Kraft began his professional career with the Rand-Whitney Group, a Worcester-based packaging company run by his father-in-law [[Jacob Hiatt]].<ref name=MassLive /> In 1968, Kraft gained control of the company through a [[leveraged buyout]].<ref name="Family Man" /> He still serves as this company's chairman. In 1972, he founded International Forest Products, a trader of physical paper commodities. The two combined companies make up the largest privately held paper and packaging companies in the United States. Kraft has stated that he started the company out of a hunch that the increase in international communications and transportation would lead to an expansion of global trade in the late twentieth century.<ref name=McGarvie>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=uVaWAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT10 |page=10 |title=Shaking the Globe: Courageous Decision-Making in a Changing World |author=Blythe J. McGarvie |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2009}}</ref>
Kraft began his professional career with the Rand-Whitney Group, a Worcester-based packaging company run by his father-in-law [[Jacob Hiatt]].<ref name=MassLive /> In 1968, he gained control of the company through a [[leveraged buyout]].<ref name="Family Man" /> He still serves as this company's chairman. In 1972, he founded [[International Forest Products]], a trader of physical paper commodities. The two combined companies make up the largest privately held paper and packaging companies in the United States. Kraft has stated that he started the company out of a hunch that the increase in international communications and transportation would lead to an expansion of global trade in the late twentieth century.<ref name=McGarvie>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=uVaWAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT10 |page=10 |title=Shaking the Globe: Courageous Decision-Making in a Changing World |author=Blythe J. McGarvie |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2009}}</ref>


International Forest Products became a top 100 US exporters/importer in 1997 and in 2013 was No. 20 on the ''Journal of Commerce'''s list in that category.<ref>[http://www.ifpcorp.com/index.cfm?ac=NewsDetails&ID=220 International Forest Products LLC website: "IFP ranked 27th among largest U.S. exporters and first among New England exporters"] May 29, 2012</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/05/28/kraft-group-company-one-nation-largest-exporters/UMXlSNnLdHTZ8ym3NPbTvI/story.html |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=Kraft paper firm honored for exports |author=Callum Borchers |date=May 29, 2013 |work=Boston Globe}}</ref> Kraft said of the business in 1991 that, "We do things for a number of companies, including Avon, Kodak, cosmetics companies, candies, toys." The company produced both corrugated and folding cartons, which he stated, "are used to package everything from the Patriot missile, to mints, to Estee Lauder, Indiana Glass and Polaroid."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7656656.html |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=Cardboard economics |work=The Boston Globe |date=April 21, 1991 |author=Keith Yokum}}</ref> Kraft acquired interests in other areas, and ultimately formed the Kraft Group as an umbrella for them in 1998.<ref name=McGarvie />
International Forest Products became a top 100 US exporters/importer in 1997 and in 2013 was ranked No. 20 on the ''[[Journal of Commerce]]'''s list in that category.<ref>[http://www.ifpcorp.com/index.cfm?ac=NewsDetails&ID=220 International Forest Products LLC website: "IFP ranked 27th among largest U.S. exporters and first among New England exporters"] May 29, 2012</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/05/28/kraft-group-company-one-nation-largest-exporters/UMXlSNnLdHTZ8ym3NPbTvI/story.html |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=Kraft paper firm honored for exports |author=Callum Borchers |date=May 29, 2013 |work=Boston Globe}}</ref> Kraft said of the business in 1991 that, "We do things for a number of companies, including Avon, Kodak, cosmetics companies, candies, toys." The company produced both corrugated and folding cartons, which he stated, "are used to package everything from the Patriot missile, to mints, to Estee Lauder, Indiana Glass and Polaroid."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7656656.html |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=Cardboard economics |work=The Boston Globe |date=April 21, 1991 |author=Keith Yokum}}</ref> Kraft acquired interests in other areas, and ultimately formed the Kraft Group as an umbrella for them in 1998.<ref name=McGarvie />


Kraft was an investor in New England Television Corp., which gained control of [[WNAC-TV (defunct)|WNAC-TV]] in 1982,<ref>{{cite news|title=NETV's Officers, Investors|work=The Boston Globe|date=May 9, 1982}}</ref> and Kraft became a director of the board in 1983. The station then became [[WHDH (TV)|WNEV-TV]]. In 1986, he was named president of the corporation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7999007.html|title=Kraft Named President of N.E. Television|work=The Boston Globe|date=February 15, 1987}}</ref> In 1991, Kraft exercised option to unload his shares for an estimated $25 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7666524.html|title=Major investor will depart Ch. 7|work=The Boston Globe|date=June 28, 1991}}</ref>
Kraft was an investor in New England Television Corp., which gained control of [[WNAC-TV (defunct)|WNAC-TV]] in 1982,<ref>{{cite news|title=NETV's Officers, Investors|work=The Boston Globe|date=May 9, 1982}}</ref> and Kraft became a director of the board in 1983. The station then became [[WHDH (TV)|WNEV-TV]]. In 1986, he was named president of the corporation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7999007.html|title=Kraft Named President of N.E. Television|work=The Boston Globe|date=February 15, 1987}}</ref> In 1991, Kraft exercised option to unload his shares for an estimated $25 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7666524.html|title=Major investor will depart Ch. 7|work=The Boston Globe|date=June 28, 1991}}</ref>
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===New England Patriots===
===New England Patriots===
A Patriots fan since their [[American Football League]] days, Kraft has been a season ticket holder since 1971, when the team moved to the then-[[Schaefer Stadium]].<ref name=MassLive /> In 1985, Kraft bought a 10-year option on [[Bay State Raceway|Foxboro Raceway]], a horse track adjacent to the stadium. The purchase prevented Patriots owner [[Billy Sullivan (American football)|Billy Sullivan]] from holding non-Patriot events at Sullivan Stadium while races were being held.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McDonough|first1=Will|authorlink=Will McDonough|title=Sullivans' Team in Loss Column|work=The Boston Globe|date=July 26, 1987}}</ref> Kraft took advantage of the fact that the Sullivans owned the stadium, but not the surrounding land. It was the beginning of a quest to not only buy the stadium, but the Patriots as well.<ref name=Forbes>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0919/122.html|title=Unlikely Dynasty|last=Burke|first=Monte|publisher=[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]|date=2015-09-19}}</ref> Sullivan's family was reeling from a series of bad investments, principally [[The Jackson Five]] [[Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)|1984 Victory Tour]], for which they had to pledge Sullivan Stadium as collateral.<ref name="The League">{{cite book |title=The League: The Rise and Decline of the NFL |last=Harris |first=David |authorlink=David Harris (protester) |year=1986 |publisher=Bantam Books |location=New York |isbn=0-553-05167-9 |pages=629–32}}</ref> Those problems ultimately forced Sullivan to sell controlling interest to [[Victor Kiam]] in 1988. However, the stadium lapsed into bankruptcy.<ref name="Farinella column">{{cite news|last=Farinella|first=Mark|title=Jackson's part in Pats' history was real 'thriller' |url=http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/farinella-jackson-s-part-in-pats-history-was-real-thriller/article_e8e9f604-5ac2-5339-8ba2-d610c1da295c.html|newspaper=[[The Sun Chronicle]]|date=June 27, 2009|accessdate=September 25, 2012}}</ref>
A Patriots fan since their [[American Football League]] days, Kraft has been a [[season ticket holder]] since 1971, when the team moved to the then-[[Schaefer Stadium]].<ref name=MassLive /> In 1985, Kraft bought a 10-year option on [[Bay State Raceway|Foxboro Raceway]], a horse track adjacent to the stadium. The purchase prevented Patriots owner [[Billy Sullivan (American football)|Billy Sullivan]] from holding non-Patriot events at Sullivan Stadium while races were being held.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McDonough|first1=Will|authorlink=Will McDonough|title=Sullivans' Team in Loss Column|work=The Boston Globe|date=July 26, 1987}}</ref> Kraft took advantage of the fact that the Sullivans owned the stadium, but not the surrounding land. It was the beginning of a quest to not only buy the stadium, but the Patriots as well.<ref name=Forbes>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0919/122.html|title=Unlikely Dynasty|last=Burke|first=Monte|publisher=[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]|date=2015-09-19}}</ref> Sullivan's family was reeling from a series of bad investments, principally [[The Jackson Five]] [[Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)|1984 Victory Tour]], for which they had to pledge Sullivan Stadium as collateral.<ref name="The League">{{cite book |title=The League: The Rise and Decline of the NFL |last=Harris |first=David |authorlink=David Harris (protester) |year=1986 |publisher=Bantam Books |location=New York |isbn=0-553-05167-9 |pages=629–32}}</ref> Those problems ultimately forced Sullivan to sell controlling interest to [[Victor Kiam]] in 1988. However, the stadium lapsed into bankruptcy.<ref name="Farinella column">{{cite news|last=Farinella|first=Mark|title=Jackson's part in Pats' history was real 'thriller' |url=http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/farinella-jackson-s-part-in-pats-history-was-real-thriller/article_e8e9f604-5ac2-5339-8ba2-d610c1da295c.html|newspaper=[[The Sun Chronicle]]|date=June 27, 2009|accessdate=September 25, 2012}}</ref>


In 1988, Kraft outbid several competitors, including Kiam, to buy the stadium out of bankruptcy court from Sullivan for $22 million. The stadium was considered to be outdated and nearly worthless, but the purchase included the stadium's lease to the Patriots, which ran through 2001.<ref name="The Art of Kraft">{{cite news|last1=Pazniokas|first1=Mark|last2=Garber|first2=Greg|title=The Art of Kraft|work=Hartford Courant|date=December 13, 1998}}</ref> The lease was ironclad enough to end Sullivan's three-decade involvement with the Patriots. When he and Kiam tried to move the team to [[Jacksonville]], Kraft refused to let them break the lease. As a result, when Kiam was nearly brought down by bad investments of his own, he was forced to sell the Patriots to [[James Orthwein]].<ref name="Farinella column"/>
In 1988, Kraft outbid several competitors, including Kiam, to buy the stadium out of bankruptcy court from Sullivan for $22 million. The stadium was considered to be outdated and nearly worthless, but the purchase included the stadium's lease to the Patriots, which ran through 2001.<ref name="The Art of Kraft">{{cite news|last1=Pazniokas|first1=Mark|last2=Garber|first2=Greg|title=The Art of Kraft|work=Hartford Courant|date=December 13, 1998}}</ref> The lease was ironclad enough to end Sullivan's three-decade involvement with the Patriots. When he and Kiam tried to move the team to [[Jacksonville]], Kraft refused to let them break the lease. As a result, when Kiam was nearly brought down by bad investments of his own, he was forced to sell the Patriots to [[James Orthwein]].<ref name="Farinella column"/>


Ever since Orthwein had bought the team in 1992, there had been constant rumors that he wanted to move the Patriots to [[St. Louis]]. In 1994, Orthwein offered Kraft $75 million to buy out the remainder of the team's lease at what was now Foxboro Stadium. Had Kraft accepted Orthwein's offer, it would have cleared the last significant hurdle to moving the team. However, Kraft turned it down.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.masslive.com/patriots/index.ssf/2011/09/new_england_patriots_owner_rob.html |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=For New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, an off-season of personal tragedy, professional triumph |publisher=Mass Live |agency=Associated Press |date=September 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/patriots/2014/11/13/patriots-robert-kraft-goodell-gronkowski-qa/18980403/ |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |work=USA Today |date=November 13, 2014 |title=Patriot's Robert Kraft Talks Goodell, Gronk and Brady |author=Jim Corbett}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/blogs/sports/columnists/kaufman/2015/02/boston_sports_fans_lucky_to_not_have_a_james_dolan.html |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=Boston Sports Fans Lucky to Not Have a James Dolan among Local Owners |author=Andy Kaufman |date=February 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150220&content_id=109834302&oid=0 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |publisher=Yes Network |title=New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft featured on all-new episode of Forbes SportsMoney |date=February 20, 2015}}</ref>
Ever since Orthwein had bought the team in 1992, there had been constant rumors that he wanted to move the Patriots to [[St. Louis]]. In 1994, Orthwein offered Kraft $75 million to buy out the remainder of the team's lease at what was now [[Foxboro Stadium]]. Had Kraft accepted Orthwein's offer, it would have cleared the last significant hurdle to moving the team. However, Kraft turned it down.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.masslive.com/patriots/index.ssf/2011/09/new_england_patriots_owner_rob.html |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=For New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, an off-season of personal tragedy, professional triumph |publisher=Mass Live |agency=Associated Press |date=September 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/patriots/2014/11/13/patriots-robert-kraft-goodell-gronkowski-qa/18980403/ |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |work=USA Today |date=November 13, 2014 |title=Patriot's Robert Kraft Talks Goodell, Gronk and Brady |author=Jim Corbett}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/blogs/sports/columnists/kaufman/2015/02/boston_sports_fans_lucky_to_not_have_a_james_dolan.html |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=Boston Sports Fans Lucky to Not Have a James Dolan among Local Owners |author=Andy Kaufman |date=February 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150220&content_id=109834302&oid=0 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |publisher=Yes Network |title=New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft featured on all-new episode of Forbes SportsMoney |date=February 20, 2015}}</ref>


By 1994, Orthwein was not interested in operating the team in New England long-term, and decided to sell it. However, due to the terms of the operating covenant, any prospective buyers had to deal with Kraft. With this in mind, Kraft made an offer for an outright purchase of the team for $172 million, an offer which Orthwein accepted. No other sports team had ever sold for such a high price at that time. Years later, Kraft said his passion for the Patriots led him to "break every one of my financial rules" in his pursuit of the team. To this day, Kraft has a Victory Tour poster among his mementos as a reminder of what allowed him to realize his longstanding dream of becoming a major league team owner.<ref name=Forbes/>
By 1994, Orthwein was not interested in operating the team in New England long-term, and decided to sell it. However, due to the terms of the operating covenant, any prospective buyers had to deal with Kraft. With this in mind, Kraft made an offer for an outright purchase of the team for $172 million, an offer which Orthwein accepted. No other sports team had ever sold for such a high price at that time. Years later, Kraft said his passion for the Patriots led him to "break every one of my financial rules" in his pursuit of the team. To this day, Kraft has a Victory Tour poster among his mementos as a reminder of what allowed him to realize his longstanding dream of becoming a major league team owner.<ref name=Forbes/>


The Patriots sold out their season for the first time in franchise history. Every home game—preseason, regular season, and playoffs—has been sold out ever since.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=o_JXBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA170 |page=170 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=Parcells: The Unauthorized Biography |author=Carlo DeVito |publisher=Triumph Books |year=2014}}</ref>
The Patriots sold out their season for the first time in franchise history. Every home game -- preseason, regular season, and playoffs -— has been sold out ever since.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=o_JXBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA170 |page=170 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=Parcells: The Unauthorized Biography |author=Carlo DeVito |publisher=Triumph Books |year=2014}}</ref>


[[Image:Bob Kraft-George Bush-Bill Belichick.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Kraft (left), with President [[George W. Bush]] and [[Bill Belichick]] during the Patriots' visit to the White House in 2004]]
[[Image:Bob Kraft-George Bush-Bill Belichick.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Kraft (left), with President [[George W. Bush]] and [[Bill Belichick]] during the Patriots' visit to the White House in 2004]]


In 1998, Kraft considered moving the Patriots to Hartford Connecticut, based on an offer that the state of Connecticut would finance a new stadium in downtown Hartford. On April 30, 1998, Kraft terminated the deal just before it would become binding, choosing to instead build a new stadium in Foxboro with the state of Massachusetts infrastructure funding.<ref name=Doyle>{{ cite news | last=Doyle |first=Paul | title=Hartford's Flirtation With The Patriots Ended In Heartbreak | newspaper=Hartford Courant | date=March 18, 2014 | url=http://articles.courant.com/2014-03-18/news/hc-250th-hartford-patriots-0317-20140316_1_robert-kraft-east-hartford-patriots }}</ref>
In 1998, Kraft considered moving the Patriots to [[Hartford Connecticut]], based on an offer that the state of Connecticut would finance a new stadium in downtown Hartford. On April 30, 1998, Kraft terminated the deal just before it would become binding, choosing to instead build a new stadium in Foxboro with the state of Massachusetts infrastructure funding.<ref name=Doyle>{{ cite news | last=Doyle |first=Paul | title=Hartford's Flirtation With The Patriots Ended In Heartbreak | newspaper=Hartford Courant | date=March 18, 2014 | url=http://articles.courant.com/2014-03-18/news/hc-250th-hartford-patriots-0317-20140316_1_robert-kraft-east-hartford-patriots }}</ref>


In 2002, a $350-million stadium for the Patriots was privately financed by Kraft, initially called the [[CMGI Field]] (later renamed [[Gillette Stadium]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2010/11/03/footballs-true-patriot/ |publisher=Fortune Magazine |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title= Football's true Patriot |author=Scott Olster |date=November 3, 2010}}</ref> In 2007, Kraft began to develop the land around Gillette Stadium, creating a $375-million open-air shopping and entertainment center called [[Patriot Place]]. The development included "[[The Hall at Patriot Place]] presented by Raytheon", a multi-story museum and hall of fame attached to the stadium, and the "CBS Scene", a [[CBS]]-themed restaurant.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=waI2asIkcdAC&pg=PA130 |page=130 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=The Economics of the National Football League: The State of the Art |author=Kevin G. Quinn |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=UY5SjKPbaGoC&pg=PA244 |page=244 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=The Hub's Metropolis: Greater Boston's Development from Railroad Suburbs to Smart Growth |author=James C. O'Connell |publisher=MIT Press |year=2013}}</ref>
In 2002, a $350-million stadium for the Patriots was privately financed by Kraft, initially called the [[CMGI Field]] (later renamed [[Gillette Stadium]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2010/11/03/footballs-true-patriot/ |publisher=Fortune Magazine |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title= Football's true Patriot |author=Scott Olster |date=November 3, 2010}}</ref> In 2007, Kraft began to develop the land around Gillette Stadium, creating a $375-million open-air shopping and entertainment center called [[Patriot Place]]. The development included "[[The Hall at Patriot Place]] presented by Raytheon", a multi-story museum and hall of fame attached to the stadium, and the "CBS Scene", a [[CBS]]-themed restaurant.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=waI2asIkcdAC&pg=PA130 |page=130 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=The Economics of the National Football League: The State of the Art |author=Kevin G. Quinn |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=UY5SjKPbaGoC&pg=PA244 |page=244 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=The Hub's Metropolis: Greater Boston's Development from Railroad Suburbs to Smart Growth |author=James C. O'Connell |publisher=MIT Press |year=2013}}</ref>
Line 69: Line 69:


==Philanthropy==
==Philanthropy==
The Krafts have donated over $100 million to a variety of philanthropic causes including education, child and women issues, healthcare, youth sports and American and Israeli causes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://heavy.com/sports/2015/01/robert-kraft-group-new-england-patriots-owner-1994-columbia-harvard-graduate-myra-wife-death-info-bio/ |title=Robert Kraft: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |publisher=Heavy |date=January 18, 2015 |author=Joe Calabrese}}</ref> In 1990 Kraft, his wife, and his father-in-law funded a joint professorship between Brandeis University and Holy Cross College, forming the Kraft-Hiatt endowed chairs in comparative religion—the first inter-religious endowed chairs in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8191570.html |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=BRANDEIS AND HOLY CROSS TO SHARE A PROFESSORSHIP |publisher=The Boston Globe |date=September 13, 1990}}</ref>
The Krafts have donated over $100 million to a variety of philanthropic causes including education, child- and women-related issues, [[healthcare]], [[youth sports]] and American and Israeli causes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://heavy.com/sports/2015/01/robert-kraft-group-new-england-patriots-owner-1994-columbia-harvard-graduate-myra-wife-death-info-bio/ |title=Robert Kraft: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |publisher=Heavy |date=January 18, 2015 |author=Joe Calabrese}}</ref> In 1990 Kraft, his wife, and his father-in-law funded a joint professorship between [[Brandeis University]] and Holy Cross College, forming the Kraft-Hiatt endowed chairs in comparative religion—the first inter-religious endowed chairs in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8191570.html |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |title=BRANDEIS AND HOLY CROSS TO SHARE A PROFESSORSHIP |publisher=The Boston Globe |date=September 13, 1990}}</ref>


In 2011, the Krafts pledged $20 million to Partners HealthCare to launch the Kraft Family National Center for Leadership and Training in Community Health,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kraftcommunityhealth.org/learn/Kraft-Center-Founding-Story.aspx|title=Founding Story|publisher=|accessdate=26 March 2016}}</ref> an initiative designed to improve access to quality healthcare at community health centers throughout New England. Among the many institutions the Krafts have supported are [[Columbia University]], [[Harvard Business School]], [[Brandeis University]], [[The College of the Holy Cross]], [[Boston College]], [[Tufts University]], the [[Belmont Hill School]], the [[BGCA|Boys & Girls Clubs]] of Boston, and the [[Dana Farber Cancer Institute]] in Boston. In 2007, in recognition of a gift of $5 million in support of 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 2011, the Krafts pledged $20 million to [[Partners HealthCare]] to launch the Kraft Family National Center for Leadership and Training in Community Health,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kraftcommunityhealth.org/learn/Kraft-Center-Founding-Story.aspx|title=Founding Story|publisher=|accessdate=26 March 2016}}</ref> an initiative designed to improve access to quality healthcare at community health centers throughout New England. Among the many institutions the Krafts have supported are [[Columbia University]], [[Harvard Business School]], [[Brandeis University]], [[The College of the Holy Cross]], [[Boston College]], [[Tufts University]], the [[Belmont Hill School]], the [[BGCA|Boys & Girls Clubs]] of Boston, and the [[Dana Farber Cancer Institute]] in Boston. In 2007, in recognition of a gift of $5 million in support of 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.


One of their most distinctive projects is supporting [[American Football Israel]], including [[Kraft Family Stadium]] in [[Jerusalem]] and the [[Israeli Football League|Kraft Family Israel Football League]]. In 2017 Kraft announced a contribution of $6 million to build the first ever regulation size American football field in [[Israel]].<ref>[https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/02/09/patriots-owner-kraft-to-donate-6-million-for-israels-first-american-football-stadium/ Patriots Owner Kraft to Donate $6 Million for Israel’s First American Football Stadium]</ref> In June 2017, Robert Kraft along with several NFL Hall of Famers traveled to Israel for the grand opening of the new Kraft Family Sports Campus.<ref>[http://www.jewishpress.com/news/local/mayor-nir-barkat-ne-patriots-robert-kraft-nfl-hall-of-famers-delegation-open-kraft-family-sports-campus-in-jerusalem/2017/06/20/ Mayor Nir Barkat, NE Patriots’ Robert Kraft & NFL Hall of Famers’ Delegation Open Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem]</ref>
One of their most distinctive projects is supporting [[American Football Israel]], including [[Kraft Family Stadium]] in [[Jerusalem]] and the [[Israeli Football League|Kraft Family Israel Football League]]. In 2017 Kraft announced a contribution of $6 million to build the first ever regulation size American football field in [[Israel]].<ref>[https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/02/09/patriots-owner-kraft-to-donate-6-million-for-israels-first-american-football-stadium/ Patriots Owner Kraft to Donate $6 Million for Israel’s First American Football Stadium]</ref> In June 2017, Robert Kraft along with several NFL Hall of Famers traveled to Israel for the grand opening of the new Kraft Family Sports Campus.<ref>[http://www.jewishpress.com/news/local/mayor-nir-barkat-ne-patriots-robert-kraft-nfl-hall-of-famers-delegation-open-kraft-family-sports-campus-in-jerusalem/2017/06/20/ Mayor Nir Barkat, NE Patriots’ Robert Kraft & NFL Hall of Famers’ Delegation Open Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem]</ref>

Revision as of 05:13, 28 June 2017

For other people named Robert Kraft, see Robert Kraft (disambiguation).
Robert Kraft
Born
Robert Kenneth Kraft

(1941-06-05) June 5, 1941 (age 83)
Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma materColumbia University (BA)
Harvard University (MBA)
Known forPrincipal Owner of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution
Chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group
SpouseMyra Kraft (1963–2011, her death)
Children4 (including Jonathan)

Robert Kenneth Kraft[2] (born June 5, 1941) is an American businessman. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio. His sports holdings include: the National Football League's New England Patriots, Major League Soccer's New England Revolution and the stadium in which both teams play, Gillette Stadium.

Early life

Kraft was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. His father -- Harry Kraft, a dress manufacturer in Boston's Chinatown -- was a respected Jewish lay leader at Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline and wanted his son to become a rabbi.[2] The Krafts were an observant Orthodox Jewish family. Robert grew up in Brookline, where he attended the Edward Devotion School[3] and in 1959, he graduated from Brookline High School, where he was senior class president.[4][5][6] During high school, Kraft was unable to participate in most sports because it interfered with his after-school Hebrew studies and observance of the Sabbath.[2]

Kraft attended Columbia University, where he served as class president.[7] While at Columbia, Kraft joined Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity and played running back and safety on the school's freshman and lightweight football teams.[2][5][8][9] On February 2, 1962, Kraft met Myra Hiatt at a delicatessen in Boston's Back Bay.[2] They married in June 1963.[10] That same year, Kraft graduated from Columbia, and in 1965, received an MBA from Harvard Business School.[2]

At the age of 27, Kraft was elected chairman of the Newton Democratic City Committee. He considered running against Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district Representative Philip J. Philbin in 1970, but chose not to, citing the loss of privacy and strain on his family entering politics would have caused. He was further discouraged from entering politics by the suicide of his friend, State Representative H. James Shea, Jr.[2]

Business career

Kraft began his professional career with the Rand-Whitney Group, a Worcester-based packaging company run by his father-in-law Jacob Hiatt.[5] In 1968, he gained control of the company through a leveraged buyout.[2] He still serves as this company's chairman. In 1972, he founded International Forest Products, a trader of physical paper commodities. The two combined companies make up the largest privately held paper and packaging companies in the United States. Kraft has stated that he started the company out of a hunch that the increase in international communications and transportation would lead to an expansion of global trade in the late twentieth century.[11]

International Forest Products became a top 100 US exporters/importer in 1997 and in 2013 was ranked No. 20 on the Journal of Commerce's list in that category.[12][13] Kraft said of the business in 1991 that, "We do things for a number of companies, including Avon, Kodak, cosmetics companies, candies, toys." The company produced both corrugated and folding cartons, which he stated, "are used to package everything from the Patriot missile, to mints, to Estee Lauder, Indiana Glass and Polaroid."[14] Kraft acquired interests in other areas, and ultimately formed the Kraft Group as an umbrella for them in 1998.[11]

Kraft was an investor in New England Television Corp., which gained control of WNAC-TV in 1982,[15] and Kraft became a director of the board in 1983. The station then became WNEV-TV. In 1986, he was named president of the corporation.[16] In 1991, Kraft exercised option to unload his shares for an estimated $25 million.[17]

Sports teams

Boston Lobsters and early bids for sports teams

In 1974, Kraft and five others purchased the Boston Lobsters of World Team Tennis (WTT).[18] The group spent heavily to lure a number of top players, including Martina Navratilova, and the Lobsters became one of the best teams in WTT. Following the 1978 season, Kraft announced that the franchise would fold.[19] The league itself folded soon thereafter.[2]

After the Lobsters folded, Kraft twice tried to purchase the New England Patriots, the first to try and purchase it from the bankrupt Sullivan family that owned the team before 1988,[20] and was mentioned as a bidder for the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics.[2]

New England Patriots

A Patriots fan since their American Football League days, Kraft has been a season ticket holder since 1971, when the team moved to the then-Schaefer Stadium.[5] In 1985, Kraft bought a 10-year option on Foxboro Raceway, a horse track adjacent to the stadium. The purchase prevented Patriots owner Billy Sullivan from holding non-Patriot events at Sullivan Stadium while races were being held.[21] Kraft took advantage of the fact that the Sullivans owned the stadium, but not the surrounding land. It was the beginning of a quest to not only buy the stadium, but the Patriots as well.[22] Sullivan's family was reeling from a series of bad investments, principally The Jackson Five 1984 Victory Tour, for which they had to pledge Sullivan Stadium as collateral.[23] Those problems ultimately forced Sullivan to sell controlling interest to Victor Kiam in 1988. However, the stadium lapsed into bankruptcy.[24]

In 1988, Kraft outbid several competitors, including Kiam, to buy the stadium out of bankruptcy court from Sullivan for $22 million. The stadium was considered to be outdated and nearly worthless, but the purchase included the stadium's lease to the Patriots, which ran through 2001.[25] The lease was ironclad enough to end Sullivan's three-decade involvement with the Patriots. When he and Kiam tried to move the team to Jacksonville, Kraft refused to let them break the lease. As a result, when Kiam was nearly brought down by bad investments of his own, he was forced to sell the Patriots to James Orthwein.[24]

Ever since Orthwein had bought the team in 1992, there had been constant rumors that he wanted to move the Patriots to St. Louis. In 1994, Orthwein offered Kraft $75 million to buy out the remainder of the team's lease at what was now Foxboro Stadium. Had Kraft accepted Orthwein's offer, it would have cleared the last significant hurdle to moving the team. However, Kraft turned it down.[26][27][28][29]

By 1994, Orthwein was not interested in operating the team in New England long-term, and decided to sell it. However, due to the terms of the operating covenant, any prospective buyers had to deal with Kraft. With this in mind, Kraft made an offer for an outright purchase of the team for $172 million, an offer which Orthwein accepted. No other sports team had ever sold for such a high price at that time. Years later, Kraft said his passion for the Patriots led him to "break every one of my financial rules" in his pursuit of the team. To this day, Kraft has a Victory Tour poster among his mementos as a reminder of what allowed him to realize his longstanding dream of becoming a major league team owner.[22]

The Patriots sold out their season for the first time in franchise history. Every home game -- preseason, regular season, and playoffs -— has been sold out ever since.[30]

Kraft (left), with President George W. Bush and Bill Belichick during the Patriots' visit to the White House in 2004

In 1998, Kraft considered moving the Patriots to Hartford Connecticut, based on an offer that the state of Connecticut would finance a new stadium in downtown Hartford. On April 30, 1998, Kraft terminated the deal just before it would become binding, choosing to instead build a new stadium in Foxboro with the state of Massachusetts infrastructure funding.[31]

In 2002, a $350-million stadium for the Patriots was privately financed by Kraft, initially called the CMGI Field (later renamed Gillette Stadium).[32] In 2007, Kraft began to develop the land around Gillette Stadium, creating a $375-million open-air shopping and entertainment center called Patriot Place. The development included "The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon", a multi-story museum and hall of fame attached to the stadium, and the "CBS Scene", a CBS-themed restaurant.[33][34]

The Patriots appeared in Super Bowl XX under their original owners, the Sullivans. Yet this was one of only six playoff appearances in 33 years. However, since Kraft bought the team, they have made the playoffs 16 times in 21 years. They won AFC East titles in 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016; they represented the AFC in the Super Bowl that concluded each of the following seasons: 1996 (lost), 2001 (won), 2003 (won), 2004 (won), 2007 (lost), 2011 (lost), 2014 (won), and 2016 (won). The Patriots finished the 2003, 2004, 2010, and 2016 seasons with identical 14–2 regular-season records after having never won more than 11 games prior to Kraft buying the team, and also finished the 2007 regular season undefeated before losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.[35]

Kraft was principally involved in the 2011 NFL labor negotiations. NFLPA representative and Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday praised Kraft for his role in the negotiations, stating, "without him, this deal does not get done... He is a man who helped us save football."[36]

Kraft again, with President Bush in 2005

In 2005, it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had taken one of Kraft's three Super Bowl rings. Kraft quickly issued a statement saying that he had given Putin the ring out of "respect and admiration" he had for the Russian people and Putin's leadership.[37] Kraft later said his earlier statement was not true, and had been issued under pressure from the White House.[38][39][40][41] The ring is on display with state gifts at the Kremlin.[42]

Soccer

In 1996 Kraft founded the New England Revolution, a charter member of Major League Soccer which began playing alongside the Patriots at Foxboro.[43]

In November 2005, Kraft met with Rick Parry, the Chief Executive of English Premier League team Liverpool. Kraft was rumored to be interested in investing money into the 2004–05 Champions League winners. Kraft told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Liverpool is a great brand and it's something our family respects a lot. We're always interested in opportunities and growing, so you never know what can happen." Eventually, however, the club was sold to American duo George Gillett and Tom Hicks.[44]

Philanthropy

The Krafts have donated over $100 million to a variety of philanthropic causes including education, child- and women-related issues, healthcare, youth sports and American and Israeli causes.[45] In 1990 Kraft, his wife, and his father-in-law funded a joint professorship between Brandeis University and Holy Cross College, forming the Kraft-Hiatt endowed chairs in comparative religion—the first inter-religious endowed chairs in the United States.[46]

In 2011, the Krafts pledged $20 million to Partners HealthCare to launch the Kraft Family National Center for Leadership and Training in Community Health,[47] an initiative designed to improve access to quality healthcare at community health centers throughout New England. Among the many institutions the Krafts have supported are Columbia University, Harvard Business School, Brandeis University, The College of the Holy Cross, Boston College, Tufts University, the Belmont Hill School, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. In 2007, in recognition of a gift of $5 million in support of 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.

One of their most distinctive projects is supporting American Football Israel, including Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem and the Kraft Family Israel Football League. In 2017 Kraft announced a contribution of $6 million to build the first ever regulation size American football field in Israel.[48] In June 2017, Robert Kraft along with several NFL Hall of Famers traveled to Israel for the grand opening of the new Kraft Family Sports Campus.[49]

He has received numerous honorary degrees from several colleges and universities and was awarded the NCAA's highest honor when he received the Theodore Roosevelt Award, "presented annually to a distinguished citizen of national reputation and outstanding accomplishments."

In 2011 Kraft was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.[50]

In 2012, he became the first NFL owner in the 43-year history of the honor to be selected for the George Halas Award by the Pro Football Writers of America. The award is presented annually to the NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.

Following the April 15, 2013, Boston Marathon bombings, Kraft announced he would match up to $100,000 in donations made for the victims through the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.[51]

Personal life

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. She died from ovarian cancer, aged 68, on July 20, 2011.[52] The Krafts were members of Temple Emanuel in Newton, Massachusetts.[53] In her memory, all Patriots players wore a patch on their uniforms bearing Kraft's initials (MHK) throughout the 2011–2012 season.[54] They had four sons:[55]

In June 2012, Kraft began dating actress Ricki Noel Lander.[57][58] In July 2012, Kraft assisted Lander in creating an audition video for a role in The Internship, a then-upcoming Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson film. In the video, Kraft reads Wilson's lines for a bikini-clad Landers, dances briefly, curses, and throws a punch at another actor. After an anonymously supplied copy of the video was hosted on the Barstool Sports website, it went viral and became a subject of commentary on late-night television. Kraft issued a statement saying "I tried to help Ricki prepare an audition tape ... I never intended that it would be made public and I regret that it has. I think we can all agree that Owen Wilson has nothing to worry about. I am going to stick to my day job."[59][60][61][62]

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ "Robert Kraft". Forbes. Retrieved 24 Sep 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kindleberger, Richard (December 19, 1993). "The family man: Ties that bind pull at Patriots bidder, the complex Robert Kraft". The Boston Globe.
  3. ^ New York Times: "'Between You and Me'" By MIKE WALLACE with GARY PAUL GATES January 22, 2006
  4. ^ Susanna Baird (November 14, 2014). "Kraft cements his love for the old alma mater: Brookline High fetes Patriot owner". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d Massachusetts Live: "For New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, an off-season of personal tragedy, professional triumph" By HOWARD ULMAN September 6, 2011
  6. ^ Jspace Staf (February 4, 2012). "Jewish Owners Face Off in Super Bowl XLVI". Jspace.
  7. ^ Michael Drosnin (March 12, 1963). "Withhold Class Funds, Letter Asks Seniors: Kraft Claims Message Will Not Hurt Drive". Columbia Spectator. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  8. ^ Magbic Aleman. "Notable Alumni". Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Robert Kraft to Be Inducted to Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame" by Paige Allen June 18, 2012
  10. ^ Paulson, Michael (March 18, 2007). "Giving Large". The Boston Globe.
  11. ^ a b Blythe J. McGarvie (2009). Shaking the Globe: Courageous Decision-Making in a Changing World. John Wiley & Sons. p. 10. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  12. ^ International Forest Products LLC website: "IFP ranked 27th among largest U.S. exporters and first among New England exporters" May 29, 2012
  13. ^ Callum Borchers (May 29, 2013). "Kraft paper firm honored for exports". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  14. ^ Keith Yokum (April 21, 1991). "Cardboard economics". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  15. ^ "NETV's Officers, Investors". The Boston Globe. May 9, 1982.
  16. ^ "Kraft Named President of N.E. Television". The Boston Globe. February 15, 1987.
  17. ^ "Major investor will depart Ch. 7". The Boston Globe. June 28, 1991.
  18. ^ "New Boston Net Team Obtains Six Backers". Berkshire Eagle. March 28, 1975. p. 18.
  19. ^ Kirshenbaum, Jerry (November 6, 1978). "A Question of Resolve". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Jackie MacMullan (July 30, 1988). "KRAFT PURSUES STADIUM". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  21. ^ McDonough, Will (July 26, 1987). "Sullivans' Team in Loss Column". The Boston Globe.
  22. ^ a b Burke, Monte (2015-09-19). "Unlikely Dynasty". Forbes.
  23. ^ Harris, David (1986). The League: The Rise and Decline of the NFL. New York: Bantam Books. pp. 629–32. ISBN 0-553-05167-9.
  24. ^ a b Farinella, Mark (June 27, 2009). "Jackson's part in Pats' history was real 'thriller'". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  25. ^ Pazniokas, Mark; Garber, Greg (December 13, 1998). "The Art of Kraft". Hartford Courant.
  26. ^ "For New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, an off-season of personal tragedy, professional triumph". Mass Live. Associated Press. September 6, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  27. ^ Jim Corbett (November 13, 2014). "Patriot's Robert Kraft Talks Goodell, Gronk and Brady". USA Today. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  28. ^ Andy Kaufman (February 10, 2015). "Boston Sports Fans Lucky to Not Have a James Dolan among Local Owners". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  29. ^ "New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft featured on all-new episode of Forbes SportsMoney". Yes Network. February 20, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  30. ^ Carlo DeVito (2014). Parcells: The Unauthorized Biography. Triumph Books. p. 170. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  31. ^ Doyle, Paul (March 18, 2014). "Hartford's Flirtation With The Patriots Ended In Heartbreak". Hartford Courant.
  32. ^ Scott Olster (November 3, 2010). "Football's true Patriot". Fortune Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  33. ^ Kevin G. Quinn (2011). The Economics of the National Football League: The State of the Art. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 130. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  34. ^ James C. O'Connell (2013). The Hub's Metropolis: Greater Boston's Development from Railroad Suburbs to Smart Growth. MIT Press. p. 244. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  35. ^ Daniel Libon (December 14, 2014). "Game Notes: Patriots Clinch AFC East With Win Over Miami Dolphins: The Patriots won 41-13". Foxborough Patch. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  36. ^ Reiss, Mike, "Saturday: Kraft helped save football", July 25, 2011, ESPNBoston.com
  37. ^ "Super Bowl ring has 124 diamonds". ESPN. Associated Press. 2005-06-30. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  38. ^ Smith, Michael David (June 15, 2013). "Putin said 'I can kill someone with this', took Kraft's Super Bowl ring". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  39. ^ Farrar, Doug (June 15, 2013). "Robert Kraft says that Vladimir Putin stole his Super Bowl ring, which the Kremlin denies". Shutdown Corner. Yahoo! Sports.
  40. ^ Eshchenko, Alla; Karimi, Faith (June 16, 2013). "Russian president: I did not steal Super Bowl ring". CNN.
  41. ^ Swaine, Jon (June 16, 2013). "Vladimir Putin 'stole a $25,000 ring from New England Patriots owner'". The Telegraph.
  42. ^ "Spokesman for Putin denies he stole Kraft's Super Bowl ring – ProFootballTalk". Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  43. ^ "A New Sports League". Newsweek. 1996. p. 94.
  44. ^ "Kraft admits Liverpool interest". BBC Sport. 2005-11-14. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
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  46. ^ "BRANDEIS AND HOLY CROSS TO SHARE A PROFESSORSHIP". The Boston Globe. September 13, 1990. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  47. ^ "Founding Story". Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  48. ^ Patriots Owner Kraft to Donate $6 Million for Israel’s First American Football Stadium
  49. ^ Mayor Nir Barkat, NE Patriots’ Robert Kraft & NFL Hall of Famers’ Delegation Open Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem
  50. ^ "American Academy of Arts and Sciences to induct 231st Class of Members" (Press release). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  51. ^ Breech, John (April 16, 2013). "Robert Kraft donating up to $100,000 to Boston Marathon victims". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
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  53. ^ Gershman, Andrew (January 23, 2012). "Bob Kraft: New England Patriots'Jewish owner". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.
  54. ^ "Pats' season, dedicated to Myra Kraft, continues to Super Bowl". National Football League. January 22, 2012.
  55. ^ a b c d "Philanthropist Myra Kraft dies". ESPN July 20, 2011
  56. ^ Boston Business Journal: "Josh Kraft: Someone to look up to" by Mary Moore November 17, 2008
  57. ^ Shanahan, Mark; Goldstein, Meredith (September 10, 2012). "Bob Kraft, Ricki Noel Lander hit US Open". The Boston Globe.
  58. ^ Shanahan, Mark; Goldstein, Meredith (July 12, 2012). "Robert Kraft and girlfriend Ricki Noel Lander arm in arm Thursday at Sun Valley media conference". The Boston Globe.
  59. ^ "Toucher & Rich: Robert Kraft Helps Ricki Noel Lander With Audition Video". CBS Radio. July 11, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  60. ^ "Robert Kraft's Audition Tape Is a Web Hit". ABC News. July 12, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  61. ^ "Robert Kraft expresses regret over video". The Boston Globe. July 11, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  62. ^ USA Today: "Pats' owner Kraft regrets video of audition with gal 'pal'" By Nate Davis July 11, 2012
  63. ^ a b c d "Robert K. Kraft". gocolumbialions.com The Official Athletics Website of Columbia University in the City of New York. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  64. ^ "Robert Kraft Wins George Halas Award". Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  65. ^ "Robert Kraft receives Carnegie Hall award". Boston.com. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  66. ^ Philanthropist/Patriots owner to keynote YU graduation
  67. ^ Robert Kraft to receive honorary degree from Yeshiva
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Kraft (businessman).
Sporting positions
Preceded by Principal Owner of the New England Patriots
1994–present 		Incumbent
Honorary titles
Preceded by Recipient of the Theodore Roosevelt Award
2006 		Succeeded by
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