Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group bought the New England Patriots in 1994. In 2015, he brought them their first Super Bowl Championship and fifth championship game. He is often referred to as a “walking” NFL team owner.
In 2011, Forbes ranked him 34th on its list of the 400 wealthiest people in America, with an estimated net worth of $3.6 billion. He is married to Myra Kraft, ranked 150th by Forbes on their list that year, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion.
His Achievements
Under his tenure, the Patriots won more division titles (13) and played in more playoff games (27) than any NFL team. The New England Patriots have more wins during the Super Bowl era than any other team. Under Kraft’s ownership, the Patriots have never lost a season, going 274-167-1 and winning 13 division championships.
Kraft has three brothers who were all in the clothing business. Their parents were Russian Jewish immigrants, and their father worked as a tailor. Before getting a law degree from Harvard Law School, he attended Columbia University, where he majored in business administration.
In 1959, Robert Kraft founded Essex Fashions, an outerwear company. In 1972, he bought out his partners’ interests and turned the company into one of the largest clothing manufacturers in the United States. The company was sold to VF Corporation in 1994 for $300 million.
Robert Kraft serves as Chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging manufacturing, sports and media; international distribution; real estate development; and private equity investments. In addition to the Patriots, his sports holdings include a 45% interest in Roush Fenway Racing and ownership of Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution.
The Kraft Group also owns companies involved in the paper and packaging industries, including Abitibi-Consolidated Industries and C.R. Laurence. The group includes Kraft Foods, brands such as Oscar Mayer, Chef Boyardee, Maxwell House, and Jell-O Pudding Pops. Kraft is also an owner of the company responsible for producing Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, Keurig Green Mountain. Refer to this page for additional information.
More about Kraft on https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/robert-k-kraft/