Robert Kraft is an American billionaire businessman, sports executive and philanthropist best known as the owner of the National Football League’s New England Patriots. He is also the chairman and chief executive officer of the Kraft Group, a family-owned business empire with interests spanning paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate, venture investing and other businesses. Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994 for $172 million and transformed the franchise into one of the most successful organizations in professional sports.
Under Kraft’s ownership, the New England Patriots have won six Super Bowl championships and appeared in 11 Super Bowls. His ownership era has included the franchise’s historic run with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, as well as the construction and development of Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place. The Patriots’ transformation from a struggling franchise with an uncertain future into a global sports brand has made Kraft one of the most influential owners in American sports.
In September 2026, Kraft is attracting renewed international attention because of his confrontation with rapper Macklemore over the latter’s political statements concerning Israel and Palestine. Kraft said Macklemore’s participation at Gillette Stadium would conflict with the venue’s commitment to providing a welcoming environment and not providing a platform for hate speech. Macklemore, meanwhile, alleged that Kraft pressured other stadium owners to oppose him, contributing to his removal from Ed Sheeran’s remaining U.S. tour dates.
Robert Kraft Profile Summary
| Profile | Details |
| Full Name | Robert Kenneth Kraft |
| Date of Birth | June 5, 1941 |
| Age | 85 years old in 2026 |
| Birthplace | Brookline, Massachusetts, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Businessman, Sports Executive, Investor, Philanthropist |
| Education | Columbia University, Harvard Business School |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree, MBA |
| Company | The Kraft Group |
| Famous For | Owner of the New England Patriots |
| NFL Team | New England Patriots |
| Patriots Ownership | Since 1994 |
| Other Sports Team | New England Revolution |
| Wife | Dana Blumberg |
| First Wife | Myra Hiatt Kraft |
| Children | Four sons |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Height | Commonly reported around 5 feet 7 inches |
| Net Worth | About $15.2 billion as of September 2026 |
| Major Achievement | Six Super Bowl championships as Patriots owner |
Robert Kraft Early Life
Robert Kenneth Kraft was born on June 5, 1941, in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was raised in a Jewish family and developed a passion for sports from an early age, particularly football. His connection to the New England Patriots began long before he owned the franchise. He attended Patriots games at several of the team’s early Boston-area venues and eventually became a season-ticket holder when the team moved to Schaefer Stadium in 1971.
Kraft’s family was not born into the enormous fortune that he would eventually build. As a young man, he reportedly sold newspapers outside the old Braves Stadium in Boston. His early exposure to business, sports and the Boston community helped shape the combination of commercial ambition and sports passion that would define his adult life.
His love for the Patriots eventually became much more than that of an ordinary fan. Kraft gradually became involved in the business side of professional sports and eventually acquired the team’s stadium lease and surrounding assets. Those moves placed him in a position to purchase the franchise when its future in New England appeared uncertain.
Robert Kraft Education
Kraft attended public schools in Brookline before earning an academic scholarship to Columbia University. He graduated from Columbia with a bachelor’s degree and then received a fellowship to attend Harvard Business School.
At Harvard Business School, Kraft earned a Master of Business Administration degree. His education gave him formal training in business and management at a time when he was beginning to build the foundation of what would eventually become the Kraft Group.
Kraft has frequently emphasized the importance of education and hard work. His later philanthropy has included major support for educational opportunities, youth development and organizations intended to expand access to opportunity. His family says its lifetime charitable giving has exceeded $1 billion.
Robert Kraft Career
Early Business Career
After completing his education, Kraft entered the paper and packaging industry. He began working with the Rand-Whitney Group, a Massachusetts-based packaging company that was connected to his father-in-law’s business interests. Kraft eventually acquired the company and used it as an important foundation for his growing business empire.
In 1972, Kraft founded International Forest Products, expanding his interests in paper, packaging and forest products. His businesses grew over the following decades, eventually becoming part of a much larger holding company known as the Kraft Group.
The Kraft Group would later develop into a diversified organization with interests in manufacturing, sports and entertainment, real estate and private investments. This business foundation provided Kraft with the financial resources that ultimately allowed him to enter professional sports ownership.
Becoming Owner of the New England Patriots
Kraft’s opportunity to purchase the Patriots came after years of strategic involvement with the team’s stadium situation. He had already purchased the surrounding parking lots and later acquired Foxboro Stadium when it went into bankruptcy. This gave him significant leverage when the franchise’s ownership considered moving the team out of New England.
In January 1994, Kraft decided to make an aggressive bid for the Patriots. He ultimately paid $172 million for the franchise, which at the time was a record price for a professional sports team. Kraft rejected a $75 million offer that would have allowed him to profit from ending the team’s stadium lease, choosing instead to keep the Patriots in New England.
The decision initially appeared extremely risky. Before Kraft’s arrival, the Patriots had struggled for much of their history. During the five seasons before his purchase, they won only 19 of 80 games and failed to reach the playoffs. Kraft’s ownership dramatically changed the team’s trajectory.
The Patriots Dynasty
The Patriots reached the playoffs in Kraft’s first season as owner and reached their first Super Bowl under his ownership in the 1996 season. Kraft’s most important football decision eventually came in 2000, when the Patriots hired Bill Belichick as head coach.
Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady would become the central figures in one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. The Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI following the 2001 season, defeating the St. Louis Rams. They went on to win Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX, establishing themselves as the dominant NFL team of the early 2000s.
The franchise later added championships after the 2014, 2016 and 2018 seasons. The 2016 season produced the famous Super Bowl LI comeback against the Atlanta Falcons, when New England recovered from a 28-3 deficit to win in overtime. The 2018 season produced the team’s sixth Super Bowl victory under Kraft’s ownership.
By the end of the 2025 season, the Patriots had won six Lombardi Trophies, 11 conference championships and 20 division titles during Kraft’s ownership. The team had also accumulated 374 wins, including playoffs, during his first 32 seasons as owner.
Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place
Kraft’s influence extended beyond the football team itself. He financed and oversaw the development of Gillette Stadium, which opened in 2002 and replaced Foxboro Stadium. The stadium became the home of both the Patriots and the New England Revolution.
The surrounding Patriot Place development transformed the area around the stadium into a major sports, entertainment, retail and hospitality destination. Kraft’s broader vision turned what had previously been an underdeveloped area of Foxborough into one of New England’s major sports and entertainment centers.
New England Revolution
Kraft’s sports interests are not limited to American football. He became involved in Major League Soccer during the league’s early years and founded the New England Revolution in 1996.
He has remained a major supporter of soccer in the United States and played a role in efforts that helped bring the 1994 FIFA World Cup to Foxborough. He also served as an important figure in the United States, Canada and Mexico bid that secured the 2026 FIFA World Cup for North America.
Philanthropy
Robert Kraft and his family have made philanthropy a major part of their public identity. The Kraft family’s charitable work has supported education, youth development, healthcare, social mobility, Jewish organizations and community initiatives.
According to the Patriots, the Kraft family’s lifetime philanthropic giving has exceeded $1 billion. Kraft has repeatedly emphasized the idea that business success carries a responsibility to create opportunities for people who have fewer resources.
His late first wife, Myra Kraft, was also a major philanthropist. Together, the couple contributed more than $100 million to charitable organizations during their lives, with particular attention to children and educational opportunities.
Robert Kraft Trending: Why Is Robert Kraft Famous?
Robert Kraft is trending in September 2026 after becoming a central figure in the controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour. Macklemore said that Kraft told Sheeran he would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium because of his public pro-Palestinian statements and alleged that Kraft subsequently rallied other stadium owners against him.
Kraft confirmed that he opposed Macklemore appearing at Gillette Stadium. In a statement reported by multiple outlets, he said Macklemore’s recent actions, stage material and what Kraft described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery crossed a line and would conflict with the stadium’s commitment not to provide a platform for hate speech. Kraft also said that opposing Macklemore’s appearance was not intended to diminish Palestinian suffering or prevent advocacy on behalf of Palestinians.
The dispute escalated after the concert promoter confirmed that several U.S. stadiums would not permit Macklemore to perform as part of the tour. Sheeran’s team subsequently removed him from the remaining U.S. dates. The controversy has put Kraft’s views, his influence as a major sports and venue owner, and the intersection of entertainment, politics and free expression at the center of national and international discussion.
Robert Kraft Personal Life
Robert Kraft married Myra Hiatt in June 1963. The couple remained married for nearly five decades and had four sons: Jonathan, Daniel, Joshua and David. Myra became a prominent philanthropist and was deeply involved in charitable causes. She died from ovarian cancer in July 2011 at the age of 68.
Kraft later began a relationship with actress Ricki Noel Lander before their relationship ended. In 2017, he began dating ophthalmologist Dana Blumberg. The couple kept much of their relationship private before marrying in a surprise ceremony in New York City in October 2022.
Kraft and Dana Blumberg do not have children together. Kraft’s four sons are from his first marriage, and several of them have been involved in the family business, sports organizations or philanthropy. His eldest son, Jonathan Kraft, serves as president of the New England Patriots and The Kraft Group.
Robert Kraft Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Robert Kraft was born on June 5, 1941, making him 85 years old in 2026. He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, and is an American citizen. He has spent most of his life in the Boston and New England region, where his business and sports interests remain concentrated.
Kraft is Jewish and was raised in a Jewish family. His religious and cultural identity has remained an important part of his public life, particularly through his philanthropy and advocacy against antisemitism. His late wife Myra was also from a prominent Jewish family, and the couple were members of Temple Emanuel in Newton, Massachusetts.
Robert Kraft is commonly listed at approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall. He has maintained a recognizable public appearance throughout his decades as a sports owner, frequently appearing at Patriots games, NFL events, business gatherings and philanthropic functions.
Robert Kraft Net Worth
Robert Kraft is one of the wealthiest sports owners in the world. Forbes estimated his real-time net worth at approximately $15.2 billion as of September 13, 2026, placing him among the world’s richest people. His wealth comes primarily from manufacturing and paper and packaging businesses, as well as his ownership interests in sports and entertainment.
Kraft’s most famous asset is the New England Patriots. He purchased the franchise for $172 million in 1994, while Forbes valued the team at approximately $10.6 billion in September 2026. Kraft also owns the New England Revolution and has extensive interests through the Kraft Group.
The enormous increase in the value of the Patriots illustrates the scale of Kraft’s success as a sports owner. Beyond the value of his teams, his wealth is supported by his manufacturing businesses, real estate interests, investments and other holdings. His fortune has therefore been built through a combination of business ownership and long-term sports investment rather than solely through the Patriots.
Robert Kraft Legacy
Robert Kraft’s most important legacy is the transformation of the New England Patriots. When he purchased the franchise in 1994, the team had experienced decades of inconsistent results and was at risk of leaving New England. Kraft’s decision to buy the team kept it in the region and created the foundation for the most successful period in Patriots history.
His ownership also helped redefine the economics and culture of professional sports in New England. The development of Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place turned the Patriots into a major entertainment brand, while his involvement with the Revolution helped establish professional soccer as another significant part of the region’s sports culture.
Kraft’s legacy extends beyond sports through his family’s philanthropy. More than $1 billion in lifetime charitable giving has been associated with the Kraft family, supporting children, education, social mobility and underserved communities. At the same time, his public controversies and outspoken positions on social and political issues have made him a more complex public figure than simply a successful sports owner.
Conclusion
Robert Kraft is an American billionaire businessman whose purchase of the New England Patriots transformed both his personal fortune and the history of American professional football. From his early career in paper and packaging to his ownership of a six-time Super Bowl champion, Kraft has built one of the most influential sports and business empires in the United States. His philanthropy has reached more than $1 billion in lifetime giving, while his public positions on Jewish causes, antisemitism and political controversies continue to generate national attention. In 2026, his dispute with Macklemore has once again placed him at the intersection of sports, business, politics and popular culture.
Frequently Asked Questions About Robert Kraft
Who is Robert Kraft?
Robert Kraft is an American billionaire businessman, sports executive and philanthropist. He is the chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group and owner of the New England Patriots.
How old is Robert Kraft?
Robert Kraft is 85 years old in 2026. He was born on June 5, 1941.
What is Robert Kraft famous for?
Robert Kraft is best known for owning the New England Patriots since 1994. Under his ownership, the Patriots have won six Super Bowl championships.
How much did Robert Kraft pay for the Patriots?
Robert Kraft purchased the New England Patriots for $172 million in 1994. It was a record price for a professional sports franchise at the time.
What is Robert Kraft’s net worth?
Robert Kraft’s net worth is estimated at approximately $15.2 billion as of September 2026, according to Forbes.
Who is Robert Kraft’s wife?
Robert Kraft is married to Dr. Dana Blumberg, an ophthalmologist. They married in New York City in October 2022.
How many children does Robert Kraft have?
Robert Kraft has four sons: Jonathan, Daniel, Joshua and David. They are from his first marriage to Myra Hiatt Kraft.
Is Robert Kraft Jewish?
Yes. Robert Kraft was raised in a Jewish family and has remained publicly connected to Jewish causes and efforts against antisemitism.
Why is Robert Kraft trending in 2026?
Robert Kraft is trending because of the controversy involving rapper Macklemore and Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour. Kraft opposed Macklemore performing at Gillette Stadium following Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian statements, and Macklemore subsequently accused Kraft of pressuring other stadium owners to oppose him.
How many Super Bowls have the Patriots won under Robert Kraft?
The New England Patriots have won six Super Bowl championships during Robert Kraft’s ownership.
Does Robert Kraft own the New England Revolution?
Yes. Robert Kraft owns Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution in addition to the New England Patriots.