Robert Kraft is an 84-year-old billionaire businessman and NFL owner. Discover his age, net worth, wife, family, and legacy with the New England Patriots.
Robert Kraft is one of the most influential figures in American sports and business. As the chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group and owner of the New England Patriots, he turned a struggling NFL franchise into the most decorated dynasty in league history. His story is one of hard work, strategic thinking, and an unwavering belief in his instincts.
Born and raised in a working-class family in Massachusetts, Kraft climbed from newspaper boy to billionaire through decades of disciplined entrepreneurship. Today, at 84, he remains an active force in sports, business, and philanthropy — a rare combination that has made him one of the most recognizable names in America.
Quick Facts About Robert Kraft
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert Kenneth Kraft |
| Date of Birth | June 5, 1941 |
| Age | 84 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Brookline, Massachusetts, USA |
| Profession | Businessman, NFL Team Owner, Philanthropist |
| Net Worth | ~$14 billion (2026) |
| Spouse | Dana Blumberg (married October 2022); previously Myra Hiatt Kraft (1963–2011) |
| Children | Four sons: Jonathan, Daniel, Joshua, and David |
| Education | Columbia University (BA), Harvard Business School (MBA) |
| Famous For | Owning the New England Patriots; six Super Bowl championships |
Early Life and Family Roots in Brookline
Robert Kenneth Kraft was born on June 5, 1941, in Brookline, Massachusetts, into a Modern Orthodox Jewish family. His father, Harry Kraft, was a dress manufacturer working out of Boston’s Chinatown, and his mother, Sarah Bryna Kraft, was a homemaker. Growing up in a modest household, Kraft developed a strong work ethic from an early age. As a boy, he sold newspapers outside Braves Field in Boston — a small but telling sign of the drive that would define his life.
Kraft attended Brookline High School, where he served as senior class president and graduated in 1959. His leadership instincts were evident even then, setting a pattern he would carry through every chapter of his career. The community values instilled in him during childhood — hard work, faith, and giving back — would later shape his approach to both business and philanthropy.
Education: Columbia to Harvard
After high school, Kraft enrolled at Columbia University in New York City, where he once again became class president. He was a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and played on the school’s freshman and lightweight football teams. Those years on the field sparked a lifelong love of the sport. He graduated from Columbia in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Kraft went on to earn his Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1965. The combination of a Columbia liberal arts education and a Harvard MBA gave him both the analytical rigor and strategic perspective that would prove invaluable in building his business empire. Shortly after graduating, at just 27 years old, he was elected chairman of the Newton Democratic City Committee.
Building the Kraft Group: From Paper to Billions
Kraft launched his professional career in the paper and packaging industry when he joined Rand-Whitney Group, Inc., a Worcester, Massachusetts-based packaging company. Rather than simply working his way up, he acquired the company through a leveraged buyout in 1968 — a bold move for a man in his late twenties. That transaction set the tone for how he would operate throughout his career.
In 1972, he founded International Forest Products, expanding his footprint in the packaging world. These businesses eventually became the cornerstone of the Kraft Group, formally established in 1998. Today the Kraft Group is a diversified holding company with interests spanning paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development, and private equity. Its paper and packaging operations alone generate an estimated $400 million in EBITDA.
Beyond the NFL, Kraft has continued to grow his sports portfolio. He founded the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer in 1996, a team now valued at approximately $530 million. He also owns the Boston Uprising esports team. In September 2025, he sold an 8% stake in the Patriots at a valuation of $9 billion while retaining full voting control of the franchise — a shrewd move that provided liquidity without surrendering authority.
Owning the Patriots: Building an NFL Dynasty
Robert Kraft’s purchase of the New England Patriots in January 1994 for $172 million was, at the time, the highest price ever paid for an NFL franchise. Many questioned whether the investment was wise. Kraft had no doubts. In his very first season, season ticket sales surpassed 40,000 for the first time in franchise history, and every home game sold out — something the team had never achieved in its previous 34 seasons.
The dynasty he built alongside head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady is without parallel in modern NFL history. Under Kraft’s ownership, the Patriots won six Super Bowl championships (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018), the most of any owner in NFL history. The team recorded at least nine wins in 24 of 31 seasons under his watch, won 19 division titles, and appeared in 10 AFC Championship Games.
In January 2025, Kraft hired Mike Vrabel as head coach to lead the team into its next era. The Patriots face a rebuilding phase without the Belichick-Brady partnership, but Kraft has shown repeatedly that he builds winners. His track record leaves little reason to doubt he will do it again.
Personal Life: Myra, Dana, and Family
In June 1963, Kraft married Myra Nathalie Hiatt, the daughter of businessman and philanthropist Jacob Hiatt. The couple had four sons together — Jonathan, Daniel, Joshua, and David — and were deeply involved in the Jewish community and philanthropic causes. Myra was a beloved figure in New England who championed women’s and children’s causes throughout her life. Her death from ovarian cancer in July 2011, at the age of 68, was a profound loss for Kraft and the broader community.
After several years, Kraft found love again with Dr. Dana Blumberg. The couple surprised friends and family with a private wedding ceremony in October 2022. They maintain a relatively low-key personal life, focused on charitable work and family. His four sons have all been integrated into the Kraft Group’s various operations, from packaging to sports management, ensuring the family legacy endures.
Net Worth and Financial Empire
Robert Kraft’s net worth is estimated at approximately $14 billion as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index tracks his fortune dynamically, noting it includes significant personal investments exceeding $1 billion outside of his core holdings. The Kraft Group’s paper and packaging assets carry no debt, according to sources familiar with his finances, which speaks to the conservatism underlying his wealth management.
His primary sources of wealth include the New England Patriots (valued well above $9 billion based on the 2025 partial sale), the Kraft Group’s industrial holdings, the New England Revolution, private equity, and real estate. Unlike many billionaires whose fortunes are tied to volatile public markets, Kraft’s empire is largely private and diversified — a deliberate and enduring strategy.
Philanthropy: Giving at Scale
The Kraft family has donated over $400 million to charitable causes across education, healthcare, youth sports, women’s issues, and Jewish community initiatives. Among their most notable contributions are the Passport to Israel Fund, joint professorships at major universities, cancer research funding, and foundations focused on criminal justice reform and combating antisemitism. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Kraft personally arranged to fly 1.2 million N95 masks from China to Massachusetts at his own expense — a gesture that drew national attention and widespread gratitude.
He has received numerous honors for his civic contributions, including the George Halas Award, the Theodore Roosevelt Award, the John Jay Award from Columbia University, and the Alexander Hamilton Medal. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University.
Controversies and the Hall of Fame Question
Kraft’s career has not been without controversy. The Patriots’ “Spygate” scandal in 2007 — in which the team was fined and docked a draft pick for illegally videotaping opponents’ sideline signals — cast a shadow that has followed him since. In 2019, Kraft faced personal legal issues that were widely reported in the media, though charges were ultimately dropped. These episodes have complicated his path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where he has been a finalist in the contributor category yet passed over as recently as 2026.
Despite overseeing six Super Bowl championships and 10 AFC title appearances — achievements no other owner can match — a subset of Hall of Fame voters has cited the team’s controversies as grounds for exclusion. Kraft’s response has been characteristically measured: “What matters to me is we win,” he told CNBC in February 2026 ahead of Super Bowl LX.
Final Thoughts
Robert Kraft’s story is a masterclass in patience, vision, and resilience. He built a business empire from a leveraged buyout in his twenties, transformed a dormant NFL franchise into the greatest dynasty of its era, and did it all while remaining grounded in the community values he learned growing up in Brookline.
At 84, he shows no signs of stepping back. With succession planning quietly underway and his sons embedded in the business, the Kraft legacy is built to last well beyond his tenure. Whatever the Hall of Fame ultimately decides, history has already rendered its verdict on Robert Kraft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Robert Kraft?
Robert Kraft is an 84-year-old American businessman and billionaire born on June 5, 1941, in Brookline, Massachusetts. He is best known as the owner of the New England Patriots NFL franchise and chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group. Under his ownership, the Patriots won six Super Bowl championships.
Q2: What is Robert Kraft’s net worth in 2026?
Robert Kraft’s net worth is estimated at approximately $14 billion as of 2026. His wealth comes primarily from the New England Patriots, the Kraft Group’s paper and packaging businesses, the New England Revolution, real estate, and private equity holdings.
Q3: Who is Robert Kraft’s wife?
Robert Kraft is currently married to Dr. Dana Blumberg, whom he wed in a surprise ceremony in October 2022. His first wife, Myra Nathalie Hiatt Kraft, passed away from ovarian cancer in July 2011 after nearly 50 years of marriage.
Q4: How many Super Bowls have the Patriots won under Robert Kraft?
The New England Patriots have won six Super Bowl championships under Robert Kraft’s ownership, in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018. The team has also appeared in 10 AFC Championship Games during his tenure.
Q5: Is Robert Kraft in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
As of 2026, Robert Kraft has not been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame despite being a finalist in the contributor category. Controversies including Spygate and his 2019 legal issues have reportedly prevented some voters from supporting his candidacy.
Q6: How did Robert Kraft make his money?
Kraft built his fortune starting in the paper and packaging industry, acquiring Rand-Whitney Group through a leveraged buyout in 1968. He later founded International Forest Products and the Kraft Group, and purchased the New England Patriots in 1994 for $172 million — an investment now worth billions.
Q7: Does Robert Kraft have children?
Robert Kraft has four sons — Jonathan, Daniel, Joshua, and David — from his first marriage to Myra Hiatt Kraft. All four sons are involved in various aspects of the Kraft Group’s business operation.
