Robert Kraft

Robert Kraft (born June 5, 1941) is a prominent American businessman and philanthropist. He earned a B.A. from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School before starting his career in 1968 with a packaging operation. In 1972 he founded International Forest Products (IFP), a global paper and packaging firm, and in 1998 he consolidated his holdings under The Kraft Group, a privately held holding company with interests in paper/packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate, and private equity.

Kraft purchased the New England Patriots in 1994 for $172 million, becoming chairman and CEO of the franchise. Under his ownership, the Patriots have won six Super Bowls and become one of the most valuable sports teams in the world. He also owns the New England Revolution (MLS) and Gillette Stadium.

Beyond sports, Kraft has significant gambling-industry holdings, including casino investments and a reported co-ownership stake in a sports-betting company alongside ESPN’s Adam Schefter. His philanthropic efforts span education, healthcare, and cultural institutions, including serving as a trustee emeritus of Columbia University and a trustee of Boston College and Carnegie Hall.