Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft, the longtime owner of the New England Patriots, has often spoken openly about how his Jewish identity has shaped his values, philanthropy, and sense of responsibility. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish household in Brookline, Massachusetts, Kraft has credited his upbringing with instilling a strong commitment to family, education, and community service. Jewish tradition and ethics, particularly the ideas of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and charitable giving, have played a central role in how he approaches both his business life and his public engagement.
Kraft has also been a prominent advocate against antisemitism and a supporter of Jewish causes in the United States and Israel. Through philanthropy and public leadership, he has worked to promote Holocaust remembrance, combat hate, and strengthen Jewish cultural and educational institutions. For Kraft, being Jewish is not only a matter of personal faith, but also a public responsibility—one that informs his belief in standing up for human dignity, religious freedom, and social justice more broadly.
Through the Kraft Family Foundation, he and his family have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to various causes.
Personal Details
Born
Robert Kenneth Kraft
June 5, 1941 (age 85)
Brookline, Massachusetts, USA
Height
5'7
Residence
Brookline, Massachusetts
Nationality
American
Family Heritage
Canadian (Mother), Polish (Grandparent), Lithuanian (Grandparent)
Religion
Political Party
Secondary School
Public
Education
Columbia University (BA - History and Economics ) 1959 - 1963 Full Academic Scholarship
Harvard University (MBA) 1963 - 1965 Fellowship
Spouse(s)
Partner(s)
Ricki Lander - Actress, Model (2012 - 2017)
Children
Daniel Kraft (Mother - Myra Kraft),
David Kraft (Mother - Myra Kraft),
Jonathan Kraft (Mother - Myra Kraft),
Josh Kraft (Mother - Myra Kraft)
Relatives
Harry Aaron Kraft (Krafchinsky) - Jewish - Dress manufacturer and Hebrew school teacher (Father),
Sarah Bryna Webber - Homemaker (Mother),
Jacob Hiatt - Jewish - Business Owner (Father-in-Law),
Dr. Avram Kraft - Jewish - MD (Brother),
Kerana Kraft - Jewish (Sister-in-Law),
Elizabeth Levine - Jewish (Sister),
Peter Levine - Jewish - Psychotherapist (Brother-in-Law)
Pets
Dog(s)
Hobbies
Spending time with dogs, Sports fandom
Favorite Quotes
"Self-study, in a sense of learning by yourself without anybody teaching you anything, has an enormous value." (2002),
"Envy and jealousy are incurable diseases." (2007),
"When I was graduating from college, the things I valued most were family, faith, and philanthropy. I refer to them as the three F's, phonetically speaking."
Wealth Meter
Upbringing
Middle-class
Net Worth
$13.8B Forbes 2026 (#210)
Wealth Contributors
Federal/State/Local Incentives, Married into wealth, Parent(s) in education
First Break
Joined Rand-Whitney Group in 1965. (Controlled by his father-in-law, Jacob Hiatt). Robert Kraft acquired a controlling stake in the Rand-Whitney Group in 1968 through a leveraged buyout.
Business/Public Service
Occupation
Businessman, Philanthropist
Organizations
The Kraft Group (1998 - Owner),
New England Patriots (1994 - Owner)
Industries
Manufacturing, Sports
Philanthropy
Non-Profit(s)
Real Estate Portfolio
December 19, 2022 - Palm Beach, FL, USA ($11.8M USD),
April 9, 2021 - Southhampton, NY, USA ($43M USD),
April 30, 1973 - Brookline, MA, USA ($250K USD)
Toys and Other Valuables
Gulfstream G650 - Private Jet,
Gulfstream G500 - Private Jet,
Gulfstream G280 - Private Jet,
Augusta AW139 - Helicopter
Criminal Charges
February 25, 2019 - charged in Florida with two counts of misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution
Outcome: September 24, 2020 - In 2020, prosecutors dropped all solicitation charges against Kraft after a Florida appeals court ruled that the hidden police cameras violated customers' privacy rights.
Net Worth and Donations
This does not include donations from The Kraft Group, New England Patriots, Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation Inc.
Massachusetts — Gillette Stadium: In 1999, Massachusetts approved a package that included $70 million in state financing for infrastructure associated with the Patriots’ new stadium. The arrangement also involved payments from Kraft/the Patriots to the state over time.
From 2016 to 2024, Robert Kraft and/or The Kraft Group moved approximately $20 million USD to the Kraft Family Foundation. Over this period, the foundation also received funding from Vista Equity Partners ($100k), Western Peak Inv Advisors ($50k), Roger Staubach ($10k), Edmond Ross ($5k). Amounts under 5k excluded.
During 2023, the foundation awarded approximately $9.6 million in grants. The largest areas of funding among the top 10 donations were:
- Healthcare: $4.3 million
- Religion/Judaism: $3.2 million
- Education: $375,000
References
- STATE v. KRAFT (2020) – https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-district-court-of-appeal/2081492.html
- Forbes – https://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-kraft/
- https://legalclarity.org/robert-kraft-prostitution-case-charges-evidence-and-outcome
- https://englishhighalumni.org/2022/11/25/in-tribute-to-a-mensch-harry-kraft-ehs-27/
- https://theajc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SHALOM-Magazine-Winter-2023-Final.pdf
- https://privatejetcardcomparisons.com/2026/02/12/how-to-fly-private-jets-of-the-rich-and-famous/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kraft
- https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/1999/05/24/No-Topic-Name/NFL-Lowers-States-Stadium-Bill/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500/#overview
- Political Contributions – https://www.opensecrets.org/
- https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
- https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/
- https://www.azquotes.com/
- https://www.brainyquote.com
- https://www.usaspending.gov/
- https://subsidytracker.goodjobsfirst.org/




