Robert Kraft is a football owner, businessman, and philanthropist. He is the principal owner of the New England Patriots, a team based in Massachusetts. Formerly a real estate developer and co-owner of a chain of grocery stores, he purchased the Patriots in 1994 with former partner Billy Sullivan. In 2001 he became sole owner, after Sullivan's death from cancer
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In 2005 Kraft won the NFL's Coach of the Year Award for the team's success during the 2004-2005 NFL season.
In 2009, Kraft was ranked No. 3 on "Forbes"' list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, with an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion as part of The Forbes 400 list. He is currently ranked No. 55 on "Forbes" list of billionaires with an estimated net worth of $4.6 billion as part of The Forbes 400 list.
Kraft was born to Max and Sarah (née Bloch) Kraft in Brooklyn, New York City on September 12, 1935. He grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and attended Abraham Lincoln High School there as well as Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida before graduating from Boston University with a degree in sociology and English literature.
In 1953 Kraft married Hisako Hirai and together they had four children: Robert Jr., Sarah (Sally), Jonathan and David (Dee).
His wife died in 2008 after a brief battle with breast cancer at age 61. On October 9, 2008 Kraft remarried to Myra Finkelstein and together they have one daughter: Jennifer (Jayme).
Kraft has been active in various civic endeavors throughout his life. He was chairman of the mayor's task force on homelessness from 1989 to 1991 and has been involved with many other community service programs including FANNY (the Foundation for AIDS Network Care) and MEChA (the National Council of La Raza).
As a supporter of Israel he remains active with Birthright Israel which provides free trips to Israel for young Jewish adults between 18 and 26 years old where they travel to the country and meet Israeli leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres among others. Kraft serves as Chairman Emeritus for Birthright Israel where he has recently joined forces with former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to raise money for student grants as part of their "Birthright 2" campaign to provide funding for students who take full free trips home to
