Meet Robert Kraft, New England Patriots owner and billionaire mogul
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's legacy suffered a rare blemish this week after police in Jupiter, Florida, issued a warrant for his arrest for allegedly soliciting a prostitute at a massage parlor.
The Patriots owner was purportedly caught on tape receiving sex acts during a larger sting operation in the area. It's unclear if Kraft, a powerful figure in NFL circles, will face disciplinary action under the league's personal conduct policy.
“We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further,” a Kraft spokesperson said in a statement.
Kraft’s Patriots have won six Super Bowls since he purchased the team in 1994 for $172 million, including Super Bowl LIII earlier this month against the Los Angeles Rams. The franchise is now worth an estimated $3.8 billion and ranks as the NFL’s second-most valuable franchise, according to Forbes.
While Kraft, 77, is best known as the Patriots owner, he began building his fortune while working for the Rand-Whitney Group, a Massachusetts-based paper and packaging company. Kraft eventually bought out the company and founded the Kraft Group, a holding company with investments in sports, real estate and various other industries. He has a personal net worth of $6.6 billion, according to Forbes.
“In life, I think it’s important to dream big. My dream was to be able to own the NFL franchise that I adored and was passionate about. I wanted the privilege of trying to run it in my own hometown. [That day] a lot of things came together,” Kraft recently told ESPN. “It’s unbelievable to me; I just sit back and pinch myself, that we were able to do it. [Tom] Brady and [Bill] Belichick get a lot of the credit, as they deserve to get. Really, the hidden asset in all of this is the fan support we got.”
Through the Kraft Group, he owns the Patriots' home field, Gillette Stadium, as well as Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution and the esports franchise Boston Uprising of the Overwatch League. He also purchased a stake in Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2016.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX BUSINESS APP
A prominent philanthropist, Kraft has donated roughly $600 million to charity to date.
This story has been updated.