Robert Kraft is the owner of the New England Patriots. He has held ownership since Feb. 25, 1994 when he was approved as the new owner by the league owners who accepted his $200 million bid to purchase the team from it's former owner.

Kraft's first interest in the team was during their days as the Boston Patriots of the AFL in the early 1960s. He became a season ticket holder when the team moved to Foxborough in 1971 and changed it's name to the "New England" Patriots. Kraft moved from just a season-ticket holder to the stadium operator for the team in 1988. Operating the stadium in it's former condition until deciding to finally purchase the team in 1994.

When Kraft bought the team, he inherited an organization that was last in the NFL in both revenue and attendance. The team was also coming off a year in which total payroll was dead last for all NFL teams. Kraft poured resources and energy into revitalizing the organization and the fan base. By the time the regular season started in Kraft's first year of ownership, every game was sold out, something, which had never happened in the team's 34 seasons of existence. Under Kraft's direction, the team has managed to win 3 Super Bowls and 5 Division Crowns. Kraft may best be known for his decision to obtain private funding to construct his own new stadium (Gillette) keeping the team in Massachusetts rather than move or force the state to help finance the construction.

Kraft started work at the Rand-Whitney Group, Inc. of Worcester, Mass. In 1972, he founded International Forest Products. Having acquired both the Rand-Whitney Group and International Forest Products Kraft heads one of the largest privately-owned paper and packaging companies in the US. The Kraft Group, which owns and operates the team, and the rest of Kraft's private holdings, was formed in 1988.

Kraft attended local public schools before being accepted to Columbia University on an academic scholarship. Upon graduation, he received a fellowship to attend the Harvard Business School, where he earned a master's degree in business administration.

A native of Brookline, Mass., Mr. Kraft continues to call the Northeast home. The Kraft family has been recognized for their philanthropic contributions numerous times including by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Magazine, and a number of other organizations for their support of local charities and charitable initiatives.