Robert Kraft’s Taylor Swift appreciation
At the 66th annual Grammy Awards, Taylor and Kraft made headlines after the two embraced, sharing a moment captured on camera. It was particularly significant as Kraft had earlier praised Swift for her ability to cross-promote the NFL and music.
“I think she’s increased the fan approval for young women, which we want, but she’s been smart because she is also getting male fans to [listen] to her music. I just think it’s the quality of the product and the parity and what the NFL presents,” he told CNN.
Coming from a mega-wealthy magnate like Kraft, his appreciation had Swifties in meltdown mode.
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So how did Robert Kraft get rich?
Per Forbes, Kraft has an estimated net worth of US$11.1 billion. It has been widely reported that he sold newspapers as a kid and made his initial fortune in paper and packaging. He took control of the Rand-Whitney Group and was instrumental in a buyout in 1968. He then founded International Forest Products, per Pro Football Network.
In 1994, he bought the New England Patriots for US$172 million, with the NFL team now valued at an estimated US$6.7 billion, per Sportico. The Kraft Group is the holding company that controls all of the Kraft family’s business interests. According to Forbes, his sporting portfolio also includes the New England Revolution MLS club and the gaming team that formed part of the Overwatch League.
Robert Kraft’s celebrity pals
The long-time friends have also worked together on the Reform Alliance, an organisation formed to help raise awareness and transform America’s parole and probation system. The organisation was created soon after Mill was reimprisoned because of a parole violation. In 2019, Rubin got Kraft, Jay-Z and others to pledge US$50 million to help support the initiative.
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And that’s not the only charitable initiative that they are involved in. According to Billboard, Kraft donated US$25 million to a campaign that fights antisemitism through his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. Per the publication, he leaned on Mill and Patriots’ legendary quarterback Tom Brady to help promote the campaign.Robert Kraft’s bromance with Tom Brady
In February 2023, a day after Brady confirmed that he would be retiring from football (for real this time), the Patriots owner spoke about their relationship. Kraft, who owned the Patriots when Brady first got drafted to the team in 2000, has a known close relationship with the football star.
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When Brady left the Patriots to go to the Buccaneers, there was lots of speculation about the state of their relationship. But Kraft said there were no hard feelings over the decision.
“I just love the guy so much and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him,” he said on CNN This Morning. “And I think he can do a lot of good things for America and reach out to a lot of people.”
His star-studded wedding
Kraft was 81 when he married his doctor then-fiancée, who was 47. Per People magazine, Kraft told friends it was a “kick-off and touchdown” party and surprised guests when he and Blumberg announced they were getting married.
Per Forbes, Kraft’s first wife Myra Hiatt Kraft died of ovarian cancer in 2011.
