Robert Kraft Early Career and Business Foundations
Robert Kraft graduated from Columbia Business School in 1965 and began working in the packaging industry. He rose through the ranks at various companies before founding his own firm. His early career focused on building a diversified packaging and distribution business that would later become the foundation of his wealth, as detailed by Forbes here.
By the late 1960s, Kraft had started consolidating smaller paper and packaging firms. He focused on cost efficiency and vertical integration, acquiring companies that produced bags, boxes, and other containers. This strategy allowed him to control supply chains and increase margins, setting the stage for a major business empire.
Building the Kraft Group Empire
Kraft Group Origins and Major Acquisitions
Robert Kraft formally established the Kraft Group, which grew into a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate. The company expanded into paper and packaging, real estate, and private equity. Kraft Group subsidiaries include International Forest Products, one of the largest independent pulp and paper distributors in North America here.
The Kraft Group also made strategic investments in real estate, developing commercial properties and managing large portfolios. Kraft's business approach emphasized long-term asset ownership and operational efficiency. These ventures generated substantial cash flow, which funded his later sports investments and philanthropic efforts.
Path to Owning the New England Patriots
Patriots Acquisition and NFL Ownership
Robert Kraft purchased the New England Patriots in 1994 for approximately $172 million. At the time, the franchise was struggling on the field and financially. Kraft invested heavily in the team, modernizing facilities and building a strong front office, which eventually led to sustained success on the field here.
Before the Patriots, Kraft had already built a reputation as a disciplined and successful businessman. His ownership style applied the same principles he used in packaging and real estate: careful management, long-term planning, and strategic investment. The Patriots became a model franchise under his leadership, winning multiple Super Bowls and increasing in value to billions of dollars here.