New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been charged with soliciting another to commit prostitution in Florida.
What to Know
- Kraft became the chairman and CEO of the Patriots when he took ownership on Jan. 21, 1994.
- The Patriots have won six Super Bowls during Kraft's 25-year ownership.
- Under Kraft's ownership, the Patriots have appeared in 10 Super Bowls.
News of Robert Kraft going to be charged with soliciting a prostitute in Florida is making headlines around the country due in large part to his success and high profile ownership of the New England Patriots.
The Patriots have won six Super Bowls during Kraft's 25-year ownership.
Under his ownership, Kraft has built the Patriots into a dynasty on the field, as well as a huge business success. The team is valued at $3.8 billion, according to a recent Forbes report.
Kraft, a native of Brookline, Massachusetts, was a 23-year New England Patriots season ticket holder before buying the team, Kraft became the chairman and CEO of the Patriots when he took ownership on Jan. 21, 1994. Prior to Kraft buying the team, the Patriots were woeful, winning just 19 of 80 games in the five years before he bought the team.
In 1994, his first year of ownership, the Patriots won their final seven regular-season games to qualify for the postseason, ending an eight-year playoff drought.
Fans started flocking to Foxboro under Kraft's tenure, as every home game was sold out before the season began in 1995 for the first time in franchise history.
U.S. & World
In 1996, the Patriots defeated Jacksonville 20-6, to advance to Super Bowl XXXI. While the team was defeated by the Packers 35-21, the Patriots were on their way to establishing a dynasty.
The Patriots won their first Super Bowl in the 2001 season, behind the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick duo, and followed it up with Super Bowl wins in the 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018 seasons.
Under Kraft's ownership, the Patriots have appeared in a total of 10 Super Bowls.
One of Kraft's major accomplishments as the team's owner was building Gillette Stadium from 2000-2002.
Prior to owning the Patriots, in 1972 Kraft founded International Forest Products, one of the largest privately-owned and fully integrated paper and packaging companies in the United States. Kraft founded the Kraft Group to serve as the holding company for the Kraft family's diverse business interests comprised of companies in sports and entertainment, the paper and packaging industry, real estate and private equity investing.
While owning the Patriots, the Kraft Group has been involved in numerous forms of philanthropy. Some of the Kraft family's projects include; The Kraft Center for Community Health, The Kraft Family Blood Lab at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and The Kraft Center at Columbia/Barnard Hillel.
The Kraft Group also owns the New England Revolution.
Authorities in Jupiter, Florida, announced Friday that Kraft was facing two counts of soliciting another to commit prostitution -- misdemeanor charges -- after they allegedly obtained video of him paying for a sex act inside an illicit massage parlor connected with a wider human trafficking ring.
A spokesperson for Kraft released a statement Friday, saying, "We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further."
