Robert Kraft First Wife Myra, Four Sons, and Dana Blumberg

Robert Kraft, the 85-year-old owner of the New England Patriots, has built one of the most successful sports dynasties in American history, winning six Super Bowl championships since purchasing the team in 1994. But the personal side of his life tells a story of deep loss, family complexity, and a second chance at partnership.

Kraft was married to Myra Hiatt Kraft for 48 years, from 1963 until her death from ovarian cancer on July 20, 2011. Together, they raised four sons and built a philanthropic foundation that donated millions to causes spanning education, medical research, and community development. Myra’s death at age 68 left Kraft openly grief-stricken. He told the Boston Globe that he would go home to an empty house and described the loneliness as “really sad.”

More than a decade later, on October 14, 2022, Kraft married Dr. Dana Blumberg, a board-certified ophthalmologist 33 years his junior, in a surprise ceremony at the Hall des Lumieres in Manhattan. The event drew guests including Tom Brady, Elton John, Ed Sheeran, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

This article provides a complete account of the Kraft family, covering Myra’s life and philanthropic legacy, the careers of all four Kraft sons, the circumstances of Myra’s death, how Kraft and Blumberg met, their surprise wedding, and the current structure of the family’s involvement in the Patriots and the Kraft Group.

Myra Hiatt Kraft: The Philanthropist Who Shaped a Family’s Values

Myra Nathalie Hiatt was born on December 27, 1942, in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Jacob Hiatt, a Lithuanian immigrant who came to the United States in 1935, and Frances Lavine Hiatt. Jacob Hiatt built a successful career in the paper packaging industry, eventually leading the E.F. Dodge Paper Box Corp. in Leominster, Massachusetts, which later became part of the Rand-Whitney Group. Robert Kraft purchased the Rand-Whitney Group in 1972, a connection that began through his marriage to Myra.

Myra attended Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. It was during her time at Brandeis that she met Robert Kraft, who was studying at Columbia University. According to a 2007 interview Robert gave to The New York Times, the two met at a Boston deli in 1962. They married in June 1963.

Over the next several years, the couple had four sons: Jonathan (born 1964), Daniel, Joshua (born 1967), and David. As Robert built his business empire, Myra channeled her energy into philanthropic work that became inseparable from the Kraft family’s public identity.

Myra Kraft’s Philanthropic Roles

The Kraft family’s philanthropy extended internationally. Through their foundation, Robert and Myra endowed academic chairs and funded buildings at Boston College, Brandeis University, Columbia University, the Harvard School of Education, Harvard Medical School, and Holy Cross. In 1984, they established the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which grew into one of the largest platelet donation centers in the world.

In their final major philanthropic act together, the Krafts announced a $20 million gift to Partners HealthCare in early 2011 to create The Kraft Family National Center for Leadership and Training in Community Health.

How Myra Kraft Died and the Impact on Robert and the Family

Myra Kraft died on the morning of July 20, 2011, at the couple’s home in Brookline, Massachusetts, after a battle with ovarian cancer. She was 68 years old. The couple had celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary just one month earlier.

The New England Patriots released a statement that read, “Words cannot express the deep sorrow that we feel in learning of the passing of Myra Hiatt Kraft. Myra passed away early this morning after a courageous battle with cancer. We are all heartbroken. The global philanthropic community and the New England Patriots family have suffered a great loss.”

Robert Kraft’s grief was intense and public. In a profile published by the Boston Globe, he described how her death upended his daily life. “She weighed 98 pounds, she read four books a week, she ate healthy and exercised every day,” he said. “Our plan was that she was going to outlive me by 30 years.”

He continued: “I’m blessed with four great children and eight grandchildren. But you go home, and you go home alone, and no one’s there. It’s just really sad.” His sons worried that they could lose their father to the depth of his grief.

A public memorial service was held at Temple Emanuel in Newton, Massachusetts, attended by thousands. At the time of her death, Myra was serving on the boards of more than a dozen nonprofit organizations. The 2011 NFL lockout was still in effect, but it was widely reported that both sides worked to resolve the labor dispute partly out of respect for the Kraft family’s loss, as Robert Kraft had been instrumental in the negotiations.

Robert Kraft’s Four Sons: Jonathan, Daniel, Joshua, and David

Robert and Myra Kraft raised four sons who took distinct paths, three within the family business and one who chose independence. Together, the brothers represent the next generation of one of the most influential families in American sports and business.

Jonathan Kraft: President of the Patriots and the Kraft Group

Jonathan Ashford Kraft, born March 4, 1964, in Brookline, Massachusetts, is the eldest of the four brothers and the most prominent in the family’s business operations.

Jonathan Kraft: Career Summary

Jonathan joined his father at the Kraft Group immediately after completing his MBA in 1990, four years before the family purchased the Patriots. Since then, he has been involved in nearly every major organizational decision. His role expanded through the team’s dynasty years under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and he continues to manage the Kraft Group’s day-to-day operations across sports, entertainment, packaging, real estate, and philanthropy.

Robert has spoken openly about his son’s contributions: “Jonathan has put in the most energy and effort and has been a full partner.”

His eldest son, Harry, played quarterback at Dartmouth College, extending the family’s football connection to another generation.

Daniel Kraft: Head of International Operations

Daniel Kraft is the second-oldest son and leads the international arm of the family business.

Daniel Kraft: Career Summary

Daniel maintains a lower public profile than Jonathan but is deeply involved in the family’s global business interests. Robert has praised his work in the international division, saying, “Danny in the international area has been awesome.”

Joshua Kraft: The Family’s Philanthropic Leader

Joshua Kraft, born April 11, 1967, is often described as the son who most resembled his mother, Myra, in temperament and dedication to service.

Joshua Kraft: Career Summary

Josh has spoken publicly about how his parents’ approach to philanthropy shaped him. “My parents led by doing, not telling,” he said in a 2023 interview. “My mother was not just writing checks; she was getting involved and understanding the organizations that we supported.”

David Kraft: The Independent Path

David Kraft is the youngest of the four brothers and the one who chose to step away from the family’s business structure.

David worked at the Kraft Group before leaving the company in the fall of 2012, approximately one year after his mother’s death. His departure was followed by a legal dispute over the family trust. In 2013, David filed a lawsuit seeking access to the Kraft family trust, which had been created in 1982. He expressed concerns publicly, telling reporters, “My concern is that I’m being robbed blind.”

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 2013 to allow the trust to be altered so that all four sons could serve as trustees and distribute funds. Since the resolution of the trust dispute, David has largely stayed out of the media spotlight and is not publicly involved with the Patriots organization or the Kraft Group.

At his mother Myra’s funeral in 2011, David spoke about her philanthropic legacy and the values she instilled in him during childhood, indicating that while his business path diverged from his brothers’, his connection to the family’s charitable principles remained.

The Kraft Group: How the Family Business Holds Together

The Kraft Group is the holding company through which Robert Kraft manages his diverse business interests. Three of his four sons hold leadership positions within it, making it one of the more prominent family-run conglomerates in American sports and business.

Kraft Group: Family Leadership Structure

The Kraft Group’s interests include the New England Patriots (NFL), the New England Revolution (MLS), Gillette Stadium, the Rand-Whitney Group (paper packaging), International Forest Products, real estate development, and private equity investments.

Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994 for a then-record $172 million. The franchise is now valued at approximately $7 billion. He has stated publicly that he will never sell the team during his lifetime and hopes his sons will keep it in the family.

“It’s the greatest thing,” he told The Sports Business Journal in 2022. “Right now, I see three of my sons every day.”

How Robert Kraft Met Dana Blumberg and Their Relationship

After Myra’s death in 2011, Robert Kraft eventually began dating again. He was linked to actress and model Ricki Noel Lander from approximately 2012 to 2018. Lander gave birth to a child in 2017, but Kraft’s representatives confirmed publicly that he was not the biological father.

Kraft and Dr. Dana Blumberg were first spotted together in 2019 at multiple high-profile events, including the French Open tennis final in Paris and the Women’s World Cup soccer finals in Lyon, France. Their relationship became more publicly visible over the following years.

In May 2022, fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger announced the couple’s engagement at the inaugural amfAR Gala Palm Beach event. Kraft described Blumberg as an “off the charts” partner who brought him happiness after years of living with the loss of Myra.

Dana Blumberg: The Ophthalmologist Who Became Mrs. Kraft

Dana Blumberg was born in 1974 in New York City to Nathan and Marlene Blumberg. Her father, Nathan, is a physician specializing in urology, and her mother was a teacher. The family is Jewish and maintains strong ties to their faith.

Dana Blumberg: Professional Profile

Blumberg’s career spans more than two decades in eye care and includes clinical practice, academic research, and teaching. Her specialty in glaucoma, a condition that can cause irreversible blindness if left untreated, placed her at the intersection of patient care and medical research at some of the most respected institutions in American medicine.

Her professional background distinguishes her from the typical profile of a sports owner’s spouse. She is not a public personality by training; she is a practicing medical doctor with a publication record and academic appointments. Her appointment to the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees in 2025 added a public-facing dimension to her profile beyond the medical field.

The Surprise Wedding That Stunned Even the Guests

On October 14, 2022, Robert Kraft and Dana Blumberg married in a ceremony that became one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of the year, largely because the guests did not know they were attending a wedding.

Invitations described the event as a “Kickoff and a Touchdown” party at the Hall des Lumieres in lower Manhattan. Guests were told to dress festively but were given no indication that a marriage ceremony would take place.

When attendees arrived, a 10-minute audiovisual presentation played, culminating in the legendary voice of NFL broadcaster Al Michaels pronouncing Kraft and Blumberg husband and wife. The crowd realized the party was, in fact, the wedding reception.

The Kraft-Blumberg Wedding: Key Details

The wedding was reportedly planned in just three weeks after Elton John informed the couple that he was available to perform. The speed and secrecy of the planning reflected Kraft’s preference for surprising people and his long history of personal events blending family, sports, and entertainment.

Robert Kraft’s Net Worth and the Family’s Business Empire in 2026

Robert Kraft’s estimated net worth as of 2026 stands at approximately $11.2 billion, according to Forbes. The bulk of that wealth is tied to the Kraft Group’s holdings, with the New England Patriots franchise accounting for the largest single asset.

Robert Kraft: Business and Wealth Overview

Kraft has said publicly that the Patriots will remain in the family after his death. In an August 2023 interview with financier David Rubenstein, he stated, “I will never in my lifetime sell the Patriots.” Jonathan Kraft’s role as president of both the team and the Kraft Group positions him as the clear successor, though the family has not publicly discussed a formal succession plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who was Robert Kraft’s first wife?

Robert Kraft’s first wife was Myra Hiatt Kraft. They married in June 1963 and were together for 48 years until Myra’s death from ovarian cancer on July 20, 2011. She was 68 years old and widely admired for her philanthropic work.

How many children does Robert Kraft have?

Robert Kraft has four sons, all with Myra: Jonathan (born 1964), Daniel, Joshua (born 1967), and David. He does not have children with his second wife, Dana Blumberg.

Who is Jonathan Kraft?

Jonathan Kraft is Robert Kraft’s eldest son and the president of both the New England Patriots and the Kraft Group. He has held leadership positions within the organization since 1994 and is widely considered the successor to his father’s role.

What does Daniel Kraft do?

Daniel Kraft serves as president of Kraft Group-International, overseeing the family’s international business operations including forest products and paper packaging.

What is Joshua Kraft known for?

Joshua Kraft is the president of the New England Patriots Foundation and Kraft Family Philanthropies. He previously served as CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston for 12 years and is known for his community service work.

What happened with David Kraft?

David Kraft, the youngest son, left the Kraft Group in 2012 and filed a lawsuit over access to the family trust. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 2013 to allow all four sons to serve as trustees. David has remained largely out of the public eye since then.

Who is Dana Blumberg?

Dana Blumberg is Robert Kraft’s second wife. She is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in glaucoma treatment, educated at Brown University, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and Columbia University. She and Kraft married on October 14, 2022.

When did Robert Kraft and Dana Blumberg get married?

They married on October 14, 2022, in a surprise ceremony at the Hall des Lumieres in Manhattan. Guests thought they were attending a party and only learned it was a wedding when Al Michaels’ voice announced the couple as husband and wife. Elton John performed at the reception.

How old is Robert Kraft?

Robert Kraft was born on June 5, 1941, making him 85 years old as of 2026.

How much is Robert Kraft worth?

Robert Kraft’s estimated net worth is approximately $11.2 billion as of 2026, according to Forbes.

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Last Updated on September 15, 2026 by 247 News Around The World