Robert Kraft is best known as the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, but his influence extends far beyond American football. So who is the pro-Israel billionaire at the center of the controversy involving Ed Sheeran and Macklemore? Raised in a devout Jewish household in Massachusetts, Kraft built his fortune in business before becoming one of the most prominent figures in American sports. Forbes estimates his net worth at over $13 billion, but his public profile has been shaped in large part by his philanthropy for Jewish and Israeli causes. Kraft has donated millions to charitable initiatives, including the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism's "Stand Up to Jewish Hate” campaign. His outspoken support for Israel even earned him the Genesis Prize in 2019, an award often described as the “Jewish Nobel Prize.” He is also known for bringing high-profile athletes to Israel, including former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. However, Kraft has occasionally found himself entangled in controversy. In 2019, he was charged with soliciting prostitution, a case that was ultimately dismissed after evidence was suppressed. His name also came up in coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein files, after reports revealed that he had hired one of Epstein’s defense attorneys for his own legal team. Kraft also made headlines when he intervened in the fallout over a recent performance by Macklemore. The rapper faced intense backlash after he delivered an impassioned pro-Palestinian speech while opening for Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour, with some pro-Israel groups even launching a petition demanding his removal. Macklemore was ultimately dropped from the US leg of the tour; however, Sheeran clarified in a statement on Instagram that the final decision rested with concert promoters and venue owners. Macklemore later alleged on Instagram that Sheeran had privately told him Kraft had barred him from performing at Gillette Stadium. Kraft publicly admitted to pressuring venue owners and organizers to drop the artist, citing what he described as a history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery. In a statement defending his actions, Kraft claimed that his stance was not intended to dismiss the struggle of Palestinian people or restrict Macklemore's right to advocate for them. In response to Macklemore challenging him to support Palestinian humanitarian causes, Kraft and Sheeran collectively pledged to donate $2 million in aid to the region.
Robert Kraft is putting his money where his mouth is — and where the money of Ed Sheeran and Macklemore is also going.
The New England Patriots owner, who was a driving force behind Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's "Loop Tour 2026" earlier this week in response to the Grammy Award-winning rapper's pro-Palestinian comments during a Labor Day tour stop in New Jersey, pledged $2 million to the war-ravaged Middle East region.
Kraft made the announcement on social media Wednesday, just hours after Macklemore committed $1 million — his earnings from the Loop Tour — "to support the Palestinian people" and invited Kraft to match it. Per Kraft, Sheeran committed $2 million himself and asked Kraft to do the same.
"I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting," read a statement attributed to Kraft on the social media account of Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots have played since 2002.
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"Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis. Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges."
Sheeran, one of the world's most popular musicians, faced a severe backlash amid Macklemore's exit from the tour, which Sheeran characterized as the tour promoter's decision. His other supporting acts also pulled out in support of Macklemore.
Ed Sheeran performs during iHeartRadio z100's Jingle Ball 2025.
Macklemore pledges $1 million
Earlier Wednesday, in a bid to put the focus back on suffering Palestinians instead of Sheeran's unraveling tour, Macklemore wrote on Instagram, "I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom."
His $1 million donation will be divided among six organizations supporting Palestinian people. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, many of them children, have been killed during Israeli military operations in Gaza during the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, inside Israel's borders.
Kraft offered no detail about the destination of his donation nor Sheeran's.
"Whatever we disagree about," Macklemore wrote in reference to Kraft, "perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth."
Kraft admitted he did not want the rapper to share his pro-Palestinian agenda — which the Patriots owner deemed "hate speech" — at Gillette Stadium later this month.
Macklemore continued: "That is where my focus will remain. I will continue to stand with the Palestinian people and their fight for liberation. When the news cycle moves on, which it will, don't move with it. Free Palestine."
Kraft, who is Jewish, referenced his efforts to help Palestinian people through the decades in his social media post on Wednesday and earlier this week.
Macklemore performs in France this summer.
What did Macklemore say at MetLife Stadium?
"The truth is, a big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I can stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine," Macklemore said Sept. 4 at MetLife Stadium.
"I want those words to be loud and clear so the people all the way in Gaza, to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten about them."
The day after that show, the Israeli American Council shared an online petition that was addressed to Sheeran, 35, demanding he kick Macklemore off the tour.
What did Robert Kraft say about Macklemore?
The full statement, obtained by USA TODAY Sports from Kraft on Monday in response to Macklemore's "Free Palestine" stance:
“Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech. Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line," said Kraft.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft introduces the team's number one draft pick Apr 26, 2024, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
"This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real. But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally (including Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan) designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike. I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate. Over many decades, I have directed resources to Palestine and created athletic and entrepreneurial opportunities for Palestinians who I admire and respect. Standing with the Palestinian people and standing against Hamas, antisemitism and hate should not be mutually exclusive.
"Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed. I have tremendous respect for Ed and his music, particularly his unique ability to bring people together and spread joy, and I have always been proud to welcome him and his fans to Gillette Stadium.
"I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same — peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.”
