Who is Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles’ owner? What is his net worth?
After repurchasing the team in 1994, the Eagles owner watched them play in the 3 Super Bowls of his tenure, and winning once. This is Jeffrey Lurie.
As much as you’ve got to appreciate the Philadelphia Eagles team, a moment should be spared for the man who has made it possible for a team with a prolific past to become once again relevant in the present. Known as an entrepreneur, film producer, and professor, amongst many other things, here’s a look at Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie.
What is Jeffrey Lurie’s net worth?
On one side, we’ve got to acknowledge that Lurie was born into wealth. His grandfather, Philip Smith, was the founder of General Cinema, a well-known chain of movie theatres that, during Jeffrey’s childhood, was already worth $3.7 billion. That’s not to say that he has not since proven he’s as shrewd a businessman as his grandfather. Indeed, today, Lurie is worth a not-so-small $4.4 billion. Though most will likely know his name in connection with his ownership of the Philadelphia Eagles - he’s been the owner since 1994 - Lurie founded his own film and television production company, Chestnut Hill Productions. To that end, he’s even picked up a few Academy Awards along the way, including the film, “Inside Job,” which he produced - it won the award for Best Documentary Film.
The early life of Jeffrey Lurie
One of three children, Jeffrey Lurie, was born to Jewish parents Morris and Nancy on September 8th, 1951, in Boston, Massachusetts. His maternal grandfather was Philip Smith and, as we mentioned, also the General Cinema movie theater chain founder. Much of Jeffrey’s life was influenced by the existence of the company, which operated the fourth-largest chain of movie theaters in the United States during its prime. Furthermore, the company evolved into the multibillion-dollar conglomerate Harcourt General, which, among other enterprises, boasts publishing houses, insurance companies, and a consulting firm in its portfolio.
After attending Clark University in Worcester, Lurie went on to pursue a Master’s degree in psychology from Boston University, which was followed by a Ph.D. in social policy from Brandeis University. To that end, Lurie would later become an adjunct assistant professor at BU.
Owning the Eagles
A Boston native, it goes without saying that Lurie has got sports in his blood. As an avid fan of both the Red Sox and the Patriots, his love affair with professional sports finally took a significant step when he ventured into team ownership in 1993. At the time, Lurie attempted to purchase the Patriots, but his uncle was unhappy with the $150 million price. Later, he would look to the Los Angeles Rams and the possibility of an expansion team in Baltimore.
Ultimately, Lurie finally settled on the Philadelphia Eagles and, with his mother at his side, bought the franchise from Norman Braman for $195 million in 1994. If you’d like some perspective on Lurie’s business acumen, consider that the franchise is worth $5 billion today. In his time as owner, Lurie has seen the team win a Super Bowl in 2018, which incidentally was against his hometown Patriots. Of course, with the Eagles set to play the Chiefs in the Super Bowl this Sunday, can his team add one more to the cabinet?