In 2005,New England Patriotsowner Robert Krafttraveledto Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin in an expedition intend to ignite conversation about commercialism between Russia and the United States .
What materialize next was less commercialism and more an involuntary relinquishment of goods . From all appearances , Putin slip Kraft’sSuper Bowlring .
Putin has been drag in scandals for decades , from the KGB ’s allegedpoisoningof state of matter enemies to allegedlyinterferingwith elections toappearingshirtless on horseback for photo opportunities . For sportsman fan , his name is generally link up with the peculiar Kraft episode and the deviate account of what happened that led to Kraft ’s neglect anchor ring .
Kraft , who had seen his Patriots win three Super Bowl title to that breaker point , visited Russia with Citigroup president Sandy Weill , media tsar Rupert Murdoch , and numerous chief executive officer . At a press group discussion near St. Petersburg , Weill nudged Kraft and mention that Putin might desire to see Kraft ’s Super Bowl ring . Likely believe it would be good diplomacy , Kraft concord .
Kraft handed Putin the 4.94 - karat diamond ring , and the Russian president seemed lease with it . “ I could kill someone with this ring , ” Putin said , a reference to its bulk . Then , according to eyewitness , Putin simply put the ring in his pocket and walked away .
Kraft , who had merely intended to show Putin the ring , was aghast . The annulus had obvious schmalzy value and was not precisely replaceable : It was inscribed with his name .
The two parties had take issue position from there . Putin say he considered it a talent ; Kraft did not . When the level begin circulate in Western mass medium , Kraft reportedly received word from the office of then - president George W. Bush to permit the subject rest . criminate Putin of theft was not a neat fashion to go after diplomacy between the two superpowers . According to generator Jeff Bendict ’s 2020 Scripture about the Patriots , The Dynasty , they encouraged Kraft to dampen his report .
To stay the Bush administration , Kraftreleaseda statement ostensibly sustain it was intended to be a gift .
“ Upon seeing the ring , President Putin , a outstanding and knowing sportsman buff , was distinctly taken with its singularity , ” Kraft said . ” At that point , I decided to give him the ring . [ … ] I have ancestor from Russia , so it added import for me to know that something so cherished would reside at the Kremlin along with other exceptional gifts given to Russian chair . It was truly an act of serendipity and one that I am honored to have experienced . It touched me to see President Putin ’s reaction to the ringing , and I felt , emotionally , that it was the correct way to conclude an exceptional meeting . ”
But in 2013 , Kraft said that “ I put my deal out and he put it in his pocket , and three KGB bozo gravel around him and walk out . [ … ] I really did n’t desire [ to gift it ] . I had an emotional tie to the ring , it has my name on it . I do n’t want to see it on eBay . ”
That ’s not where it injure up . The ring is plain on showing at the Kremlin ’s depository library , where it seems like it will stay .
And so will Putin : He wasreelectedin 2024 , and can technically persist president through 2036 .
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A interlingual rendition of this narrative originally ran in 2022 ; it has been update for 2025 .
