NFL fans know Jeffrey Lurie as the outspoken owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. However, what not everyone remembers is that Lurie started his personal empire in a realm far removed from the stadiums and gridirons as one of the best-known figures in Hollywood.
Jeffrey Lurie was born in 1951 to a wealthy family. His maternal grandfather, Philip Smith, was the founder of the General Cinema chain of movie theaters, which years later became Harcourt General, a conglomerate of publishing, insurance companies, and consulting firms where Lurie began his career.
After completing his studies at Clark University in 1983, Lurie joined the family business. In 1985, Lurie founded Chestnut Hill Productions. The company was not a huge commercial success, but “Inside Job,” “Innocent,” and “Summer of Soul” all won Oscars for Best Short Documentary.
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Jeffrey Lurie’s Net Worth
The producer and entrepreneur came to the NFL in 1994 when he bought the Eagles from Norman Braman. Lurie partnered with his mother, Nancy, and negotiated a $190 million bank loan to acquire the team for $195 million.
Since then, the team’s value has grown to $6 billion while boosting Lurie’s net worth, which as of January 2025 was $5.3 billion, according to figures from Forbes magazine.
As for his film career, Chestnut Hill Productions had deals with Tri-Star Pictures, MGM, Paramount, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Universal Pictures for one or more films.
Lurie and the Eagles
The businessman had an immediate impact on the Eagles. The year after the purchase, the team returned to the playoffs after a two-year absence and has been a constant postseason invitee ever since.
In 2004, they lost Super Bowl XXXIX to the New England Patriots, but in 2017, they made up for the affront by winning Super Bowl LII against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s Pats.
In 2023, Lurie’s Eagles suffered another painful setback by losing Super Bowl LVII to the Kansas City Chiefs, but they will have a new rematch in the LIX edition. If history tells us anything, it is that this team does not lose twice to the same rival.
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