In a hilarious yet wild twist, Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, is asking Russian President Vladimir Putin to return a Super Bowl ring that Putin allegedly stole back in 2005. This whole drama resurfaced thanks to the release of Apple TV’s “The Dynasty” series, leaving everyone questioning: Did Putin really just walk off with Kraft’s bling? Let’s dive into this strange, almost comical, story.
The $25,000 Super Bowl Ring Incident: Did Vladimir Putin Really Steal It?
Back in 2005, Kraft was in Russia for a business trip. Naturally, he took his Super Bowl ring along to show off—because who wouldn’t, right? He had the world’s attention, and Putin was in the room. According to Kraft, he showed the ring to Putin, who then put it on, made a chilling comment like, “I can kill someone with this,” and then—just like that—took it. Yep, he walked away with it while three KGB agents apparently stood around, making it pretty clear this wasn’t your average “Hey, take a look at my ring” moment.
Kraft’s ring was valued at around $25,000, although Super Bowl rings typically range between $30,000 and $50,000. So it’s not exactly a cheap piece of jewelry. Imagine how much cooler it would look in Putin’s collection of other gifts from world leaders, which just so happens to include Kraft’s shiny treasure on display in the Kremlin.
Vladimir Putin tries on a diamond-encrusted 2005 Super Bowl ring belonging to Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots NFL football team. Photograph: AP
After the ring mysteriously disappeared into Russian hands, Kraft publicly asked for it back. But here’s where things get weird. The White House reportedly told him to claim that he had gifted the ring to Putin in order to avoid causing any tension in US-Russian relations. Kraft went along with it, stating the ring was a token of respect for the Russian people. However, he later admitted that wasn’t true at all—it was actually the U.S. government’s idea, not his.
In the end, Russia insists the ring was a gift, so it’s now part of Putin’s private collection, safely housed in the Kremlin. But Kraft is not letting go. At a lighthearted event honoring Tom Brady, Kraft humorously asked for the ring back, joking that it had “disappeared” and was still missing.
This story is far from over, and with the public attention now back on it, maybe Kraft will get his bling back after all.
Also read – How the Super Bowl Got Its Name: The Surprising Story Behind the Iconic Title
