Mark Wilf
Mark Wilf | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962 (age 61–62) |
| Nationality | United States |
| Education | B.A. from Princeton University J.D New York University School of Law |
| Occupation | Real estate developer |
| Known for | co-owner of Minnesota Vikings |
| Spouse | Jane E. Frieder |
| Children | four |
| Parent(s) | Joseph and Elizabeth Wilf |
| Family | Zygi Wilf (brother) |
Mark Wilf is the current President and co-owner of the Minnesota Vikings.
Biography
Born to a Jewish family, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Wilf, are both Holocaust survivors from Nazi occupied Poland.[1] He has one brother, Zygi Wilf.[2] The Wilf family immigrated to the United States from Europe in the early 1950s and settled in Hillside, New Jersey. After a brief stint as used car salesmen, Joseph and his brother Harry Wilf began purchasing apartment buildings and renting units. Eventually, the brothers began building single-family homes and founded Garden Homes.[3] A successful real estate developer, his two main family-run businesses, Garden Homes and Garden Commercial Properties, have constructed some 25,000 homes in 39 states across the country since their initial ventures; the two entities and their affiliates own and manage 25,000,000 square feet (2,300,000 m2) in retail and business property.[4]
Wilf received a B.A. from Princeton University and then a J.D from the New York University School of Law.[5] He then joined the family real estate business, Garden Homes, and in 2005, Wilf and his brother Zygi Wilf, took control of the Minnesota Vikings. Wilf was appointed president and his brother Zygi, CEO. As president, Wilf manages the day-to-day operations of the team and directs all its business departments.[5] On August 6, 2013, Wilf, along with his brother, Zygi Wilf, and cousin, were found liable by a New Jersey court for breaking civil state racketeering laws and keeping separate accounting books to fleece former business partners of shared revenue. The presiding judge noted that Wilf had used organized crime like tactics to commit fraud against his business partners.[6] In September the judge awarded the two business partner plaintiffs Ada Reichmann and Josef Halpern $84.5 million in compensatory damages, punitive damages and interest that the Wilfs must pay.[7]
Philanthropy
Wilf is a major donor to the Jewish community including Yad Vashem and the Holocaust memorial museum in Israel. Wilf served as National Campaign Chairman for the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and is currently vice chair of their board of trustees. He was also appointed by the JFNA to lead a new initiative that addresses the needs of impoverished Holocaust survivors living in the United States. He serves as a Trustee of Yeshiva University.[8]
Personal life
In 1990, Wilf married Jane E. Frieder in a Jewish ceremony in Philadelphia;[9] they have four children.[5]
References
- ^ Williams, Brandt (2005-05-25). "NFL owners approve Vikings sale to Wilf". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2007-02-19.
- ^ The Observer: "The Broken Moral Compass of Vikings Owners Mark and Zygi Wilf - NJ developers 'cheated' their partners for two decades – now Minnesotans witness the brothers' shape-shifting principles" By Michael Craig September 17, 2014
- ^ "Garden Homes". gardenhomes.com.
- ^ G.R. Anderson, Jr., Eye of the Beholder, City Pages, January 3, 2007.
- ^ a b c MINNESOTA VIKINGS MISSION STATEMENT retrieved September 19, 2015
- ^ "Minnesota Vikings: Judge's ruling against Wilf family won't affect stadium plans". TwinCities.com.
- ^ Horowitz, Ben (September 23, 2013). "Judge announces damages of $84.5 million against Wilfs in long-running lawsuit". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- ^ "Yeshiva University Trustees". Yeshiva University.
- ^ New York Times: "Jane E. Frieder Weds Mark Wilf" October 29, 1990