Early Life and Education
Jeffrey Robert Lurie was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 8, 1951, to Nancy (née Smith) and Morris John Lurie. His grandfather, Philip Smith, founded the General Cinema movie theater chain. Lurie attended Browne and Nichols School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He earned a B.A. from Clark University, a master's degree in psychology from Boston University, and a doctorate in social policy from Brandeis University. He also served as an adjunct assistant professor of social policy at Boston University.
Rise to Success
Lurie's career began in the film industry. In 1983, he joined General Cinema Corporation. Two years later, in 1985, he founded Chestnut Hill Productions, a film production company that produced movies and TV shows. However, his greatest financial success would come from his acquisition of the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1994, Lurie purchased the Eagles for $195 million. Since then, the team's value has increased dramatically.
Key Business Strategies
As the owner of the Eagles, Lurie instituted an organizational infrastructure that reflected the pride and passion of the region. He focused on building a strong team and investing in the franchise's infrastructure. Under Lurie's leadership, the Eagles have consistently been a contender, winning eight NFC East titles, playing in six NFC Championships, and making two Super Bowl appearances, including a victory in Super Bowl LII. In December 2024, the Philadelphia Eagles were valued at $8.3 billion after the sale of an 8% minority stake.
Philanthropy
Lurie is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for autism research. In 2019, he launched the Eagles Autism Foundation, which has raised over $40 million for autism research and care programs. In 2025, the Lurie family donated $50 million to create the Lurie Autism Institute in partnership with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine.