Zygi Wilf is an American billionaire and owner of the Minnesota Vikings.
Having moved to America from Europe, Wilf and his family’s fortune and influence have grown unimaginable since they emigrated to the USA in the 1950s. To own an NFL franchise, you need to have considerable wealth, but how much is the Vikings owner worth?
How Much Is Zygi Wilf Worth?
Wilf is widely reported to have a net worth of $1.3 billion and is the 27th-wealthiest owner in the NFL.
Wilf has made his fortune as the chairman of Garden Homes, redeveloping and renting out properties and commercial complexes.
Along with his syndicate, which included his brother Mark, Zygi purchased the Vikings in 2005 from Red McCombs for an estimated $600 million.
The NFL and its commercial operation have grown so much that, in 2020, Forbes estimated the Vikings are now worth approximately $2.9 billion. In addition to his role as team co-owner, Wilf is also the team chairman in Minnesota.
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As chairman, Wilf has overseen many successes. He oversaw the building of U.S. Bank Stadium, which played host to the Super Bowl in 2018. But despite making four Super Sunday appearances in the 1970s, the Vikings still have not won a Super Bowl.
In addition to owning the Vikings, Wilf has a majority share in MLS team Orlando City. He also owns Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Wilf’s Family History
Wilf has an incredible backstory.
Born in 1950 in Berlin, Zygmunt “Zygi” Wilf is the son of Elizabeth and Joseph Wilf. Zygi’s parents, who were both Polish Jews, survived the Holocaust during WWII. In the 1950s, the Wilfs moved across the pond to America, setting up their home in New Jersey.
Zygi’s father, Joseph, started selling cars before he started purchasing apartments with his brother Harry and renting them out. The pair would go on to found Garden Homes once they started to build their own homes and become serious property developers. The company predominantly operated in the Jersey area before its expansion under Zygi.
Zygi attended school at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he graduated with a degree in economics in 1971. Zygi would go on to become an attorney before joining the family business.
He was initially in charge of one of Garden Home’s affiliate companies, Garden Commercial Properties, which controlled four shopping centers in New Jersey. Under Zygi’s guidance, the company grew to over 90,000 units and expanded to almost every state in America. The company boasts over 25 million square feet of commercial real estate and has high-profile clients such as Lowe’s, Walmart, and Home Depot.
The story of Wilf is one of great success and epitomizes the American Dream.
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