Jeffrey Lurie made his money primarily through his involvement in the family business and his career in the film industry before becoming the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. He is the grandson of Philip Smith, who founded the General Cinema Corporation, one of the largest movie theater chains in the U.S. This family business provided Lurie with a wealthy background and initial financial foundation
. After graduating from Clark University, Lurie joined General Cinema Corporation in 1983 and later founded his own production company, Chestnut Hill Productions, in 1985. His company produced films and documentaries, some of which won Academy Awards, including the documentary Inside Job in 2011. This Hollywood success contributed significantly to his wealth
. In 1994, Lurie purchased the Philadelphia Eagles for $185 million, borrowing about $190 million from a bank using family stock as collateral. Under his ownership, the team's value has grown substantially, now estimated at around $8 billion. The appreciation of the Eagles franchise has been a major factor in increasing his net worth, which is estimated at $5.3 billion as of 2025
. In summary, Jeffrey Lurie made his money through:
- Wealth inherited from his grandfather's General Cinema movie theater business.
- His successful career as a film and documentary producer with Chestnut Hill Productions.
- The significant increase in value of the Philadelphia Eagles franchise since he bought the team in 1994
