From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zygmunt "Zygi" Wilf (born April 22, 1950 in Germany) is the principal owner of the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL.

Wilf's parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Wilf, are both Holocaust survivors in Poland.^[1] The Wilf family imigrated to the United States from Europe in the early 1950s and settled in 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.

Zygi Wilf attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, earning a bachelor's degree in economics and later graduated from New York Law School in Manhattan. After working as an attorney, Wilf joined the family business and became head of one of the company's subsidies, Garden Commerical Properties. Wilf has grown the company from 4 shopping centers in Northern New Jersey to over a hundred properties, including several large malls.

Wilf made news in 2005 when he became the head of a financial group that purchased the Vikings from Red McCombs^[1] and is currently looking to build the team a new stadium somewhere in the Twin Cities area. The group's original plans to build in Blaine, in Anoka County, were scotched when the Army Corps of Engineers determined that the area was a protected wetland and could not be built on.

Zygi Wilf's first year with the Vikings organization was marked by monumental change and progress on several important organizational issues.

The Wilfs directed an active off-season. The team signed Head Coach Brad Childress to lead the team on the field and gave him the tools to acquire several free agents to bolster the roster. The Vikings solidified their football operations by bringing in and retaining additional personnel staff and evaluators.

Under Wilf's leadership, the organization made significant and real progress on the initiative to build a new football stadium for the Vikings. The team enhanced its already strong reputation as an NFL leader in community relations activities and has raised the level of commitment to the region.

The Vikings made improvements to the franchise's Winter Park headquarters, expanding the locker room, athletic training room and equipment facilities to give Vikings players an improved day-to-day workplace. The Wilf ownership group is also trying to stress the development of a winning attitude and family atmosphere.

Wilf leads an ownership group that closely mirrors the structure that has led the Wilf family to national prominence in their previous business ventures with Garden Homes Development, a nationwide leader in retail and private residential development.

Along with Wilf, his brother, Mark serves as Vikings' president and cousin, Leonard serves as vice chair.^[2] A nephew, Jeffrey, along with several associates from outside the family also manage the organization.

The journey for Wilf from avid New York Giants fan sitting in the bleachers of Yankee Stadium in the 1960's to taking over the leadership of one of the NFL's proudest franchises has been one marked by bold and well-researched business decisions, commitment to family and employees and a dedication to community.

Throughout the Wilf family's rise to prominence in real estate development, the consistent focus on philanthropy and never losing touch with family roots has been a foundation and philosophy.

Building a championship team with character has been at the foundation the Wilf ownership group's growth as NFL owners.

The Wilf family has stayed close to their roots, donating generously to heart-felt causes including the New Holocaust History Museum in Israel, New York City's Yeshiva University and numerous community and civic organizations in and around their New Jersey homes.

Wilf, and wife, Audrey, have four children.

Preceded by Red McCombs 1998–2005

Owner of the Minnesota Vikings 2005–present

Succeeded by Current

1. ^ ^{a b} Williams, Brandt. "NFL owners approve Vikings sale to Wilf", Minnesota Public Radio, 2005-05-25. Retrieved on February 19, 2007.
2. ^ Kaplan, Ron. "Zygi Wilf's Rookie Year", New Jersey Jewish News, 2006-03-16. Retrieved on July 19, 2006.