Behind every successful man stands a strong woman, and for Jeffrey Lurie, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, that woman is Tina Lai Lurie. As the better half of the billionaire businessman, Tina has been a constant source of support and inspiration. But who is the enigmatic woman behind the scenes? From her humble beginnings to her current role as a philanthropic powerhouse, Tina Lai Lurie’s story is one of elegance, intelligence, and devotion—an endearing tale of struggling as a refugee, to then living the American dream…

Born in Vietnam, her journey began on a small boat when the Lai family of ten fled Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) to a Malaysian refugee camp where they spent nine months. In an interview, Tina’s brother shared the formidable tale of how their run-down boat got stranded in the South China Sea, before they were rescued by sailors. Finally, in 1978, the family reached Philadelphia by plane to begin their life from scratch, after escaping their home country’s Communist government.

“The Lai family came to this country with little more than the clothes on their backs. With talent, vision, and hard work, they raised their children and succeeded in their businesses. The family has truly lived the American dream,” Jeffrey Lurie’s brother-in-law said. But the struggle was far from over.

The family’s early life in Philadelphia was filled with challenges, including living in a cramped apartment and struggling to make ends meet. However, through dedication and effort, they built a thriving business in the food industry.

Tina, the youngest of her siblings, played an instrumental role in the family’s ventures. She helped her brother, Benny Lai, manage their restaurant, Vietnam Cafe, and worked at her parents’ grocery store, Fu Wah Market, in West Philadelphia. The family’s restaurants became beloved in the local community, with Vietnam Cafe becoming a popular destination for its outstanding Vietnamese cuisine. In fact, it is through this very grocery store that the couple met each other for the first time. But before we get to that…

By 2008, Tina had taken on the responsibility of managing Vietnam Cafe, showcasing her business acumen and deep connection to her family’s heritage. Her experiences running a successful restaurant undoubtedly influenced her relationship with Jeffrey Lurie, offering her insights into managing large operations, though on a much smaller scale than her husband’s NFL franchise.

Now, Tina lives a life far removed from her early struggles, but her story continues to inspire as an example of the American Dream. Despite the wealth and luxury she now shares with her husband, she remains a testament to the power of resilience and family values. But now that we know all about Eagles’ first lady, let’s see…

How did Tina Lai meet her husband?

“This was not a decision made easily or without deep consideration for each other, our children and our extended families. But it is one we have reached mutually and with the greatest respect for each other and each of our roles in our work here at the Eagles,” read the official statement from Jeffrey Lurie and his ex-wife Christina, announcing their divorce. Married in 1992, the couple—who share two children together, Milena and Julien—met in a pre-production meeting for ‘I Love You To Death’.

For context: Lurie has been a longtime producer, taking up an executive role at General Cinema Corporation (a company founded by his grandfather in 1983). Two years later, he founded Chestnut Hill Productions, and has even won two Academy Awards since then—in 2011 for a documentary on the 2008 economic crisis, ‘Inside Job’, and in 2013 for a documentary on an undocumented homeless American teen ‘Inocente’. 

Having said that, the Eagles owner, now 71, has been married to Tina, a Vietnamese immigrant, since 2013. Tina and Jeffrey’s love story unfolded against the backdrop of her family’s successful grocery store, where Tina was working at the register at the time. Despite the immense public attention that often surrounds Jeffrey Lurie due to his role as an NFL team owner, their wedding was a private affair, held in Charleston, South Carolina.

Tina Lai Lurie has remained mostly out of the spotlight despite her husband’s high-profile position. The couple does not have children together and they enjoy a quiet life in their $14 million estate in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Though Tina has no official role with the Eagles, she is an important part of Jeffrey Lurie’s personal life, offering him a grounded and supportive partnership away from the world of football.