Meet Jim Crane Wife Whitney Crane, Their Family & Children

Mrs. Whitney Wheeler Crane is the billionaire’s wife number 3. The pair got married on Memorial Day 2017, in a lavish ceremony hosted at Floridian National Golf Club, owned by Jim Crane himself. The Cranes are fairly secretive about their family lives but here is all that they have made public. 

Mrs. Crane, being the wife of a major businessman and philanthropist, is quite popular in Houston, especially among the Houston Astros fans. She was born Whitney Lynn Kerb, on February 18, 1969. She studied at Pinewood High School in Los Angeles and went to California Polytechnic State University for further studies. 

Although the couple is not very active on social media, they were surprisingly not shy to share their special day with the public. They exchanged vows flanked by swans and performed their first dance surrounded by blue hydrangeas, blue delphiniums, gardenias, orchids, and white roses. Whitney wore a beautiful gown with a touch of blue lace, designed by the famous Carolina Herrera. It is rumored that the couple had booked Bruno Mars for their first dance, but a mix-up had them settle for the local country star, Clay Walker. 

However, the couple wasn’t the only highlight of the wedding- the couple’s son James Robert Crane II was stealing all the limelight with his adorable charm. It is not known when Jim and Whitney first started dating and hence, it is not known how old James is. We do know, however, that James is Whitney’s only child and she also has a good relationship with her stepchildren.

Jim was first married to Theresa Kay Welch, before becoming the mogul he is today. With Theresa, he fathered 2 children- Jared (b.1982) and Krystal (b.1984).  The couple divorced in 1990 and Theresa won custody of both kids until 2000. Jim sued her for custody, in a legal battle that quickly turned unfriendly. However, they soon came to an agreed settlement and today the kids seem to have a good relationship with both parents. 

Successively, in 1993, Jim married the attorney and founder of the Houston Cinema Arts Society, Francigene Neely Beck. They divorced in 2015, and Beck walked out with $30 million. 

Jared Crane currently is president and board member at Crane Worldwide Logistics. He also helps his father oversee the Astro business. Needless to say, Jared Crane is following in his father’s footsteps and seems to be adapting well to the business world. Jared is married to Adrienne Crane and enjoys his free time playing golf and traveling. 

Krystal Crane, now Krystal Thompson, is a family therapist and counselor. She also serves as a Board Member of the Crane Family Foundation. She recently married Garrett Thompson, VP of Operations at Vistamont Realty Management. It is rumored that Krystal now has a daughter. However, much like other members of her family, she has kept a safe distance from the media. 

• Did Jim Crane play baseball? 

Yes! Crane did play baseball, at a comparatively high level too. While he wasn’t close to playing in the MLB, he was a division II baseball star at the University of Central Missouri. 

• How much did Jim Crane sell Eagle Global Logistics for? 

Eagle Global Logistics was his first company, which he sold to Apollo Global Management in 2007, for a staggering $300 million. 

• When did Jim Crane buy the Astros? 

Jim Crane bought the Houston Astros and a minority stake in a regional sports network in 2011 for $680 million.