Tilman Fertitta | |
---|---|
United States Ambassador to Italy | |
Presumptive nominee | |
Assuming office TBD | |
President | Donald Trump |
Succeeding | Jack Markell |
Personal details | |
Born | Tilman Joseph Fertitta June 25,1957 Galveston,Texas,U.S. |
Spouses | Paige Farwell (m. 1991,divorced)
|
Children | 4 |
Relatives | Lorenzo Fertitta (cousin) [1] Frank Fertitta III (cousin) [1] Frank Fertitta Jr. (cousin) |
Alma mater | Texas Tech University (no degree) University of Houston (no degree) |
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | Owner of Landry's, Inc. and the Houston Rockets Star of Billion Dollar Buyer |
Tilman Joseph Fertitta (born June 25, 1957) is an American businessman and television personality. He is the chairman, CEO, and owner of Landry's, Inc. [2] [3] He also owns the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s Houston Rockets. [4] [5] Fertitta is chairman of the board of regents of the University of Houston System. [6]
As of June 2023, his net worth was estimated at $8.4 billion. He was placed at No. 260 on the Forbes Billionaires List. [7] Forbes calls him the "World's Richest Restaurateur.” [8]
Fertitta became the star of Billion Dollar Buyer on CNBC. On September 5, 2017, Fertitta reached an agreement to buy the Houston Rockets for $2.2 billion. [9] [10] [11]
On December 21, 2024, Fertitta has been announced by president-elect Donald Trump as the future United States Ambassador to Italy. [12]
Tilman Joseph Fertitta was born in Galveston, Texas, [13] on June 25, 1957. [14] He is of Sicilian descent. [15] His father, Vic, owned a seafood restaurant on Galveston Island, and after school, Tilman would peel shrimp in his father's restaurant. [16]
Fertitta attended Texas Tech University and the University of Houston, studying business administration and hospitality management but never graduated. [17] His first entrepreneurial experience involved selling and promoting Shaklee vitamins. [18]
In the 1980s, Fertitta founded and ran a construction and development business, and developed his first major project, the Key Largo Hotel in Galveston. [19] [20]
Fertitta was a partner in the first Landry's Restaurant, Landry's Seafood, which opened its doors in the Houston suburb of Katy, Texas, in 1980. [21] A year later, he helped open Willie G's Seafood & Steaks, a more upscale restaurant in Uptown Houston. [22]
In 1986, Fertitta gained controlling interests of both locations, and in 1988, became sole owner of Landry's Restaurants. In 1993, he took Landry's, Inc. public and the company grew quickly, adding concept after concept. [23]
In 1993, Landry's was valued at approximately $30 million. [24]
In 2004, Fertitta was elected to the Texas Business Hall of Fame, becoming the second-youngest Texan to ever earn that distinction, behind only Michael Dell. [25] [26]
In 2010, Fertitta, who already owned the majority of Landry's, Inc. stock, purchased all outstanding shares, becoming sole owner again. By 2011, the company's value had skyrocketed to a value of more than $1.7 billion. [27]
His portfolio includes: The Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos; Morton's The Steakhouse; Rainforest Cafe; Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.; McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks; Saltgrass Steak House; Claim Jumper; Chart House; The Oceanaire; Mastro's Restaurants; Grotto Restaurants, The Boathouse Restaurants [28] and Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse. [29] [30] In 2017 he acquired half of EMM group, owner of the Catch Restaurants. [31] He is the owner of the holding company Fertitta Entertainment. [32]
Fertitta first built the Key Largo Hotel in Galveston, Texas and then sold it in order to buy the rights to Landry's. [33] After acquiring restaurants under the company, Fertitta started focusing more on the hospitality division of Landry's and acquired the San Luis Resort, Spa, & Conference Center in Galveston, Texas. He also partnered with the City of Galveston to build the conference center in 2004 inside the resort. Fertitta since acquired two additional hotels on the island, including the Holiday Inn On the Beach in 2003, and the Hilton Galveston Island Resort in 2004, which stands adjacent to his San Luis Resort. In 2015, Fertitta added the Villas at San Luis section of the hotel, which consists of ultra-luxury villas with direct access to both the beach and the hotel's pool. [34] [35] In June 2022, he was recognized by the International Hospitality Institute on the Global 100 in Hospitality, on a list featuring the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality. [36] In 2022 Fertitta acquired The Montage Laguna Beach for approximately $650 million. [37]
Landry's first expanded to casinos in 2005 when it bought Golden Nugget Casinos, including locations in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada. [38] Since then, Landry's has opened casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Biloxi, Mississippi; and Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Golden Nugget Atlantic City was previously called the Trump Marina. Fertitta purchased this casino from Trump Entertainment Resorts in 2011. [39]
The Golden Nugget Lake Charles was bought after Fertitta found a license and resort land for sale from Pinnacle Entertainment, which owns the adjacent L'Auberge du Lac Resort. Fertitta stated he built the casino with the idea of having a casino in close proximity to his Houston hometown. After the first year proved the casino was successful, a new 300 room tower began construction on the property. [40]
In addition to restaurants, hotels, and casinos, Landry's also owns amusement parks, aquariums, and the Kemah Boardwalk. Landry's, Inc. first acquired the Kemah Boardwalk in 1999. After acquiring the boardwalk, Fertitta added a few Landry's restaurants, and a few rides. In 2007, he added the Boardwalk Bullet which is a high speed wooden roller coaster. He also added the Boardwalk FantaSea [41] , which is a luxury yacht cruise service where guests ride along the Galveston Bay.
The marina on the boardwalk has a large concentration of boats and yachts in the Greater Houston area. The boardwalk also includes an aquarium, which is under the same Landry's line of aquarium restaurants with locations in Houston, Denver, and Nashville. Travel + Leisure magazine named the Kemah boardwalk a top 10 American boardwalk. [42] [43] [44]
In 2000, Landry's acquired the land on the 400 block of Bagby in Downtown Houston. The deal came from a proposal of the City of Houston to redevelop the fire station. After redeveloping the building, the aquarium added the shark tank and restaurant before opening in 2003.[ citation needed ]
Fertitta redeveloped the pleasure pier in Galveston, Texas, after the pier had closed after damages by Hurricane Ike. The pier reopened in 2012 as the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. The redeveloped pier includes an amusement park, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant, as well as shops. [45]
During the process of building the Houston Texans as an NFL team, Fertitta was one of the original investors in creating the franchise. He was a partner of Texans owner Bob McNair until 2008 when he had to sell his interest in the franchise because he owns the Golden Nugget casino chain (a Landry's subsidiary) and NFL rules state any staff member of a team cannot be associated with gambling. Both Fertitta and McNair were disappointed, as Fertitta was part of the franchise since its establishment. [46]
In 2003, Fertitta bought the naming rights to the Crawford Boxes seating section of Daikin Park, calling it "Landry's Crawford Boxes". The term has become a commercial moniker during radio and television broadcasts. A Landry's sign is placed above the section, along with many of the company's subsidiaries. Traditionally, when a fan catches a home run, they are awarded a gift certificate to one of Landry's restaurants. Landry's promoters often visit the section and give away items such as T-shirts. [47]
On September 4, 2017, he agreed to purchase the Rockets from Leslie Alexander, pending league approval, for an NBA record $2.2 billion. [48] On October 6, 2017, Fertitta was approved by the NBA to own the Houston Rockets. [5] Fertitta paid for the Rockets by selling $1.415 billion worth of bonds and was competing with Houston-native singer Beyonce Knowles to purchase the team. [49] By buying the Houston Rockets he also became the owner of Clutch Gaming, a professional eSports organization focused on League of Legends. [50]
After Fertitta bought the Rockets and Toyota Center in 2017, he expressed interest in an expansion team or relocating an NHL team to Houston, with both options most likely playing at Toyota Center. In 2018, he held preliminary talks with commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss ownership of a team. It was speculated he was working on a deal to purchase the Arizona Coyotes prior to their deactivation in 2024. Fertitta has continually stated his interest in owning a hockey team and believes that one would boost the economy of downtown Houston. In September 2024, it was reported by Andy Strickland that for the upcoming board of governors meeting regarding expansion, Houston was one of the leading candidates for expansion, with Fertitta's bid being the frontrunner for the city. [51] [52] [53]
In 2024, Fertitta expressed interest in bringing back a WNBA franchise to Houston, which would be their second team since the Houston Comets folded in 2008. [54]
Fertitta partnered with Richard Handler and announced a special-purpose acquisition company called Landcadia, a portmanteau of Fertitta's Landry's and Handler's Leucadia . The company plans to raise as much as $300 million in initial public offering. [55]
On May 16, 2018, Fertitta announced that Landcadia would acquire Waitr. [56]
On March 1, 2024, it was reported that Fertitta had purchased the River Oaks District, one of Houston's most prominent mixed-use developments, for $450 million. [57]
On October 4, 2019, the Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey issued a tweet that supported the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests which drew criticism from Fertitta who said that while Morey was the best general manager in the NBA, the Rockets were not a political organization. [58] [59] [60] Morey later deleted the tweet. [59] [61]
In April 2020, Governor Greg Abbott named Fertitta to the Strike Force to Open Texas – a group "tasked with finding safe and effective ways to slowly reopen the state" during the COVID-19 pandemic. [62]
Fertitta is known to support political leaders in both the Republican and Democratic parties. In particular, Fertitta has been a supporter of both Bill Clinton and the Bush family. [63] [64] Together with his spouse, Fertitta contributed $140,000 to Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign and $5,600 to Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign. [65]
Mark Kelly, a Democrat and current United States Senator from Arizona, is considered to be a very close friend of Fertitta. [66]
He is also a large donor to Republican candidates, funding the reelection campaign for many state Republicans in 2022. He notably donated over $1.1 million to Greg Abbott. [67]
On January 12, 2016, it was announced that Fertitta would star in his own reality TV show titled Billion Dollar Buyer on CNBC. [68] Billion Dollar Buyer premiered on March 22, 2016, at 10 P.M. Eastern Time. After the first season was successful, a second season was announced, featuring more episodes. [69]
On September 17, 2019, Fertitta released a book, Shut Up and Listen! Hard Business Truths That Will Help You Succeed, in which he details his journey to success and offers advice to other entrepreneurs on their business ventures. Each chapter contains "Tilmanisms" which focus on 6 important rules for any entrepreneur to follow: "(1) Be the Bull, (2) No Spare Customers, (3) Change, change, change, (4) Know Your Numbers, (5) Follow the 95/5 Rule, and (6) Take No Out of Your Vocabulary" [70] [71]
In 1991 Fertitta married Paige Farwell with whom he has four children, [72] a daughter and three sons. [73] Fertitta is now married to a Houston attorney, Lauren Ware. [74]
He is second-cousin to former UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta. [1] An avid sports fan, Fertitta is a vocal supporter of the University of Houston Cougars and can be seen at most Cougar football and men's basketball games as well as court side for Houston Rockets basketball games. In 2016, Fertitta donated $20 million to rebuild the University of Houston's basketball home of Hofheinz Pavilion, since renamed Fertitta Center, along with donations for the construction of TDECU Stadium. [75]
Fertitta is a close friend of retired NASA astronaut and Arizona senator Mark Kelly, and his wife, former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords. [76]
Fertitta is chairman of the board of the Houston Children's Charity. [77] In 2009, Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed Fertitta to the board of regents of the University of Houston System. [78] In 2008, Fertitta was named chairperson of the Houston Police Department's Police Foundation, supplying gear and equipment for Houston Police Officers. [79] [80] [81] [82] He is on the executive committee for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. [83] [84] He is a board member of the Texas Heart Institute, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Greater Houston Partnership. [85] [86]
In May 2022, The University of Houston College of Medicine received a $50 million pledge from Fertitta, the school was renamed the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. [87]
Kemah is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, southeast of Houston along west Galveston Bay. The city's population was 1,807 at the 2020 census, down from 2,330 at the 2000 census. Located in Galveston County, Kemah's main industry is shipping. Originally a small fishing town, the city has become a tourist destination for the area's restaurants and attractions, which are contained within the Kemah Entertainment District. In 2012 Kemah was ranked the top tourism spot in the Greater Houston area.
The University of Houston System is a public university system in the U.S. state of Texas, comprising four separate and distinct universities. It also owns and holds broadcasting licenses to a public television station (KUHT) and a public radio station (KUHF).
Landry's, Inc., is a privately held American multi-brand dining, hospitality, entertainment, and gaming corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas. Landry's, Inc., owns and operates more than 600 restaurants, hotels, casinos, and entertainment destinations in 35 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The company also owns and operates numerous international locations. The company is owned by President & CEO Tilman Fertitta.
Golden Nugget Hotels & Casinos is an American chain of luxury hotels and casinos. It currently operates six casino resorts in Nevada, Louisiana, New Jersey, Illinois, and Mississippi.
The Fertitta Center, formerly known as Hofheinz Pavilion, is a 7,100-seat multi-purpose arena on the University of Houston campus in Houston. Located at 3875 Holman Street, it is home to the Houston Cougars men's and women's basketball teams and the women's volleyball team. The arena opened in 1967 as Hofheinz Pavilion, named after Roy Hofheinz and his late wife, Irene Cafcalas "Dene" Hofheinz, after they donated $1.5 million to help fund construction. Roy Hofheinz, known as Judge Hofheinz, was a UH alumnus and a Houston politician, businessman, and philanthropist. The arena is now named after restaurant magnate, Houston Rockets owner and UH alum Tilman Fertitta, who donated $20 million toward the complete renovation of the arena in 2016. The court is named for Hall of Fame and former Cougars coach Guy V. Lewis. Like many arenas of its kind, the seating bowl of Fertitta Center is dug into the ground so that one enters the building at the top of the bowl.
Joe's Crab Shack is an American chain of beach-themed seafood casual dining restaurants. Founded in Houston, Texas, the restaurant now operates locations all across the United States.
Daryl Morey is an American basketball executive who is the president of basketball operations of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His basketball philosophy, heavily reliant on analytics, favors three-point field goals and layups over mid-range jumpers. This style has been dubbed "Moreyball", as a nod towards Michael Lewis's Moneyball. Morey also co-established the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.
Houston is a multicultural city with a thriving international community supported by the third largest concentration of consular offices in the United States, representing 86 nations. In addition to historical Southeast Texas culture, Houston became the fourth-most populous city in the United States. Officially, Houston is nicknamed the "Space City" as it is home to NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, where Mission Control Center is located. "Houston" was the first word spoken on the Moon. Many locals refer to Houston as "Bayou City." Other nicknames include "H-Town", "Clutch City", and "Magnolia City".
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants Inc. is an American seafood restaurant chain, formerly based in Portland, Oregon. As of December 2024, the company operates 20 locations & 1 catering service in the United States and 4 Canadian locations that operate under the Boathouse name. A sale to the parent company, Landry's, Inc., was completed in January 2012. Landry's corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas now manages all restaurant operations.
Frank Joseph Fertitta III is an American businessman. He is the CEO of Station Casinos. He is also a founder of Zuffa LLC, formerly the parent entity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Leslie Lee Alexander is an American attorney, businessman and financier. He is a former bond trader from New Jersey. He formerly owned the National Basketball Association (NBA) team Houston Rockets for 24 years, from 1993 to 2017.
Saltgrass Steak House is an American restaurant concept with more than 80 locations across the country. The company is based in Houston, Texas, and is wholly owned by Landry's, Inc.
Renu Khator is the eighth chancellor of the University of Houston System and the thirteenth president of the University of Houston. In 2008, she became the first female chancellor in the state of Texas and the first Indian immigrant to lead a comprehensive research university in the U.S.
Lorenzo Joseph Fertitta is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is chairman of Fertitta Capital, director of Red Rock Resorts Inc, and former CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Golden Nugget Lake Charles is a 242-acre waterfront casino resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States, owned and operated by Houston-based Landry's, Inc. The resort features 1038 guest rooms and suites housed in a 22-story tower, an 18-hole golf course, 30,000 square feet of meeting space, more than a dozen dining and bar options, a private beach, marina, spa & salon, retail corridor and expansive 24-hour casino floor.
Vic & Anthony's is an American steakhouse restaurant chain with locations in Downtown Houston, and inside the Golden Nugget Casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Lake Charles. Vic & Anthony's is owned and operated by Landry's, Inc.
River Oaks District is an openair luxury shopping complex in Houston, Texas, which opened October 1, 2015. It consists of 252,000 square feet of retail space with an iPic movie theater. Anchor stores include Hermes, Dior, Cartier, Harry Winston, Van Cleef, Saint Bernard, and Zimmermann.
Billion Dollar Buyer is an American reality TV show starring American business owner, Tilman Fertitta, CEO and owner of Landry's, Inc. Each hour-long episode features Fertitta traveling the nation to sample new and innovative hospitality products. Small business owners compete to impress the business mogul and land the "deal of a lifetime" - the opportunity to partner with Landry's, Inc., as a supplier to Fertitta's over 60 leading Landry's restaurants, hotels, and entertainment brands. The program premiered on March 22, 2016, and is broadcast on CNBC.
Fertitta Entertainment Inc. is a conglomerate and holding company that holds companies and investments owned by Tilman Fertitta. These include Landry's, Inc., the Houston Rockets, and the Golden Nugget casinos. Within the portfolio are many luxury hotels and well known restaurant brands such as Rainforest Café, Del Frisco's, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Morton's The Steakhouse, among others. Additionally, the company is the largest shareholder of food delivery app ASAP.
The Post Oak Hotel & Tower, also popularly nicknamed the Fertitta Tower is a 36-story, 499-foot-high (152 m) mixed-use skyscraper in Uptown Houston. The building operates a hotel, office space, residencies, and retail. The Post Oak serves as the headquarters for Fertitta Entertainment and its subsidiaries including Landry's, Inc., the Houston Rockets, and the Golden Nugget casinos. A penthouse room which houses Fertitta, the developer, is located in the building.
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