Tilman Fertitta

Tilman Fertitta

Currently ranked #153 on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans at $4.5 Billion, Fertitta is the sole owner of Fertitta Entertainment; which owns the restaurant giant Landry’s, the Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels and the NBA’s Houston Rockets.

Through his restaurant and hospitality company Landry’s, Fertitta owns more than 600 properties in 36 states and in over 15 countries. He is also one of the largest employers in the nation with more than 60,000 employees. His restaurants include more than 60 different restaurant brands and award winning concepts such as Mastro’s Steakhouse, Morton’s The Steakhouse, The Oceanaire, Chart House, Landry’s Seafood House, Rainforest Cafe, Saltgrass Steak House, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Joe's Crab Shack and McCormick & Schmick’s. Additionally, Fertitta owns 50% of Catch Hospitality – one of Los Angeles’, Las Vegas’ and New York’s most popular eateries.

He also owns and operates numerous gaming, hospitality and entertainment venues, including the iconic Golden Nugget Casino and Hotel brand, Houston’s only AAA Five-Diamond Hotel - The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, The Kemah Boardwalk, Downtown Aquarium Denver and Houston and Tower of The Americas in San Antonio.

In 2017, the star of the popular CNBC show “Billion Dollar Buyer", fulfilled a life-long dream and purchased his beloved hometown NBA team, the Houston Rockets for a record breaking $2.2 Billion.

An influential business figure, Fertitta debuted on the Forbes 400 list in 2012 and is frequently featured in the nation’s top financial and industry publications. He is also a frequent guest of prominent national business and sports programs on networks like CNBC, MSNBC, Bloomberg, ESPN and Fox. He is considered one of the foremost authorities in the restaurant, gaming, entertainment and hospitality industries and is slated to release his first business book “Shut up and Listen” with HarperCollins Publishers in fall of 2019.

Fertitta believes in the importance of giving back to the community and devotes a substantial amount of time to civic service and charitable organizations. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board – Houston Police Foundation, Chairman of the Board - Houston Children’s Charity and is currently serving his sixth year as Chairman of the Board of Regents - University of Houston. In 2016, Fertitta contributed $20 million dollars to fund the University of Houston Basketball team's arena which opened in December 2018. He is on the Executive Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which is one of the nation's largest charitable organizations.