Tilman Fertitta - wikipedia Tilman Fertitta Tilman J. Fertitta June 25, 1957 ( 1957 - 06 - 25 ) ( age 60 ) Galveston, Texas, U.S. Residence Houston, Texas, U.S. Nationality American Alma mater University of Houston Occupation Businessman Known for Owner of Landry 's, Inc. Net worth US $3.1 billion ( September 2017 ) Spouse ( s ) Paige Fertitta Children Tilman Joseph Fertitta ( born June 25, 1957 ) is an American businessman and television personality. He is the chairman, CEO, and sole owner of Landry 's, Inc., one of the largest restaurant corporations in the United States. In 2013, his net worth was estimated at $2.4 billion, placing him at No. 235 on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans ; Forbes calls him the `` World 's Richest Restaurateur ''. Fertitta is also chairman of the board of regents of the University of Houston System. 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. Contents 1 Early life 2 Business ventures 2.1 Landry 's, Inc. 2.2 Hotels 2.3 Casinos 2.4 Entertainment 2.5 Sports 2.5. 1 Texans 2.5. 2 Astros 2.5. 3 Rockets 2.6 Investments 2.7 Hangar 3 Television 4 Fundraising and Public Service 5 Personal life 6 Awards 7 References 8 External links Early life Fertitta was born and raised in Galveston, Texas, several generations after his family had emigrated to Texas from Sicily, Italy. His father, Vic, owned a seafood restaurant on Galveston Island, and after school, Tilman would peel shrimp in his father 's restaurant. Fertitta attended Texas Tech University and the University of Houston, studying business administration and hospitality management. His first entrepreneurial experience involved selling and promoting Shaklee vitamins. In the 1980s, Fertitta founded and ran a construction and development business, and developed his first major project, the Key Largo Hotel in Galveston. Business ventures Landry 's, Inc. Main article : Landry 's, Inc. 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. A year later, he helped open Willie G 's Seafood & Steaks, a more upscale restaurant in Uptown Houston. 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. In 2010, Fertitta, who already owned the majority of Landry 's, Inc. stock, purchased all outstanding shares, becoming sole owner again. In 1993, the company was valued at approximately $30 million. By 2011, the company 's value had skyrocketed to a value of more than $1.7 billion. As of 2013, the company, under the leadership of Fertitta, owns and operates more than 500 restaurant / entertainment / gaming / hospitality locations. In total, Landry 's, Inc. employs more than 50,000 people and controls $3.2 billion in assets. 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 and Vic & Anthony 's Steakhouse. 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. Hotels Fertitta first built the Key Largo Hotel in Galveston, Texas to buy the rights to Landry 's. 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. Casinos This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2017 ) Golden Nugget Lake Charles in Lake Charles, Louisiana Landry 's first expanded to casinos in 2005 when it bought Golden Nugget Casinos, including locations in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada. 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 The Trump Organization after the casino went bankrupt. 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. Entertainment 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 Fanta Sea, which is a luxury yacht cruise service where guests ride along the Galveston Bay. The marina on the boardwalk is the largest concentration of boats and yachts in Greater Houston, as well as one of the largest in the nation. 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. 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. 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. Sports In 2003, Fertitta bought the naming rights to the Crawford Boxes at Minute Maid Park. Texans During the process of building the Houston Texans as an NFL team, Fertitta was one of the original investors in creating the franchise. He then lasted as a partner for the Texans owner Bob McNair until 2008. Fertitta then had to sell his interest in the franchise, as he owns Golden Nugget casinos as part of Landry 's subsidiary. NFL rules state any staff member of a team ca n't be associated with gambling. Both Fertitta and McNair were disappointed, as Fertitta was part of the franchise since the beginning, yet the team needed to comply with NFL rules. Astros In 2003, Fertitta bought the naming rights to the Crawford Boxes seating section of Minute Maid 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. Rockets Fertitta served as the director of the Houston Rockets in the 1990s, during which the team won two NBA titles during the 1993 -- 94 and 1994 -- 95 seasons. On September 4, 2017, he agreed to purchase the Rockets from Leslie Alexander, pending league approval, for an NBA record $2.2 billion. Investments Fertitta partnered with Richard Handler and announced a special - purpose acquisition company. The company would be called Landcadia, a word mix between Fertitta 's Landry 's and Handler 's Leucadia. The company plans to raise as much as $300 million in initial public offering. Hangar Landry 's Hangar - Hobby Airport, Houston Landry 's owns a private hangar situated inside Houston 's Hobby Airport. Fertitta has hosted both private and public parties there, including a benefit for the Houston Police Department. Television Main article : Billion Dollar Buyer On January 12, 2016, it was announced that Fertitta would star in his own reality tv show titled Billion Dollar Buyer on CNBC. Billion Dollar Buyer premiered on March 22, 2016 at 10 P.M. Eastern Time. After receiving success during the first season, a second season was announced, featuring over twice as many episodes. Fundraising and public service Fertitta devotes a significant amount of his time to community service and support of charitable organizations around Houston. Throughout the year, Fertitta and his wife Paige host a wide variety of fundraising events and galas at their home. Fertitta is Chairman of the Board of the Houston Children 's Charity, which hosts an annual special fundraiser for the organization, called `` A Gathering of Champions ''. The event is attended by well - known professional athletes from around Houston and across the nation. Guests attend in casual attire. Fertitta was one of the original investors in Houston NFL team, the Houston Texans. In 2009, Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed Fertitta to the Board of Regents of the University of Houston System. In 2008, Fertitta was named chairperson of the Houston Police Department 's Police Foundation, supplying gear and equipment for Houston Police Officers. He serves on the Executive Committee for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Additionally, Fertitta is a board member for the following Houston - based organizations : Texas Heart Institute, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Greater Houston Partnership. Personal life Fertitta and his wife Paige live in the River Oaks neighborhood of Houston with their four children ( Michael, Patrick, Blayne, Blake ). He is the third cousin of former UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta. An avid sports fan, Fertitta is a vocal supporter of the University of Houston Cougars and can be seen at most Cougar football and basketball games as well as court side for Houston Rockets basketball games. In 2016, Fertitta donated $20 million to rebuild Hofheinz Pavilion for University of Houston basketball along with donations for the construction of TDECU Stadium. Awards Texas Business Hall of Fame ( Class of 2004 ) References Jump up ^ Forbes : `` The World 's Billionaires - Tilman Fertitta '', forbes.com, September 5, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Welcome to Forbes ''. Forbes.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ Valiant Media. `` Landry 's Inc. - The Leader in Dining, Hospitality and Entertainment ''. LandrysInc.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Gallery : # 261 Forbes 400 Tilman Fertitta - Forbes.com ''. Forbes.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` The World 's Richest Restaurateur Has A Secret : It 's Not About The Food - Forbes ''. Forbes.com. August 23, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` University of Houston System ''. uhsa.UH.edu. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Report : Billionaire Tilman Fertitta set to buy Houston Rockets ''. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 5, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Source : Fertitta buys Rockets for record $2.2 B ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved September 5, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Tilman Fertitta - Biography ''. 4-traders.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Big Fish Texas Monthly ''. texasmonthly.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` New UH System Board of Regents ''. houstonarchitecture.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ L.A. Lorek ( May 2, 2004 ). `` Landry CEO aims to build in Texas ''. Chicago Tribune. Jump up ^ Robb Walsh ( October 23, 2006 ). `` Fertitta 's Dynasty of Dining ''. houstonpress.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ Cartwright, G. ( 1998 ). Galveston : A History of the Island. TCU Press. p. 326. ISBN 9780875651903. Retrieved January 4, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Valiant Media. `` Landry 's Inc. - The Leader in Dining, Hospitality and Entertainment ''. landrysinc.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Fertitta keeps strategy as he takes Landry 's private - Houston Chronicle ''. chron.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` History of Landry 's Restaurants, Inc. -- FundingUniverse ''. fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` CEO Taking Landry 's Private ''. upstart.bizjournals.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Tilman Fertitta - Forbes ''. forbes.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Tilman J. Fertitta : Executive Profile & Biography ''. investing.businessweek.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Landry 's Inc. - The Leader in Dining, Hospitality and Entertainment ''. Landrysinc.com. Retrieved May 23, 2017. Jump up ^ Valiant Media. `` Landry 's Inc. - The Leader in Dining, Hospitality and Entertainment ''. landrysinc.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Morton 's steakhouse chain sold to Landry 's owner ''. bizjournals.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Fertitta headed to Texas Business Hall of Fame - Houston Business Journal ''. bizjournals.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` University of Houston News : New UH System Board of Regents Officers, Student Regent Set for FY2013 ''. uh.edu. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ Beachfront Hotel & Spa - Galveston Hotel - Texas Beach Resort, SanLuisResort.com ; accessed May 23, 2017. Jump up ^ History of Landry 's Restaurants, Inc., FundingUniverse ; accessed May 23, 2017. Jump up ^ Travel + Leisure America 's Best Beach boardwalks, travelandleisure.com ; accessed May 23, 2017. Jump up ^ Patricia Hochwarth ( September 1, 2004 ). `` Shipshape at Landry 's ''. Restaurant-hospitality.com. Retrieved May 8, 2017. Jump up ^ Emily Clark ( September 10, 2007 ). `` New Boardwalk Bullet roller coaster opens in Texas ''. Gizmag.com. Retrieved May 8, 2017. Jump up ^ Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier ( May 23, 2012 ). `` HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT... ''. Facebook. Retrieved May 24, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Golden Nugget owner sells interests in Texans ''. NFL.com. Retrieved July 27, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Seafood chain turns up the juice for naming rights to ballpark seats ''. BizJournal.com. April 14, 2003. Retrieved July 29, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Source : Fertitta buys Rockets for record $2.2 B ''. ESPN.com. September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Landry 's and Jefferies CEOs to launch acquisition company ''. businessinsider.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Coolest party venue ever ''. houston.culturemap.com. Retrieved July 27, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta will star on primetime show ''. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 16, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Season Two of CNBC 's ' Billion Dollar Buyer ' Premieres Tuesday, November 22 AT 10P ET ''. CNBC. October 31, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Tilman Fertitta, the entrepreneur and Police Foundation Chairman ''. thepolicenews.net. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Houston Police Officers ' Union Tilman Fertitta Opens Back Yard to HPD and the Foundation ''. hpou.org. Retrieved January 4, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Fertittas host Gathering of Champions - Houston Chronicle ''. chron.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` New UH System Regents appointed by Gov. Perry ''. uhclthesignal.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Houston Police Officers ' Union -- Badge and Gun ''. hpou.org. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Houston Police Officers ' Union website ''. hpou.org. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Committees ''. rodeohouston.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` New Officials Elected for 2014 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo TM - Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ''. rodeohouston.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Fertitta, Tilman J. ''. houstonpolicefoundation.org. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Tilman J. Fertitta, Chairman of the Board - Houston Children 's Charity ''. houstonchildrenscharity.org. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Paige and Tilman Fertitta open up their River Oaks mansion for Sant... - CultureMap Houston ''. houston.culturemap.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015. External links Houston portal Biography portal Landrys, Inc. official website Yahoo Finance page on Landrys, Inc. Texas Business Hall of Fame page for Tilman Fertitta `` Tilman Fertitta Pledges $20 Million to UH Basketball Arena Renovation Houston Style Magazine Urban Weekly Newspaper Publication Website ''. August 25, 2016 Landry 's, Inc. Tilman J. Fertitta Entertainment destinations Downtown Aquarium, Denver Downtown Aquarium, Houston Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier Golden Nugget Atlantic City Golden Nugget Las Vegas Golden Nugget Laughlin Kemah Boardwalk Restaurants Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Claim Jumper Fish Tales McCormick & Schmick 's Morton 's The Steakhouse Muer Seafood Restaurants Rainforest Cafe Saltgrass Steak House T - Rex Cafe Tower of the Americas Vic & Anthony 's Steakhouse Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tilman_Fertitta&oldid=800973713 '' Categories : Living people 1957 births American billionaires American chief executives of food industry companies American philanthropists American people of Sicilian descent Businesspeople from Texas National Football League owners People from Galveston, Texas Texas Tech University alumni University of Houston alumni University of Houston System regents Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from September 2017 Articles with hCards Articles needing additional references from May 2017 All articles needing additional references All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from May 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 16 September 2017, at 22 : 02. 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Question: who is the owner of the golden nugget
Answer: Tilman Joseph Fertitta