Tilman Fertitta 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. He also owns the NBA's Houston Rockets, the NHL's Houston Aeros, and Minor League Baseball's Corpus Christi Hooks. In addition, he is a partner in golden Nugget Casinos. As of October 2020, Forbes estimates Tilman Fertitta's net worth to be $4.3 billion dollars making him the 544th richest person in America and 1495th globally.
Tilman J Fertitta was born on November 25th 1961 in Galveston Texas where his father ran a seafood business which he would eventually take over. After high school he attended The University of Houston where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in hotel & restaurant management before going on to complete a Master’s degree in finance at Baylor University. It was during his time studying for his MBA that Mr Fertitta began working as a consultant for Landry’s Seafood Restaurants which led to him taking over the company just 3 years later in 1986 when he purchase it from founder George E Doty for just $1 million dollars – an investment that would go on to make him billions.
Under Mr Feritta’s leadership Landry’s has grown exponentially both through organic growth and strategic acquisitions; today it includes more than 600 restaurants (of which approximately 500 are operated by Landry’s), 30 entertainment venues including aquariums, museums and live music venues, 60+ retail locations across America as well as cruises ships and casinos. In total these businesses generate annual revenues excess of $3 billion dollars making Tilman Fertitta one of the wealthiest people not just in America but globally too.
In addition to his business interests Mr Fertitta is also known for his appearances on US television shows such as NBC’S “The Apprentice: Celebrity Edition as well as hosting his own show called “Billion Dollar Buyer on CNBC; both these ventures have helped raise his profile even further and added to his personal fortune too