Tilman Fertitta

$11.07 B

Ranked #276 in World

About Tilman Fertitta

Tilman Fertitta, born in 1957 in Galveston, Texas, is a prominent figure in the business and sports world in the United States. The successful entrepreneur, of Sicilian descent, is the founder and former owner of Landry's, Inc., a renowned restaurant, hospitality, and entertainment company. Fertitta's impressive career also includes being the current owner of the Houston Rockets in the NBA and the chairman of the board of regents at the University of Houston System. In addition to his business ventures, Fertitta has made significant contributions to philanthropic causes, including a $50 million pledge to the University of Houston College of Medicine.

Born

June 25, 1957 in Galveston, Texas, U.S.

Age

68 years

Source Of Wealth

Entertainment, Houston Rockets

Industries

Food & Beverage

Citizenship

United States

Residence

Houston, Texas

Education

Drop Out, Texas Tech University; Drop Out, University of Houston

Spouse

Paige Farwell (Married: 1991, divorced), Lauren Ware

Children

Tilman Fertitta was born in 1957 in Galveston, Texas. He is of Sicilian descent. Not much is known about his early life and childhood.

Tilman Fertitta: Family

Tilman Fertitta is married to Lauren Ware, a Houston attorney. He has four children from his previous marriage to Paige Farwell. Interestingly, he is also the third cousin to former UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta.

Tilman Fertitta: Career Highlights

Tilman Fertitta is a successful entrepreneur and businessman. He is the founder and former owner of Landry's, Inc., a restaurant, hospitality, and entertainment company. He is also the current owner of the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the chairman of the board of regents of the University of Houston System.

Tilman Fertitta: Companies

Tilman Fertitta has been involved in various business ventures throughout his career. His most notable company is Landry's, Inc., which he founded in 1980. Landry's, Inc. owns and operates a wide range of restaurant concepts, including 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, and Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse.

In addition to restaurants, Landry's, Inc. also owns and operates hotels, casinos, amusement parks, aquariums, and the Kemah Boardwalk.

Tilman Fertitta: Major Achievements

Tilman Fertitta has achieved significant success in his business ventures. He took Landry's, Inc. public in 1993 and has since acquired numerous restaurant concepts. He has also expanded Landry's into casinos, hotels, and entertainment venues.

In 2017, Fertitta purchased the Houston Rockets for a record $2.2 billion, becoming the owner of Clutch Gaming, a professional eSports organization.

Tilman Fertitta: Awards & Achievements

Tilman Fertitta has received numerous awards and recognitions for his business achievements. He was named Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 and was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 2017.

Tilman Fertitta: Personal Life & Legacy

Tilman Fertitta is known for his philanthropic efforts.

He has donated millions of dollars to various charitable organizations, including the University of Houston, the Houston Children's Charity, and the Houston Police Department's Police Foundation.

Fertitta is also a sports enthusiast and has been involved in several sports ventures. He was an original investor in the Houston Texans NFL team and purchased the naming rights to the Crawford Boxes seating section of Minute Maid Park, calling it "Landry's Crawford Boxes."

Tilman Fertitta: Trivia

Tilman Fertitta starred in the CNBC reality TV show "Billion Dollar Buyer" and released a book, "Shut Up and Listen! Hard Business Truths That Will Help You Succeed," in 2019.

Wealth History

Timeline

1957

Tilman Fertitta is born in Galveston, Texas.

1980

Fertitta founds Landry's Seafood in Katy, Texas.

1988

Fertitta becomes the sole owner of Landry's Restaurants.

1993

Landry's, Inc. goes public.

1999

Fertitta acquires the Kemah Boardwalk and adds Landry's restaurants and rides.

2003

Fertitta acquires the Holiday Inn On the Beach in Galveston, Texas.

2004

Fertitta acquires the Hilton Galveston Island Resort and partners with the City of Galveston to build a conference center.

2005

Fertitta expands Landry's into casinos by acquiring Golden Nugget Casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada.

2008

Fertitta sells his interest in the Houston Texans NFL team due to NFL rules prohibiting team staff from being associated with gambling.

2009

Fertitta is appointed to the board of regents of the University of Houston System by Texas Governor Rick Perry.

2011

Fertitta purchases the Golden Nugget Atlantic City from Trump Entertainment Resorts.

2015

Fertitta adds the Villas at San Luis section of the hotel to the San Luis Resort, Spa, & Conference Center in Galveston, Texas.

2017

Fertitta purchases the Houston Rockets for a record $2.2 billion and acquires half of EMM Group, owner of the Catch Restaurants.

2018

Fertitta partners with Richard Handler to form Landcadia, a special-purpose acquisition company, and Landcadia acquires Waitr.

2019

Fertitta releases his book, "Shut Up and Listen! Hard Business Truths That Will Help You Succeed."

Tilman Fertitta : FAQs

What is Tilman Fertitta's current net worth?

Tilman Fertitta's current net worth is $11.07 billion.

What is Tilman Fertitta's current global rank among billionaires?

Tilman Fertitta holds the 276th position globally among billionaires.

What is Tilman Fertitta's current ranking within the United States?

Tilman Fertitta holds the 110th position in United States.

What was the change in Tilman Fertitta's net worth compared to the previous year?

Tilman Fertitta's net worth increased by 652.7 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 10.42 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Tilman Fertitta's net worth?

Tilman Fertitta's net worth increased by 19.89 million dollars recently, a 0.18% increase, with his net worth standing at 11.07 billion dollars.

What are Tilman Fertitta's main sources of wealth?

Tilman Fertitta's main source of income comes from Entertainment, Houston Rockets.

In which industry does Tilman Fertitta primarily operate?

Tilman Fertitta is primarily involved in the Food & Beverage industry.

What is Tilman Fertitta educational background?

Tilman Fertitta is a dropout from Texas Tech University and the University of Houston.

How old is Tilman Fertitta?

Tilman Fertitta is 68 years old.

How many children does Tilman Fertitta have?

Tilman Fertitta has 4 children.

Who is Tilman Fertitta and what's his background?

Tilman Fertitta, born in 1957 in Galveston, Texas, is of Sicilian descent and has established himself as a significant figure in the business world. Fertitta is married to Lauren Ware, a Houston attorney, and has four children from his previous marriage. He's also known as the third cousin to former UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta.

What educational path did Tilman Fertitta follow?

Tilman Fertitta attended Texas Tech University and the University of Houston where he studied business administration and hospitality management. However, he didn't graduate from these institutions but went on to build a successful career in the business sector.

What companies has Tilman Fertitta founded, and what are his current business ventures?

Tilman Fertitta founded Landry's, Inc, which he grew into a large hospitality and entertainment empire, acquiring numerous restaurant chains and expanding into casinos, hotels, and amusement venues. He also owns the Houston Rockets and has been involved in sports investments. Fertitta created Landcadia, a special-purpose acquisition company, and acquired companies such as Waitr.

How has Tilman Fertitta participated in politics and media?

Tilman Fertitta supports political leaders across parties, has donated to various campaigns, and is a close friend of US Senator Mark Kelly. In media, he starred in CNBC's 'Billion Dollar Buyer' and authored 'Shut Up and Listen! Hard Business Truths That Will Help You Succeed' in 2019.

What are some of Tilman Fertitta's philanthropic contributions?

Tilman Fertitta has made significant philanthropic contributions, including a $20 million donation to the University of Houston for the Fertitta Center, and he pledged $50 million to the University of Houston College of Medicine, now renamed the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. He's actively involved in various charitable foundations and local institutions.