Tilman Fertitta
Tilman Fertitta | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| United States Ambassador to Italy and San Marino | |
| Assumed office May 6, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Jack Markell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tilman Joseph Fertitta June 25, 1957 Galveston, Texas, U.S. |
| Spouses | Paige Farwell
(m. 1991, divorced)
|
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Lorenzo Fertitta (cousin) Frank Fertitta III (cousin) 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 has served as the United States ambassador to Italy and San Marino since May 2025. He is owner of Landry's, Inc. He also owns the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s Houston Rockets. Fertitta has been the chairman of the board of regents of the University of Houston System since 2009.
As of May 2025, his net worth was estimated at $10.7 billion. He is placed at No. 248 on the Forbes 400 list. Forbes calls him the "World's Richest Restaurateur.”
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.
As of April 2025, Fertitta is the lead shareholder in Wynn Resorts.