Tilman J. Fertitta
| Tilman J. Fertitta | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 25, 1957 (age 54) Galveston, Texas (USA) |
| Occupation | Businessman, philanthropist |
| Net worth | $200 million + [1] |
| Website | |
| [1] | |
Tilman Joseph Fertitta (born June 25, 1957) is an American businessman and the founder, chairman of the board, President, CEO and primary shareholder of Landry's Restaurants.[2] He is also a member of the board of regents of the University of Houston System.
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[edit] Biography
Fertitta was born and raised in Galveston, Texas, where his family had settled generations after emigrating to Louisiana and Texas from Sicily.
Fertitta attended Texas Tech University and the University of Houston where he studied business administration and hospitality management. He showed an entrepreneurial streak even in college when he started his own firm focused on marketing and sales and, after college, development and construction. From there, Fertitta began building homes while selling Shaklee vitamins on the side. He moved full-time into foodservice in 1986 working as a real estate specialist for Landry's. It was only a few short months before he bought the chain.[3][4]
After some early troubles, Fertitta expanded the chain to include nearly a dozen restaurant chains and individual entities. He is a minor partner in the Houston Texans NFL franchise and owns Houston's Bentley and Rolls Royce dealership, Post Oak Motor Cars, Ltd.
Fertitta is involved in a number of philanthropic and civic endeavors. In 2008, he was named the chairperson of the Houston Police Department's police foundation which pays for equipment and gear for police officers.[5]
Fertitta was appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Houston System in 2009 by Texas Governor Rick Perry and will serve through August 31, 2015.[6]
[edit] Family
His family includes Sam and Rosario Maceo who rose from humble beginnings to become prominent in Galveston's notorious nightlife scene in the mid-1900s before branching out to Las Vegas, Nevada. His cousins are Station Casinos owners Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta. Tilman Fertitta recently joined the ranks of casino owners himself when Landry's purchased the historic Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas as well as the location in Laughlin, Nevada. He has two brothers Victor Fertitta and Todd Fertitta. Both work for Landry's.
Fertitta lives in the River Oaks area of Houston along with his wife, Paige, and their children: Michael, Patrick, Blayne, and Blake.[7][8]
[edit] References
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This article's factual accuracy is disputed. Please help to ensure that disputed facts are reliably sourced. See the relevant discussion on the talk page. (January 2012) |
- ^ Rich Kids: The Fertitta Family. CBS News.
- ^ Meet the CEO. Landry's.
- ^ Fertitta's Dynasty of Dining. Houston Press.
- ^ Tilman J. Fertitta.[dead link] Texas Business Hall of Fame.
- ^ HPD names Tilman Fertitta as chairman of police foundation. Texas Cable News Network.
- ^ http://www.uhsa.uh.edu/regents/board_members/t_fertitta.html
- ^ "Super Neighborhood #23 Afton Oaks/River Oaks." City of Houston. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
- ^ "Landry's chief gets caught up in legal net." Houston Business Journal. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
The Fertittas also share close links with various vestiges of organized crime in both Galveston and Las Vegas. (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/119377-the-real-story-behind-the-ufcs-royal-family)
