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Sam Nazarian

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Sam Nazarian
سام نظریان
Born1975 (age 48–49)
Tehran, Imperial State of Iran
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
Occupation(s)CEO of Umami Burger
Founder & CEO of SBE Entertainment Group
SpouseEmina Cunmulaj
ParentYounes Nazarian
RelativesIzak Parviz Nazarian (uncle)
David Nazarian (brother)
Angella Nazarian (sister-in-law)
Shulamit Nazarian (sister)
WebsiteSBE.com

Sam Nazarian (born 1975) is an American businessman, investor and philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of SBE Entertainment Group.

Biography

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Early life

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Nazarian was born to a Persian Jewish family in Tehran in 1975.[1] The Nazarian family immigrated to the United States following the Iranian Revolution.[2] He is the son of Younes Nazarian who was an early investor in Qualcomm.[2] He was raised in Beverly Hills, California, where he attended Beverly Hills High School, graduating in 1993, and later studied at the University of Southern California.[1] The Beverly Hills High School basketball court was renamed Sam Nazarian Court after Nazarian made a $200,000 donation to the Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Association.[3]

Business career

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In 1998, Nazarian founded Platinum Wireless, a telecommunications company that distributed Nextel products.[4] He sold the company three years later, and began investing in real estate with his father,[5] and founded 3Wall Development in 1999.[4] In 2002, he founded SBE Entertainment Group.[5]

In 2020, Nazarian sold the remaining 50% stake of sbe's hotel platform to Accor Hotels[6] but retained SBE's food and beverage business.[7]

From 2008 to 2011, Nazarian served on the board of trustees of the Southern California Institute of Architecture.[8][9]

In July 2009, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointed Nazarian to the Board of Airport Commissioners of Los Angeles World Airports. In 2014, Nazarian was named to Fortune's 40 Under 40 list.[10]

Producer

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Nazarian served as executive producer for the films Waiting..., Down in the Valley, Five Fingers, The Last Time, Mr. Brooks and College.[11]

Personal life

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Nazarian is married to Albanian-American model Emina Cunmulaj.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bagley, Christopher (August 2005). "Nazarian: Sam I Am - Young tycoon Sam Nazarian has big dreams for himself, L.A. and the world". W Magazine. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Bloomberg: "Sam Nazarian Wants You to Sleep with Him" By Karl Taro Greenfeld December 1, 2011
  3. ^ Ceasar, Stephen (February 3, 2015). "Along with his name on Beverly Hills campuses, donor buys controversy". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Exclusive Podcast Interview: Iranian Jewish Entrepenuer Sam Nazarian". Jewish Journal. December 5, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Checking Back In". Los Angeles Business Journal. May 10, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  6. ^ accorgroup (June 9, 2022). "Accor takes full ownership of sbe hotel brands". Accor – Newsroom. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  7. ^ Bockmann, Rich (November 24, 2020). "Sam Nazarian Sells Hotels Stake To Accor". The Real Deal. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  8. ^ jwilliams (February 20, 2008). "Local Dudes Make Good: Caruso to USC, Nazarian to SCI-Arc". Curbed LA. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  9. ^ "SCI-Arc Board of Trustees". SCI-Arc. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  10. ^ "40 Under 40". Fortune. October 2014.
  11. ^ "Sam Nazarian - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  12. ^ New York Daily News: "King of clubs Sam Nazarian throws an ace party for Mexico wedding to model Emina Cunmulaj" BY Marianne Garvey June 23, 2015
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