Tilman Fertitta

Tilman Fertitta
Official portrait, 2025
United States Ambassador to Italy
and San Marino
Assumed office
May 6, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJack Markell
Personal details
Born
Tilman Joseph Fertitta

(1957-06-25) June 25, 1957 (age 69)
Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Paige Farwell
​
​
(m. 1991, divorced)​
  • Lauren Ware
Children5
RelativesLorenzo Fertitta (cousin)
Frank Fertitta III (cousin)
Frank Fertitta Jr. (cousin)
Alma materTexas Tech University (no degree)
University of Houston (no degree)
OccupationBusinessman
Known forOwner of Landry's, Inc. and the Houston Rockets
Star of Billion Dollar Buyer

Tilman Joseph Fertitta (born June 25, 1957) is an American businessman, television personality and politician. He has been the United States ambassador to Italy and San Marino since May 2025. He is the chairman, CEO, and owner of Landry's, Inc. He also owns the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s Houston Rockets.

Career

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 appeared on the reality television series Billion Dollar Buyer on CNBC. Fertitta has been the chairman of the board of regents of the University of Houston System since 2009.

U.S. Ambassador to Italy

In December 2024, then President-elect Donald Trump announced his plans to nominate Fertitta as the United States ambassador to Italy and San Marino. The United States Senate confirmed Fertitta's nomination on April 29, 2025 in a 83–14 vote. He presented his credentials to President Sergio Mattarella on May 6, 2025.

References

  1. ↑ "Welcome to Forbes". Forbes.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  2. ↑ Valiant Media. "Landry's Inc. - The Leader in Dining, Hospitality and Entertainment". LandrysInc.com. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  3. ↑ "TILMAN J. FERTITTA NEW OWNER OF THE HOUSTON ROCKETS". NBA Media Ventures, LLC. October 6, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  4. ↑ "It's official: Tilman Fertitta owns the Rockets". chron.com. October 6, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Forbes profile: Tilman Fertitta". Forbes.
  6. ↑ "The World's Richest Restaurateur Has A Secret: It's Not About The Food - Forbes". Forbes.com. August 23, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Tilman J. Fertitta to Acquire NBA Houston Rockets". NBA Media Ventures, LLC. September 5, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Report: Billionaire Tilman Fertitta set to buy Houston Rockets". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Source: Fertitta buys Rockets for record $2.2B". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  10. ↑ "University of Houston System". uhsa.UH.edu. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Trump picks billionaire Landry's chairman as Italy ambassador". Reuters. 21 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  12. ↑ Wilson, Katharine (2025-04-29). "Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta confirmed as Trump's ambassador to Italy". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  13. ↑ "Ambassador Tilman J. Fertitta". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy. May 6, 2025. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2025.

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