Tilman J. Fertitta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tilman Joseph Fertitta | |
| Born | June 25, 1957 Galveston, Texas, USA |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Businessman, philanthropist |
| Net worth | $200,000,000 plus [1] |
| Website [1] |
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Tilman Joseph Fertitta (June 25, 1957) is an American businessman. Fertitta is the founder, chairman of the board, President, CEO and primary shareholder of Landry's Restaurants Inc. [2]
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[edit] Biography
Fertitta was born and raised in Galveston, Texas where his family had settled generations prior after emigrating from Sicily.
Fertitta studied at Texas Tech University in Lubbock and at the University of Houston where he studied business and hotel 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.
A man about town in Houston where Landry's is based, Fertitta is involved in a number of philanthropic and civic endeavors. He was recently named Chairman of the Houston Police Department's police foundation which pays for equipment and gear for police officers. [5]
[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.
Fertitta lives in the River Oaks[6][7] area of Houston along with wife, Paige, and their children, Michael, Patrick, Blayne and Blake.
[edit] References
- ^ Rich Kids: The Fertitta Family. CBS News.
- ^ Meet the CEO. Landry's.
- ^ Fertitta's Dynasty of Dining. Houston Press.
- ^ Tilman J. Fertitta. Texas Business Hall of Fame.
- ^ HPD names Tilman Fertitta as chairman of police foundation. Texas Cable News Network.
- ^ "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.
