Tilman Fertitta. Credit: Instagram @tilmanfertitta
U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump has selected billionaire businessman Tilman Fertitta as the next ambassador to Italy.
Fertitta, the chairman and CEO of Fertitta Entertainment, is best known for his expansive holdings in the hospitality industry and his ownership of the Houston Rockets basketball team. Trump praised 67-year-old Fertitta on his Truth Social platform, describing him as an “accomplished businessman” and philanthropist.
Who is Tilman Fertitta?
Fertitta has Sicilian roots but was born in Galveston, Texas. His father, Vic, owned a fish restaurant, which helped shape Fertitta’s early interest in hospitality. Over the years, Fertitta built a business empire through Fertitta Entertainment, which owns and operates Landry’s Inc., the Golden Nugget Casinos, and several restaurant chains, including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Saltgrass Steak House, as reported by Forbes.
In addition to his business ventures, he has starred in the CNBC reality show Billion Dollar Buyer and authored a book, Shut Up and Listen!, sharing lessons from his career in the hospitality and entertainment industries.
With an estimated net worth of $10.4 billion (€9.57 billion) as of December 2024, Fertitta ranks #239 on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest individuals. His success stems from decades of entrepreneurial ventures.
By leveraging Fertitta’s business acumen and personal ties to Italy, Trump’s administration appears poised to strengthen economic connections between the two nations.
