F rank Fertitta III, along with his younger brother Lorenzo, is an American billionaire who built a vast fortune in the casino and mixed martial arts industries. The brothers inherited a small casino business from their father and transformed it by creating Station Casinos, a company that pioneered the concept of high-end casinos targeted at Las Vegas locals, rather than tourists on the Strip. They took the company public, then private in a massive leveraged buyout, and then public again.
Their most famous and lucrative venture was their acquisition of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In 2001, they bought the struggling, near-bankrupt mixed martial arts promotion for a mere $2 million. With their high school friend Dana White installed as president, they transformed the UFC from a controversial fringe sport into a global sports and entertainment behemoth. In 2016, they sold their majority stake in the UFC to an investment group led by Endeavor for a staggering $4 billion, one of the largest transactions in sports history. They have also founded their own private equity firm, Fertitta Capital.
Advertisement
Frank Joseph Fertitta III is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire CEO of Station Casinos and a founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Born in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1962, his family's fortune is rooted in the local gaming and casino industry; his father, Frank Fertitta Jr., founded Station Casinos.
Fertitta graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1984 with a B.A./B.S. degree from the business school. He immediately entered the family business, rising through the ranks to become General Manager, COO, and President before assuming the role of CEO in 1992. His entire career is defined by the high-stakes, high-leverage world of casino ownership and professional sports entertainment.
Frank Fertitta III's strategic leadership transformed Station Casinos into a dominant force in the local Las Vegas gaming market, focusing on casinos designed for local residents (the locals market) rather than just Strip tourists. This focus provided stability and massive, continuous revenue. He has been the CEO since 1992.
His most visible and profitable venture was outside the casino sector: in 2001, he and his brother Lorenzo Fertitta co-founded Zuffa LLC, the parent entity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). They transformed the struggling mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion into a global media and sports entertainment powerhouse. The brothers sold their majority stake in the UFC for $4 billion in 2016, securing one of the largest exits in sports history. Frank III's wealth is secured by the massive appreciation of both his gaming and sports assets.
Advertisement
Graduates from USC with a B.A./B.S. in business (Academic Achievement).
Becomes CEO of Station Casinos (Executive Ascent).
Co-founds Zuffa LLC (parent company of UFC) (Sports Founding).
Sells the majority stake in the UFC for $4 billion (Major Exit).
His company loses an $8 million lawsuit brought by DJ Kaskade over a nightclub contract (Legal Controversy).
Continues as CEO of Station Casinos and a major political donor (Executive Oversight).
Frank Fertitta III's wealth is concentrated in his controlling stake in the private gaming giant, Station Casinos, and his immense liquid capital from the UFC sale.
Advertisement
Frank Fertitta III's social impact is structural, stemming from his creation of thousands of stable jobs in the Las Vegas gaming and hospitality industry. His co-founding of the UFC created a global professional sports league, providing a massive cultural and media asset.
His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives. His career is a testament to the profitability of identifying and dominating highly specialized niches in the entertainment and gaming sectors.
Frank Fertitta III maintains the professional, composed style of a Las Vegas executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits. His aesthetic is one of serious authority, reflecting his control over the massive gaming and sports empires.
Residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is defined by his commitment to the high-stakes world of gambling and professional sports.
Advertisement
No publicly available quotes.
Advertisement
-0.1% | -$3.74M
+0.21% | +$14.02M
This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:
All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.
If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in
Sponsored Content