T ilman Fertitta is a self-made American billionaire who is the sole owner, chairman, and CEO of Fertitta Entertainment, one of the largest restaurant, hospitality, and gaming corporations in the United States. His sprawling, privately held empire includes the Landry's, Inc. restaurant group, which owns and operates hundreds of restaurants under dozens of different brands, including Landry's Seafood, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and Morton's The Steakhouse. He is also the owner of the Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels.

Fertitta is known for his aggressive, deal-making style and for his ability to acquire and turn around underperforming assets. He took his company public but later took it private again in a massive leveraged buyout. He is also the star of the reality television show "Billion Dollar Buyer." In 2017, he fulfilled a long-held ambition by purchasing the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for a then-record $2.2 billion. He is a prominent and powerful figure in his hometown of Houston and also serves as the chairman of the board of regents of the University of Houston system.