Tilman Fertitta may not be a household name to some but there is no doubt he is a larger than life figure. In 1980, Fertitta began his foray into the burgeoning restaurant scene in Houston. Fertitta, who would peel shrimp at his father’s restaurant after school, became a partner at the first Landry’s Seafood. In 1988, he gained full control of Landry’s Restaurants and took it public in 1993.
Today, Landry’s is privately held by Fertitta. It is one of the largest privately held restaurant chains with over 600 locations. Fertitta Entertainment’s portfolio also includes hotels, casinos, entertainment resorts and more. Forbes estimates Fertitta’s wealth at over $5 billion.
Two years ago, the Galveston native purchased the NBA’s Houston Rockets for a then-record $2.2 billion. Fertitta shares insights about his ventures and lessons learned in Shut Up and Listen (September 2019, HarperCollins).
“Never, ever stop worrying about your business,” he writes. “Because when it comes to business and most everything else in life, there is a paddle for everybody’s ass.”
Fertitta, 62, will join the HBS Club for a wide ranging conversation and sign copies of his book. Please join us for this special program.
Please note that no refunds will be issued.
Speaker
Chairman and CEO Fertitta Entertainment
Tilman Fertitta, a Houston native, is an accomplished businessman and recognized as a world leader in the dining, hospitality, entertainment, and gaming industries, and who Forbes referred to as “the richest restaurateur in the world.” Fertitta is the star of his own reality TV show on CNBC, Billion Dollar Buyer, and is also the sole owner of Fertitta Entertainment, which owns the restaurant giant Landry’s, the Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels, and the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
Moderator
Partner, Vici Partners
Lance Stuart is a partner at Vici Partners. He has over 30 years of consulting and operating experience, principally in the U.S., Japan and China. Clients span industries from cosmetics and consumer electronics to software, chemicals, insurance, airlines and telecoms. He has been an investor, co-founder, CEO, COO and board member of several companies in the U.S. and Asia. He began his career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company in New York then transferred to Tokyo.
Lance earned a B.S. in economics and marketing, cum laude, from Boston College and an MBA from Harvard Business School (’78), where he was awarded two academic scholarships. He was raised in Tokyo and is an active volunteer in several non-profit organizations including the Harvard Business School Club of NY, the Harvard Business School Association of Orange County and as a Council Member on the U.S.-Japan Council.
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