Tilman J. Fertitta

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Personal Information

Tilman J. Fertitta was appointed to the University of Houston System Board of Regents in 2009 for a six-year term by Governor Rick Perry. When his term expired in 2015, Governor Greg Abbott reappointed him for a second six-year term that expired August 2021. Governor Abbott reappointed him for a third six-year term to the University of Houston System Board of Regents on October 19, 2021. He assumed the role as Chairman of the UH System Board of Regents in September 2014 and served as Chairman of the Board until 8/2025.

Tilman Fertitta is an American businessman and television personality, known for being the owner of Landry's, Inc. and the NBA's Houston Rockets, as well as serving as the U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino since May 2025.
A native of Galveston, he attended UH's Conrad N.Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Fertitta is chairman, president, CEO and controlling shareholder of Landry's, Inc., whose properties include the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Biloxi, Lake Charles, the Kemah Boardwalk, Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, and restaurant chains such as Morton's The Steakhouse, McCormick and Schmicks, Chart House, Bubba Gump, Rainforest Café, Saltgrass Steakhouse, and Vic and Anthony's.

In 2004, Fertitta was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, the second-youngest inductee ever to receive this honor next to Michael Dell.

Fertitta is chairman of the Houston Children Charity and the Houston Police Foundation, is on the executive committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and serves on the boards of Texas Heart Institute, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Sam Houston Area Council - Boy Scouts of America, and the Greater Houston Partnership.