Tilman Fertitta’s growing influence in Houston’s luxury real estate market may soon extend to the international stage.
The Texas billionaire, known for his ownership of the Houston Rockets and the Landry’s restaurant chain, has emerged as President-elect Donald Trump’s possible nominee for United States ambassador to Italy, Houston Chronicle reported, citing CBS News. Trump’s transition team declined to comment, and Fertitta’s spokesperson was unable to confirm the proposed nomination.
Fertitta is a longtime Republican donor who has close ties to Trump, and he’s a major real estate player. He owns over 300,000 square feet of luxury retail, 67,000 square feet of office space and nearly 280 upscale apartments, the outlets reported.
Fertitta acquired the River Oaks District in Houston for $450 million in March with plans to expand the 663,400-square-foot entertainment and luxury retail district, with 4.3 acres he recently acquired at 4702 Westheimer Road.
His plans in Houston also include transforming a 177,000-square-foot office building at 777 Post Oak Boulevard in Uptown, which he bought in April, to enhance the connectivity between his assets, like the Post Oak Hotel and Post Oak Motor Cars, which sells Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Bugatti vehicles.
Fertitta is also chairman of the University of Houston system board of regents.
Other real estate players the Trump administration is tapping include investor and landlord Steve Witkoff, who could be Special envoy to the Middle East; Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, who could be Secretary of Commerce; and Kushner Companies founder Charles Kushner, who could be U.S. ambassador to France.
— Andrew Terrell
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