Billionaires

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Tilman Fertitta's Awesome Week.

Houston Billionaire Tilman Fertitta Is Having the Best Week Ever

How has your week been? Ours has been kind of meh. But you know who is having the most excellent mid-February? Houston restaurant honcho Tilman Fertitta.

Mr. Fertitta’s publicist—one of Mr. Fertitta’s publicists?—reached out to The Observer to let us know that Mr. Fertitta has been enjoying an awesome week. Unlike some billionaires, Mr. Fertitta does not just buy a $19.5 million condo and throw in the towel. No way. He also opened a Last Vegas restaurant with his business partner Eva Longoria (quite an improvement over the overweight middle-aged men who usually fill out the business partner category) and hosted a lavish Gulf-coast Mardi Gras party featuring a performance by Kool & the Gang.  And there are pictures! Read More

Manhattan Transfers

From Texas to Tribeca. (Landry's)

Billionaire Restaurateur Tilman J. Fertitta Buys $19.5 M. Tribeca Crash Pad

Tilman J. Fertitta made a whale-sized fortune selling shrimp at tourist-oriented chains like Bubba Gump. Now the Texas billionaire and Landry’s Restaurants CEO has plunked down $19.5 million for a Tribeca pied-a-terre—a small portion of the vast wealth generated by his empire of middle-brow restaurants.

Mr. Fertitta may lack the cult-like following and breathless reviews of celebrated Manhattan restaurateurs like Keith McNally and Danny Meyer, but do either of them have a full-floor condo with a hot tub and south-facing terraces off both the master bedroom and the living room? Read More