TILMAN FERTITTA

Patrons of restaurants like Bubba Gump Shrimp and Morton's The Steakhouse will soon have the option to earn bitcoin every time they buy a steak – or a beer.

Tilman Fertitta, chairman of the UH System Board of Regents, also endorsed Abbott for reelection shortly before Abbott began to speak.

The Cougars' move is great news for UH fans, but it shouldn't have required UT taking a sledgehammer to the conference to make it happen.

Here are things to know for Wednesday, August 25:

The reward was increased to $100,000 in the fatal shooting of New Orleans Det. Everett Briscoe.

Tilman Fertitta sure knows how to host.

DraftKings will acquire Golden Nugget Online in an all-stock deal worth $1.56 billion.

There will be a Houston Rockets reunion in Philadelphia sports leadership with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) announcing Tad Brown as their new CEO, meaning he’ll oversee properties including both the the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA and the New Jersey Devils of the NHL, as well as the Prudential Center.

Landry's Chairman and CEO Tilman Fertitta told CNBC on Tuesday that businesses have to keep costs down as consumer spending stays strong.

Nearly nine months ago, Mayor Sylvester Turner’s task force on policing reform released a list of recommendations to improve police performance in key areas. One of those areas involved training. A short time after those recommendations were released, the Houston Police Department opened the Tilman Fertitta Family Tactical Training Center.

The labor shortage in the U.S. is lifting wages for workers, causing a "democratization" of the workforce, according to Cole Smead, president of Smead Capital Management.

The can't-miss sculpture's history includes a German artist, Houston nightclub, and famous country singer's brother

Despite a tough 2020, many billionaires, pushed to the limit to remain on Forbes’ prestigious list.

Businessman Tilman Fertitta’s company, Houston’s Post Oak Motor Cars, home to Bentley, Bugatti and Rolls-Royce, accepts Dogecoin as payment for its transactions.

Yet another community has been shattered by February's historic freeze.

Billionaire restaurateur and casino operator Tilman Fertitta told CNBC on Tuesday he's been caught off guard by the strength of his businesses in March. Fertitta also owns the Golden Nugget brand of casinos and hotels. "What we're seeing right now in the business ... is revenues and volumes that I haven't seen in years." Fertitta said it's tough to determine how much of what his businesses are seeing is a temporary surge related to the stimulus checks. However, he said, "I'm telling you, the high-end restaurants, my hotels, the casinos, are having record numbers right now."

Billionaire businessman Tilman Fertitta told CNBC on Tuesday his luxury car dealership has sold more than a dozen vehicles for bitcoin since it began transactions using the digital currency nearly three years ago. Fertitta's comments on "Power Lunch" came one day after Tesla announced plans to begin accepting bitcoin as payment for its products. He told CNBC the idea of accepting bitcoin transactions came from his team of employees. At the time Fertitta's dealership adopted bitcoin for transactions, the volatile digital coin traded around $6,000 to $7,000 apiece. Bitcoin began a robust rally last year, breaking past its 2017 high in late November.

Fertitta Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Golden Nugget and Landry’s, announced Monday it will become publicly listed. According to a news release, owner Tilman Fertitta has entered a merger agreement with FAST Acquisition Corp. valued at approximately $6.6 billion. However, in today’s opportunistic world, I determined that in order to maximize the opportunities in the gaming, entertainment and hospitality sectors, it was preferable to take my company public,” Fertitta said. Fertitta will be the company’s largest shareholder, owning 60% of the company and a roughly $2 billion stake. “At the end of the day, the decision to do a deal with FAST was a no-brainer.”AdAccording to the news release, Golden Nugget and Landry’s management team will continue to lead the company and Fertitta will serve as chairman, president, and CEO.

Fertitta hopes it will give him more capital to expand his business empire, which has been suffering in the pandemic. Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta is taking his Landry's and Golden Nugget businesses public. Landry's has previously been public, but Fertitta took it private in 2010. "However, in today’s opportunistic world, I determined that in order to maximize the opportunities in the gaming, entertainment and hospitality sectors, it was preferable to take my Company public." Fertitta told investors he had been looking at some potential casino acquisitions recently but wasn't able to compete with public companies.

Billionaire restaurateur and casino operator Tilman Fertitta told CNBC on Tuesday he expects strong consumer spending to fuel the U.S. economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. I'm telling you, where we can do business, we are doing business," the Landry's chairman and chief executive said on "Power Lunch." "This is going to be the 'Roaring Twenties.' Fertitta, whose Houston-based restaurant empire includes more than 600 locations worldwide, said he would welcome additional coronavirus stimulus from Washington. For the restaurant industry overall, Fertitta has said businesses that manage to survive will have learned valuable lessons to become more profitable.

Rockets owner Charlie Thomas looks up at right. HOUSTON – Charlie Thomas, the former owner of the Houston Rockets, died Friday. Thomas bought Houston’s NBA team in 1982 for about $10 million and sold it in 1993 for about $85 million. Current Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said in a statement posted on Twitter that the team is deeply saddened by Thomas’ passing. “Charlie was a great friend, business partner, and true Texan who loved his Rockets,” Fertitta said in the statement.

““The toxic leadership -- thank God that those leaders at Fort Hood -- 14 of them -- were removed,” Lupe Guillen said. “If Mr. McCarthy actually watches this, I hope you actually endorse the ‘I am Vanessa Guillen’ (Act of 2020),” she said. We are not going to stop.”Read the “I am Vanessa Guillen Act of 2020.”Lupe Guillen said the act will “keep (her) sister’s legacy alive” and it will save lives. “It was widespread at Fort Hood, so things aren’t complete. Officials identified the two suspects tied to Fort Hood solider Vanessa Guillen’s disappearance on July 2.

Late Monday night, the Rockets dealt Robert Covington for former Rocket Trevor Ariza and two first round draft picks, including the sixteenth pick in Wednesday's draft. Which brings about the question: Are the Rockets about to implode the entire team and start from scratch? Any deal to net one of the team's two superstars would have to include a package of players and draft picks. Already strapped for cash, with minimal young assets and no draft picks, it makes sense that the Rockets would at least consider imploding it all. So, if this is the end of this era of the Houston Rockets, perhaps burning the whole thing to the ground is the right approach.

HOUSTON – The clock is ticking down towards the start of a new training camp and the status of Rockets stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook remains unclear. Russell Westbrook also would like to be traded but his primary focus, even if he remains in Houston, is to be the main piece on offense. Alongside Harden that was not the case this past season and won’t be that way moving forward as long as both are in Houston. The Rockets are in no hurry to deal either player and are more than willing to proceed to camp and the season without making a move. Training camp is set to open on December first.

That means the Rockets will have even less room to maneuver than they would have if the cap number had increased. Free agency is set to start in a week and the Rockets probably won't even have a fully assembled roster before December. LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. On one hand, this could deal a serious blow to the Rockets' chances right now. Whatever the case, it is going to be a very fast and very awkward offseason for the Rockets.

HOUSTON – Greetings from the Xfinity Sports Desk and KPRC Channel 2 Sports. Here is what’s happening on the sports scene across Houston this week and the days ahead. Top candidates include Jeff Van Gundy who coached the Rockets from 2003 through the 2007 season along with John Lucas. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALLThe regular season is flying by after getting off to a late start. That’s it from the Xfinity Sports Desk and KPRC Channel 2 Sports!

HOUSTON – The Tilman Fertitta family and the King Ranch family are launching a new restaurant in the Galleria area. King Ranch Texas Kitchen is a southern-style steakhouse, which is set to open before the holidays. The menu will include beef cheek Barbacoa tacos, smoked brisket queso, King Ranch fried quail, blackened redfish and smoked brisket Pimento grilled cheese, per the website. While King Ranch, a major agribusiness with interests in farming, luxury retail goods, and recreational hunting, will supply meats and other products. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday.

EXPAND Cowboy up at King Ranch Texas Kitchen. Vaquero Tacos, King Ranch Nilgai and King Ranch Fried Quail are ranch favorites and a selection of slow-cooked smoked meats includes Heartbrand Akaushi Smoked Brisket and the 10 ounce Vande Rose Tomahawk Pork Chop. King Ranch Texas Kitchen has brought in Carlos Rodriguez as executive chef. Rodriguez said in a press release "We worked diligently with King Ranch to translate their brand into a culinary experience unlike any other. There will also be an on-site retail store called The Saddle Shop, selling leather goods, housewares and food inspired by the King Ranch itself.

Updated 7:06 p.m. CTHouston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord. Tilman Fertitta, who has owned the Rockets since 2017, thanked Morey for everything he did in his years with the team. Morey tweeted an image that said: "Fight For Freedom. Houston went 640-400 with Morey as the general manager and won a franchise-record 65 regular-season games in the 2017-18 season. Morey worked as Houston’s assistant general manager for one season under Carroll Dawson before he retired after the 2007 season and Morey was promoted to his job.

FILE - This is a July 26, 2019, file photo showing Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey during an NBA basketball news conference, in Houston. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON – Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord, a little over a year after sparking a rift between the NBA and Chinese government. Fertitta added that Morey is helping him through the transition and they'll promote vice president of basketball operations Rafael Stone to general manager. Morey worked as Houston's assistant general manager for one season under Carroll Dawson before he retired after the 2007 season and Morey was promoted to his job.

HOUSTON – Ten Houstonians have made Forbes’ list of the richest people in America this year. According to Forbes, these ten people are worth about $44.3 billion. The richest of the Houston moguls, according to the list, is Richard Kinder, who came in at No. The 75-year-old chairman of Kinder Morgan, one of the largest energy infrastructure firms in the U.S., and leader of the Kinder Foundation, has an estimated net worth of $6.2 billion. The 46-year-old has an estimated net worth of $3.3 billion.

HOUSTON – The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston has set the bar high for other luxury hotels in the city. Forbes Travel Guide awarded the hotel five-stars, making it the first in Houston and second in the state to earn a perfect rating. The luxury hotel houses six restaurants in total, as well as amenities including a spa, salon, fitness center, and meeting and event space. On top of the 38-story tower sits a helipad, offering guests the opportunity to depart directly from the hotel for private helicopter excursions. The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston is located at 1600 W Loop S, Houston, Texas.

HOUSTON – Forbes released a list of the world’s richest people around the globe and a few Houstonians made the cut. Among the wealthiest, local billionaires are Tilman Fertitta and Richard Kinder. Forbes said the list was a drastic change compared to 2019, as 51% of billionaires lost value this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Richard Kinder (Courtesy of Forbes)Tilman FertittaLandry’s Inc., Houston RocketsRank: 414Wealth: $4.2 billionTilman Fertitta owns the Houston Rockets, Landry’s Restaurants (including Saltgrass Steakhouse and Bubba Gump Shrimp), and Golden Nugget Casinos. Tilman Fertitta (Courtesy of Forbes)Janice McNairHouston TexansRank: 451Wealth: $4.0 billionJanice McNair is the widow of Bob McNair, the owner of the Houston Texans, inheriting 80% of the team.

I want to be a reasonable tenant, and I expect the landlord to be reasonable with me," Fertitta said on CNBC's "Power Lunch." Everybody needs to be reasonable, and, once again, everyone needs to feel some pain," Fertitta said. One area where Landry's restaurants, including Del Frisco's and Morton's steak houses, remain closed for in-person dining is New York City. Fertitta said the city would need to open up soon to avoid causing a major issue for the commercial real estate industry. "If you don't do something, we are going to cause a commercial real estate bust at some time.

Landry's CEO Tilman Fertitta said Tuesday it "makes no sense whatsoever" to require companies that receive government relief to hire back all of their workers. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to require companies that receive government aid during the pandemic to rehire the same number of employees they had before the crisis. Under Cuomo's plan, Landry's would be forced to hire back all of the employees it had laid off. "Because you work for Landry's and you work for Tilman Fertitta, you don't get to come back to work? It's strictly for Landry's employees of all of our different concepts, and my people deserved to be treated just as good as everybody else."

“What I’m most happy about is putting employees back to work!” he added. “That’s the greatest thing in the world.”Fertitta disagreed strongly at first when officials shut down the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and other venues. He later agreed that it was the right move at the right time. “Everybody seems to have made the right decision along the way,” Fertitta said. “I wouldn’t want to open there.”Letting states decide when and how to reopen is "the way it should be,” he said.

Abbott announced Friday an Executive Order to create a strike force team in an effort to reopen Texas. Many of the members appointed by Abbott are from Houston. The strikeforce team was formed to aid in “strategically restarting” various sectors and infrastructures in Texas such as education, culture, and work. The team will be led by retired COO of Hilltop Holdings James Huffines and veteran lobbyist Mike Toomey. Abbott’s strikeforce team and to see a full list of members can visit the State of Texas webpage.

Billionaire businessman Tilman Fertitta said in an interview he did his workers a “favor” by furloughing them quickly to help them receive unemployment benefits amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Hill reports. Fertitta, who owns the Houston Rockets, Golden Nugget Casinos, and Landry’s, appeared on Fox News’s “Ingraham Angle" to discuss business. “But I’ve got 45,000 employees out there that we’ve had to furlough that is so tremendously unfortunate..."Regarding the furlough, Fertitta was asked by Kilmeade “how hard” it was to come to that decision. The billionaire cited his experience in operating businesses through several crises, saying employers like himself are doing their employees a “favor” by furloughing them quickly. “You’re doing the people a favor if you get them furloughed first because you have them first to unemployment line after the severance that you give them.

The Houston Rockets showed their appreciation to those working the frontlines in response to COVID-19 at hospitals in Houston. On Sunday, the team sent meals prepared and donated by owner Tilman Fertitta’s Post Oak Hotel and La Griglia Italian restaurant to the staff at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Greater Heights and Katy.

Houston Billionaire Tilman Fertitta laid off 45,000 employees quickly as a 'favor'Tilman Fertitta, owner of Landry's, Inc., and the Houston Rockets, poses for a portrait in his office. less Tilman Fertitta, owner of Landry's, Inc., and the Houston Rockets, poses for a portrait in his office. Fertitta's Post Oak Hotel first circulated, then rescinded, a memo notifying employees that their benefits ... more Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 51 Caption Close Houston Billionaire Tilman Fertitta laid off 45,000 employees quickly as a 'favor' 1 / 51 Back to GalleryHouston billionaire restaurateur Tilman Fertitta told FOX News' guest host Brian Kilmeade that he laid off 45,000 workers as a 'favor" to help them access unemployment benefits earlier. Fertitta's vast portfolio includes ownership of NBA's Houston Rockets. RACE FOR VACCINE: Houston doctors take lead in developing new COVID-19 RNA vaccine"Its just unimaginable," Fertitta added.

HOUSTON – The coronavirus pandemic has forced businesses big and small across the country to close locations because they are non-essential or simply because they cannot afford to stay open with the dramatic drop in customers. Over 3 million people have filed for unemployment due to being laid off or furloughed. Here are just a few of the businesses that have had to make tough calls. Phillips 66: According to the company’s website, it is making a $700 million spending cut. The company is also reducing operating and administrative costs by $500 million, and multiple projects will be deferred.

HOUSTON – Houston restaurateur and owner of the Rockets Tilman Fertitta is adding another restaurant to the Landry’s Inc. empire. Late on Wednesday Fertitta announced his company, Landry’s Inc., completed the acquisition for the Palm steakhouse chain from Just One More Restaurant Corp., which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019. The chain of fine-dining restaurants was purchased for $45 million, according to the Houston Business Journal. The Palm in Houston is located across the street from The Galleria at 6100 Westheimer Road. Fertitta’s acquisition now makes him the owner of the 21 Palm restaurants located in the U.S.

The National Basketball Association sent a memo to teams on Friday night, urging officials to prepare game contingency plans should the coronavirus continue to spread. Teams were also advised to consider payroll and benefit implications for "non-essential staff" who would not work games closed to the public. The memo also stated teams should have plans in place to communicate with ticketholders and corporate partners should games be played privately. Earlier Friday, Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta rejected the idea of playing games without fans in attendance, while also suggesting fans should stay calm. But you don't want to play games with no fans.

Italy is Europe's epicenter of the coronavirus, with at least 4,636 confirmed cases and 197 deaths as of Saturday. Bishop5:36 pm: South Korea reports spike in COVID-19 cases as total tops 7,000Coronavirus cases in South Korea jumped by 448 on Saturday, Reuters reported, taking the total number of confirmed cases above 7,000. Palestine currently has at least 22 confirmed cases of the virus and has declared a state of emergency. Chung Sung-Jun | Getty Images9:40 am: South Korea reports 483 new cases, bringing total to 6,767 casesSouth Korea reported 483 new cases, bringing its total to 6,767 cases. Stankiewicz6:10 am: New York state coronavirus cases quadruple to 44, thousands under 'precautionary quarantine'The number of coronavirus cases in New York state has quadrupled over the last 48 hours to 44, Gov.

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta told CNBC on Friday the idea of playing games without fans in attendance is "never gonna work," as fears of the coronavirus outbreak continues to plague markets worldwide. "I don't think you ever want to play games in front of no audiences," Fertitta said, adding he would instead prefer to suspend play for a week. "But you don't want to play games with no fans." Appearing on CNBC's "Power Lunch," Fertitta commented on the coronavirus, urging fans to remain calm and not panic. Hence, as of now, the annual NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament will be played as scheduled.

HOUSTON – The University of Houston announced Thursday that the school is expanding a program that will allow students with a family income under $65,000 to get free tuition starting in the Fall 2020 semester. Before the expansion, the program only helped those with family incomes of up to $50,000. In 2008, only those with a family income of up to $30,000 were eligible. “Your family’s income bracket shouldn’t limit your ability to achieve a college degree," said Tilman Fertitta, chairman of the UH System Board of Regents. "Talented people come from all socioeconomic backgrounds, so I’m thrilled there will be more financial aid available for those UH students who need it most.”In order to qualify, students must be first-time freshmen and meet other requirements.

The companies approved both applications, but Lifelock a credit and identity monitoring service spotted problems with the application and alerted Fertitta directly, police said. PHOTOS: Rockets players help out at Hobby AirportHunter allegedly used Fertittas name, social security number and other personal information on the application. However, she created a fake email address (with the username fertitta.t57) and used her own home address in Spring for the application, police said. Fertitta called deputies with the Harris County Precinct 1 Constables Office, who arrested Hunter on an unrelated warrant and questioned her about the credit lines in October. She was charged with fraudulent use of identifying information and using a false statement to obtain credit.

SPRING, Texas – Investigators arrested a 28-year-old mother of two and confiscated computers, credit cards and other items at her Spring home after they said she stole billionaire Tilman Fertitta’s identity. Lifelock, an identity theft protection company, caught the suspicious account activity, alerted Fertitta and he called police before Hunter bought anything, according to court documents. According to court documents, Hunter opened the fraudulent accounts on Sept. 2, 2019, and investigators arrested her about a month later on an unrelated charge, and she confessed. In early February, investigators arrested Hunter and confiscated three laptops, four desktop computers, an iPad, six credit cards, a driver’s license and a social card, each with different names. Hunter said she worked for Apple tech support and that the confiscated computers were used for work or old and unused.

HOUSTON – Houston Rockets owner, Tilman Fertitta, is a businessman mogul and a world leader in the dining, hospitality, entertainment and gaming industries. Galveston and commented on the success of his new book “Shut Up & Listen!”Tilman Fertitta Shut Up and Listen! Fertitta, who grew up in Galveston, found another way to bring people back to the island with the annual Knights of Momus Parade. The successful businessman also announced he will be tossing Mardi Gras 2020 basketball caps from some of his floats during the Knights of Momus parade this Saturday. You can watch the Knights of Momus parade live, on KPRC Channel 2 beginning at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 22.

HOUSTON – The passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant has brought with it many tributes from those all across the NBA, the nation and the world. Bryant, 41, who played 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, died in a helicopter crash just outside of Los Angeles Sunday morning. In all, nine people died, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna. KPRC 2 caught up with those that knew Bryant well in Houston, including Rockets legend and broadcaster Calvin Murphy, UH head coach Kelvin Sampson and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. Sports director Randy McIlvoy spoke with Fertitta about the impact of losing Bryant to the entire sports world.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- If you ate at a Landry's restaurant recently, your personal information may have been compromised.Landry's Inc., which is owned by Houston billionaire and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, is alerting the public of a recent security incident involving payment processing.In a statement posted to the company's website , customers' cards were mistakenly swiped by wait staff on devices used to enter kitchen and bar orders, which are different than the devices used at point-of-sale terminals used for payment processing.The company says the cards were mistakenly swiped through the devices between March 13, 2019 and Oct. 17, 2019.Landry's also says malware designed to access payment card data was found during the investigation, but its "end-to-end encryption technology on point-of-sale terminals, which makes card data unreadable, was working as designed and prevented the malware from accessing payment card data when cards were used on these encryption devices. "The malware, according the statement, searched for track data, which sometimes includes the cardholder's name, card number, expiration date and verification code. "In some instances, the malware only identified the part of the magnetic stripe that contained payment card information without the cardholder name," read the statement.A full list of Landry's owned restaurants and food and beverage outlets can be found here If you have any questions, you can call 833-991-1538 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The 14th Annual Landry's Iron Chef was held at the Galveston Island Convention Center with a number of local and national Landry's chefs competing in a two-day event to take home awards in a variety of categories. Ortega was the celebrity judge for both the Iron Chef and the Junior Chef competitions. EXPAND Landry's Iron Chefs at work. One Iron Chef lamented the fact that none of the schools chose to include SPAM in their dishes. Photo by Landry's Inc.For more information about the Landry's Iron Chef 2019 winners, check out Landry's Inc. on Facebook.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- You just never know who you'll run into when you're out and about.Former President Bill Clinton was spotted uptown Friday night at the Post Oak Hotel.He was seen chatting next to Houston icon Tilman Fertitta the same weekend Hillary and Chelsea Clinton were in town promoting their new book, "The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience. "Fertitta's son, Patrick, posted the image on his Instragram account. "Gutsy Women" was released on Oct. 1.

HOUSTON - Tilman Fertitta's Post Oak Hotel in Uptown Houston is taking the phrase "treat yourself" to a whole new level. The hotel recently introduced its latest menu item, The Black Gold, a $1,600 burger served at the H Bar located inside the hotel. This extravagant burger is prepared using 16-ounce sliced Japanese A5 wagyu beef, seared foie gras, shaved black truffles in between a black brioche bun, infused with caviar and 24-karat gold. The burger comes with hand-cut fries covered in 24-karat gold and truffle aioli on the side, accompanied by a bottle of 2006 Dom Perignon. The shiny burger is inspired in the "gold rush," which made Texas one of the largest oil producers in the world, according to a Facebook post by the Post Oak Hotel.

HOUSTON - A group of fans at the Houston Rockets' season opener against Milwaukee held signs and wore shirts in support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong on Thursday night. Houston general manager Daryl Morey angered China with a since-deleted tweet in support of the protesters earlier this month. Another sign read: "No censorship in America" and a third declared: "Freedom is not FREE." Another man held a sign that said: "Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong," which are the exact words included in Morey's tweet. The Chinese Basketball Association, headed by former Rockets star Yao Ming, suspended its ties to the Rockets over the tweet.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: (L-R) James Harden, Tilman Fertitta and Russell Westbrook attend game six of the American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park on October 19, 2019 inThere were a handful of celebs on hand for the Houston Astros Game 6 ALCS victory over the New York Yankees. James Harden, Tilman Fertitta and Russell Westbrook could be seen chatting during the game. HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Kate Upton attends game six of the American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park on October 19, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Kate Upton celebrates the Houston Astros 6-4 win in game six of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park on October 19, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by BobHOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: (L-R) James Harden, Tilman Fertitta and Russell Westbrook attend game six of the American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park on October 19, 2019 inCopyright 2019 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

EMBED >More News Videos These Houstonians rank on Forbes billionaires listHOUSTON, Texas -- Who's the richest person in Texas? That title once again goes to Walmart heiress Alice Walton, of Fort Worth, according to the newly released Forbes 400 ranking. But seven very wealthy Houstonians also appear on the list of the 400 richest people in the country right now.The top Houstonian on the list is Houston pipeline mogul Richard Kinder, who is tied with another Walmart heiress, Ann Walton Kroenke, for sixth place in Texas and No. Forbes estimates they're each worth $7.5 billion.The other Houston billionaires on the list are:Randa Duncan Williams and her siblings Dannine Avara, Scott Duncan, and Milane Frantz, all of whom live in Houston. Each boasts an estimated net worth of $6.3 billion, tying them for the eighth place in Texas and 100th place nationally.Restaurant mogul and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, $4.9 billion.

@espn https://t.co/yNyQFtwTTi Tilman Fertitta (@TilmanJFertitta) October 5, 20191/ I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. Chinese athletic apparel maker Li-Ning released a statement saying it was upset with Morey's tweet. "I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China," Morey tweeted early Monday from Japan, where Houston is playing this week. "I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention. But after Morey's tweet, even the Chinese government's consulate office in Houston issued a statement saying it "expressed strong dissatisfaction" with the team.

A short time after Morey posted that statement, the NBA said it was "regrettable" that the deleted tweet offended many in China. Stand with Hong Kong." As a lifelong @HoustonRockets fan, I was proud to see @dmorey call out the Chinese Communist Partys repressive treatment of protestors in Hong Kong. The Chinese league said Sunday on its official Twitter-like Weibo account that Morey had made "improper remarks regarding Hong Kong" to which it expressed its "strong opposition." Cathay Pacific lost two executives after the government warned the Hong Kong airline that its employees would be barred from flying over or to the mainland if they joined the protests.

Our presence in Tokyo is all about the promotion of the @NBA internationally and we are NOT a political organization. China accuses foreign parties in the U.S. and elsewhere of encouraging the demonstrations.Morey's now-deleted tweet read: "Fight for Freedom. "Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta attempted to distance the team from Morey's tweet with a Twitter post of his own: "Listen. Our presence in Tokyo is all about the promotion of the @NBA internationally and we are NOT a political organization. "China's relationship with the Rockets has been especially close because Chinese hall of famer Yao Ming played his entire NBA career with the team.The Chinese Consulate in Houston released this statement.

Forbes' richest Americans list for 2019 includes 11 from HoustonHouston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, right, has a 2019 Forbes 400 net worth of $4.9 billion. >>> See the Houstonians who made the Forbes 400 list ... Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, right, has a 2019 Forbes 400 net worth of $4.9 billion. >>> See the Houstonians who made the Forbes 400 list ... Photo: Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Photo: Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Forbes' richest Americans list for 2019 includes 11 from Houston 1 / 29 Back to GalleryThe number of Houston billionaires included in Forbes magazine's annual ranking of the 400 richest Americans drops from 12 to 11 this year. The 400 richest Americans are worth a record-breaking $2.96 trillion, up 2.2 percent from 2018, according to Forbes. See above for the Houstonians who appear in Forbes's 400 richest Americans list for 2019.

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Post Oak Hotel is all about luxurious excess. If the five star-rated spa and $3 million-plus wine inventory don't provide sufficient proof of the lengths that Tilman Fertitta's Galleria-area hotel will go to spoil its well-heeled guests, the Rolls Royce dealership in the lobby certainly should.But even by the standards of a hotel with a $1 million chandelier, its new burger might be a little over the top. Dubbed the Black Gold burger, it features 16-ounces of Japanese A5 wagyu beef, seared foie gras, black truffle, and truffle aioli. Served on a caviar-infused, 24K gold-topped bun alongside hand-cut 24K golden french fries and paired with a bottle of 2006 Dom Perignon Champagne, the pricey patty rings in at a whopping $1,600.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is adding to his empire.As part of a new deal announced Wednesday, Fertitta's company will acquire north Texas-based Del Frisco steakhouse restaurants.According to Fertitta's company Landry's, the all-cash deal is valued at around $650 million. "We have been following Del Frisco's for many years and tried once previously to acquire the company in 2012 before it went public," said Fertitta in a news release. "It is a storied high end steakhouse brand with roots set in Texas and iconic locations throughout the country. "Del Frisco's has several locations in Texas, including Dallas, Plano and Fort Worth. A Del Frisco's Grille, the more casual sister restaurant of Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, closed its Upper Kirby location in 2018 "We couldn't be happier with the acquisition and are planning no changes to the operations," said Fertitta.The sale is expected to close at the end of October.

Billionaire businessman Tilman Fertitta put $5,000 into a billion dollar empire. Now, he's sharing the secrets to his success in his new book, "Shut Up and Listen."

Here's a little more of our interview with Tilman Fertitta. Copyright 2019 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

HOUSTON - In January, the University of Houston named Dana Holgorsen as the new head football coach, three days after the firing of UH head football coach Major Applewhite on Dec. 31, 2018. According to the lawsuit, "Chairman Tilman Fertitta, Caucasian, was heard boasting that he personally went after Mr. The lawsuit also states "Simms has over 30 years of coaching experience and is clearly more qualified than Dana Holgorsen." Simms claims when he inquired about UHs hiring process, he was not given an adequate response. What is the University of Houston saying about the lawsuit?

EMBED >More News Videos RUSSELL WESTBROOK: What to know about the former NBA MVP and newest Houston RocketHOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta was fined $25,000 by the NBA for commenting on the Russell Westbrook trade before the deal was official.Fertitta made comments to a TV station after the Rockets agreed to send Chris Paul and two future first-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the All-Star point guard. "We're excited to have Russell Westbrook," Fertitta told the TV station. "I would watch him play for Oklahoma City, and he's so athletic. At the same time, this franchise just had the two years with the most wins it's ever had in consecutive years, and we wouldn't have accomplished that without Chris Paul. Chris Paul is unbelievable, and he's gonna be sadly missed.

HOUSTON – Seniors at Santa Fe High School have been offered free tickets to Thursday night's Game 5 Western Conference Finals by Houston Rockets owner and Galveston County native Tilman Fertitta. WATCH: Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta on offering Game 5 tickets to Santa Fe HS seniors"I have roots in Galveston County. I played on that football field before in Santa Fe," Fertitta said. "We just wanted to step up and I talked to Tad (Brown) and said, 'Hey, we need to find 300 tickets for the Santa Fe High School seniors on Thursday.'" Tribute on court and team will wear a Santa Fe HS ribbon #SantaFeStrong @KPRC2 — Randy McIlvoy (@KPRC2RandyMc) May 22, 2018The team also said that it's 50/50 Raffle & First Shot for Charity will benefit the Santa Fe Strong Memorial Fund.

HOUSTON – When Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby revealed that the Big 12 had voted to explore expansion for the ten team conference, many schools across the country wanted to be at the front of that line. University of Houston Board of Regents chairman Tilman Fertitta spoke with KPRC Channel 2 on Wednesday about the opportunity for Houston. ESPN conducted an anonymous survey of Big 12 coaches having them choose their top two candidates, not currently in a Power 5 conference, for expansion. For some reason they want to hold the eyeballs against us like they already own them in the Big 12, which I think the SEC does. "I don't care if there is 2 or 4, I just want the University of Houston in," Fertitta added.