Tilman Fertitta Nears $5.7 Billion Caesars Takeover
Tilman Fertitta, the Texas billionaire behind Golden Nugget and Landry’s, is nearing a $5.7 billion takeover of Caesars Entertainment — a deal that would dramatically expand his footprint across casinos, hotels, and restaurants, according to Bloomberg. The merger would unite Caesars’ gaming operations with Fertitta’s hospitality empire, which includes brands such as Mastro’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Rainforest Cafe, and several casino properties. Certain assets, including the Houston Rockets and some hotels, are expected to stay separate from the deal. Bloomberg reports that Fertitta, 68, began working in his family’s seafood business in Galveston before building Landry’s into one of the country’s largest hospitality companies. After weathering the Texas oil crash in the 1980s, he grew through aggressive acquisitions and entered the casino industry with the purchase of Golden Nugget in 2005. Recognized for his hands-on leadership and lavish business style, Fertitta became a national media figure through CNBC’s Billion Dollar Buyer and later served as U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino under President Donald Trump. Caesars would give Fertitta a larger presence on the Las …
