Houston Billionaire Tilman Fertitta Officially Trades in the Restaurateur Life for the Trump Administration

The new U.S. Ambassador to Italy and San Marino vows to give up more than 600 businesses and restaurants to step into his new role

The U.S. Senate confirmed Houston’s billionaire restaurateur Tilman Fertitta, 83-14, as the U.S. Ambassador to Italy and San Marino on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Fertitta, who owns the Houston Rockets and more than 600 U.S. businesses and restaurants, many of which are based in the Houston area, said in a hearing held on Tuesday, April 1, that his top priorities as ambassador would be to encourage Italy to help end Russia’s attack on Ukraine by increasing its “engagement in the Western Balkans to ensure regional stability,” and to boost trade with the United States, which is currently at an estimated $44 billion deficit, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “I take the responsibility of being an ambassador at this crucial moment in history as the most important job of my life,” Fertitta told the Senate during his speech.

As part of this position, Fertitta has also vowed to divest himself of a majority of his businesses. Fertitta submitted a written plan to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics in March, stating that once confirmed, he would resign from the more than 600 restaurants and limited liability corporations (LLCs) he owns. That includes the chain restaurants Landry’s, Morton’s the Steakhouse, Catch, Del Frisco’s, the Palm, Joe’s Crab Shack, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, and the Rainforest Cafe, plus newer New York restaurants the Corner Store, which he opened in September, and the iconic Keen’s Steakhouse, which he bought in November for $30 million.

Fertitta will also resign from several other groups, including the Rainforest Cafe Friends of the Future Foundation, the Texas Heart Institute, and the University of Houston System, which he founded with his wife. He will remain in unpaid positions with the Houston Children’s Charity and the Houston Police Foundation.

Despite the long list of companies that Fertitta will divest or resign from, it appears he’ll remain an owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. According to Fertitta’s letter, the Office of Government Ethics has determined it is not a conflict of interest, so he is not required to divest.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced Fertitta to Congress during a hearing held on Tuesday, April 1, praising his business acumen and reputation as one of the most successful restaurateurs in the country. “What I later learned is that Tilman is not only one of the nation’s most prominent businessmen, he’s also a visionary and a philanthropist who’s dedicated much of his time and resources to bettering the community. Over the years, I’ve witnessed Tilman make an incredible impact on the city of Houston and the entire state of Texas,” Cornyn said.

Retired astronaut and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) also showed his support for Fertitta during the early April hearing, praising him for his support. Kelly talked about Fertitta’s support and encouragement when his wife, and retired politician, Gabby Giffords, was shot in the head in 2011 while meeting with constituents in Tucson, Arizona. “When I think of the worst moment of our lives and the impossible days and weeks and months that followed, Tilman is one of those people that got us through it and that I significantly relied on,” he says. “Tilman is a problem solver. He’s a leader, and he’s the right person for this job.”

Although Fertitta has extensive experience as a business owner and in running restaurants, it is uncertain how much experience he has in foreign service, the U.S. government, or municipal politics in Italy. The Galveston native has some Italian connections — his family is of Sicilian descent, and he owns an Italian restaurant, La Griglia, in Houston’s Harlow District. “We’ve been blessed to visit Italy numerous times over the years, and I’ve long been an admirer of the country’s culture, food, fashion, and true patriotic spirit,” he said during the March hearing.

Fertitta has shown his support for Trump in the past, donating $420,000 to PACs backing the President and hosting numerous fundraisers for the president-elect. During a roundtable discussion at the White House at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, aspects of Trump and Fertitta’s relationship came to light.