In D.C. superyacht information (one thing we by no means thought we’d say), Landry’s CEO Tilman Fertitta — the Houston-based billionaire behind Morton’s the Steakhouse and the Palm — simply docked his 252-footer alongside the Southwest Waterfront. Eater DC first noticed the yacht on Sunday night time, and it’s nonetheless there immediately.
The explanation for his outstanding presence within the nation’s capital is unclear, although it’s doubtless tied to the very fact he’s President Donald Trump’s nominated decide to be the U.S. ambassador to Italy. (And the glitzy Wharf growth does sit simply two miles from the White Home.) He additionally owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets, which isn’t enjoying the Washington Wizards this week (in order that couldn’t be why he’s right here). Landry’s didn’t instantly reply to Eater’s request for touch upon his D.C. pit cease.
The 67-year-old leisure magnate with a $11-billion internet value operates greater than 600 eating places beneath 22 manufacturers nationwide, which incorporates Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Catch Steak, Del Frisco’s, and Rainforest Cafe, plus Golden Nugget casinos in Vegas.
His jaw-dropping white yacht known as Boardwalk incorporates a helipad, sauna, magnificence salon, and 6 (!) sit-down bars on board, which is sensible for a hospitality bigwig like himself. Satirically, his Netherlands-made Feadship vessel is instantly dealing with a Wharf fixture of the identical title (Boardwalk Bar & Arcade). The luxe yacht is known as after Kemah Boardwalk, the amusement complicated Fertitta opened on Houston’s Clear Lake.
Fertitta’s not the one hospitality big who’s anchored right here as of late. Throughout inauguration weekend in January, Eater noticed Starbucks’ former CEO Howard Schultz docked in the identical Existence of the Wealthy and Well-known-like slip.
Like his Trump ally, Fertitta can also be a former actuality TV star, having appeared on CNBC’s Billion Greenback Purchaser. Fertitta has achieved enterprise dealings with the president earlier than, having scooped up the failed Trump on line casino in Atlantic Metropolis.
It’s unclear how he’ll finagle the four-year ambassador position, contemplating the Overseas Service Act of 1980 requires he place his privately held firm holdings right into a belief (or beneath the management of certainly one of his high execs).
Fertitta, a identified GOP donor to Trump’s Save America PAC, is certainly one of many ambassador picks with no prior political expertise. That features fellow billionaires Warren Stephens and Tom Barrack, who’re up for the U.Okay. and Turkey posts, in addition to Charles Kushner (France) and Kimberly Guilfoyle (Greece).
