TEXAS STEAKHOUSE TITAN TILMAN FERTITTA’S SUPERYACHT PULLS UP TO D.C.

In D.C. superyacht news (something we never thought we’d say), Landry’s CEO Tilman Fertitta — the Houston-based billionaire behind Morton’s the Steakhouse and the Palm — just docked his 252-footer along the Southwest Waterfront. Eater DC first spotted the yacht on Sunday night, and it’s still there today.

The reason for his prominent presence in the nation’s capital is unclear, though it’s likely tied to the fact he’s President Donald Trump’s nominated pick to be the U.S. ambassador to Italy. (And the glitzy Wharf development does sit just two miles from the White House.) He also owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets, which isn’t playing the Washington Wizards this week (so that couldn’t be why he’s here). Landry’s did not immediately respond to Eater’s request for comment on his D.C. pit stop.

The 67-year-old entertainment magnate with a $11-billion net worth operates more than 600 restaurants under 22 brands nationwide, which includes Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Catch Steak, Del Frisco’s, and Rainforest Cafe, plus Golden Nugget casinos in Vegas.

His jaw-dropping white yacht called Boardwalk features a helipad, sauna, beauty salon, and six (!) sit-down bars on board, which makes sense for a hospitality bigwig like himself. Ironically, his Netherlands-made Feadship vessel is directly facing a Wharf fixture of the same name (Boardwalk Bar & Arcade). The luxe yacht is named after Kemah Boardwalk, the amusement complex Fertitta opened on Houston’s Clear Lake.

Fertitta’s not the only hospitality giant who’s anchored here as of late. During inauguration weekend in January, Eater spotted Starbucks’ former CEO Howard Shultz docked in the same Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous-like slip.

Like his Trump ally, Fertitta is also a former reality TV star, having appeared on CNBC’s Billion Dollar Buyer. Fertitta has done business dealings with the president before, having scooped up the failed Trump casino in Atlantic City.

It’s unclear how he will finagle the four-year ambassador role, considering the Foreign Service Act of 1980 requires he place his privately held company holdings into a trust (or under the control of one of his top execs).

Fertitta, a known GOP donor to Trump’s Save America PAC, is one of many ambassador picks with no prior political experience. That includes fellow billionaires Warren Stephens and Tom Barrack, who are up for the U.K. and Turkey posts, as well as Charles Kushner (France) and Kimberly Guilfoyle (Greece).

2025-03-17T21:33:46Z