Sam Nazarian
سام نظریان
Born1975 (age 47–48)
Tehran, Imperial State of Iran
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
Occupation(s)CEO of Umami Burger
Founder & CEO of SBE Entertainment Group
SpouseEmina Cunmulaj
ParentYounes Nazarian
RelativesIzak Parviz Nazarian (uncle)
David Nazarian (brother)
Angella Nazarian (sister-in-law)
Shulamit Nazarian (sister)
WebsiteSBE.com

Sam Nazarian (Persian: سام نظریان; born 1975) is a Persian-American businessman, investor and philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of SBE Entertainment Group.

Biography

Early life

Nazarian was born to a Persian Jewish family in Tehran in 1975.[1] The Nazarian family immigrated to the United States following the Iranian Revolution.[2] He is the son of Younes Nazarian who was an early investor in Qualcomm.[2] He was raised in Beverly Hills, California, where he attended Beverly Hills High School and later studied at the University of Southern California.[1] The Beverly Hills High School basketball court was renamed Sam Nazarian Court after Nazarian made a $200,000 donation to the Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Association.[3]

Business career

In 1998, Nazarian founded Platinum Wireless, a telecommunications company that distributed Nextel products.[4] He sold the company three years later, and began investing in real estate with his father,[5] and founded 3Wall Development in 1999.[4] In 2002, he founded SBE Entertainment Group.[5]

In 2020, Nazarian sold the remaining 50% stake of sbe's hotel platform to Accor Hotels[6] but retained SBE's food and beverage business.[7]

From 2008 to 2011, Nazarian served on the board of trustees of the Southern California Institute of Architecture.[8][9]

In July 2009, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointed Nazarian to the Board of Airport Commissioners of Los Angeles World Airports. In 2014, Nazarian was named to Fortune's 40 Under 40 list.[10]

Producer

Nazarian served as executive producer for the films Waiting..., Down in the Valley, Five Fingers, The Last Time, Mr. Brooks and College.[11]

Personal life

Nazarian is married to Albanian-American model Emina Cunmulaj.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 Bagley, Christopher (Aug 2005). "Nazarian: Sam I Am - Young tycoon Sam Nazarian has big dreams for himself, L.A. and the world". W Magazine. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  2. 1 2 Bloomberg: "Sam Nazarian Wants You to Sleep with Him" By Karl Taro Greenfeld December 01, 2011
  3. ↑ Ceasar, Stephen (2015-02-03). "Along with his name on Beverly Hills campuses, donor buys controversy". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  4. 1 2 "Exclusive Podcast Interview: Iranian Jewish Entrepenuer Sam Nazarian". Jewish Journal. 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  5. 1 2 "Checking Back In". Los Angeles Business Journal. 2015-05-10. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  6. ↑ accorgroup (2022-06-09). "Accor takes full ownership of sbe hotel brands". Accor – Newsroom. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  7. ↑ Bockmann, Rich (2020-11-24). "Sam Nazarian Sells Hotels Stake To Accor". The Real Deal. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  8. ↑ jwilliams (2008-02-20). "Local Dudes Make Good: Caruso to USC, Nazarian to SCI-Arc". Curbed LA. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  9. ↑ "SCI-Arc Board of Trustees". SCI-Arc. Archived from the original on 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  10. ↑ "40 Under 40". Fortune. October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Sam Nazarian - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  12. ↑ New York Daily News: "King of clubs Sam Nazarian throws an ace party for Mexico wedding to model Emina Cunmulaj" BY Marianne Garvey June 23, 2015
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