HOUSTON – American billionaire Dan Friedkin has expressed interest in purchasing the Rockets from current owner Leslie Alexander.
Friedkin, the CEO of Gulf States Toyota Distributors, has a net worth of $3.1 billion, according to Forbes.
Gulf States Toyota Distributors has been in business since 1968 and has exclusive rights to distribute Toyota vehicles in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma.
Friedkin owns Hotel Jerome, a landmark hotel in Aspen, Colorado. He purchased it for $70 million, according to reports.
He was born in San Diego, California, in 1965. He has four children. Friedkin attended Georgetown University and Rice University. He currently lives in Houston.
Friedkin is the founder and chairman of the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation. He is one of nine civilian Heritage Flight pilots qualified to fly in formation with U.S. Air Force single-ship demonstration teams.
Friedkin owns a large collection of vintage military war planes.
The family's Friedkin Conservation Trust is working to preserve more than 6 million acres in Tanzania, reports said.
Friedkin's statement:
"I’ve expressed interest in exploring the purchase of the Houston Rockets.
"Les Alexander has done an outstanding job building a high caliber organization with a winning tradition. Over the years we have enjoyed a close partnership with the Rockets and Les through Toyota’s naming rights of the arena.
"As a Rockets fan and Houstonian it would be exciting and a privilege to build on the storied legacy of NBA basketball in this city."
