President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday he would nominate Houston billionaire hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta to serve as U.S. ambassador to Italy.

Rumor has it that business mogul and Houston Rockets owner, Tilman Fertitta, might soon be taking on a new role as the U.S. ambassador to Italy.

The University of Houston has selected Eddie Nuñez as their new Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Athletics Director.

These Houstonians have secured a coveted spot on Forbes' prestigious 'Richest People in the World' list for 2024, despite the challenges faced in 2020.

Students want to reallocate funding for athletics to other student services, but university leaders rejected that recommendation. Regents on Wednesday sent both sides back to the negotiating table.

A representative for Landry’s -- the owner corporation of Rainforest Cafes -- confirmed Tuesday that Rainforest Café in Katy Mills Mall will indeed undergo a major renovation this year -- and, what’s more: it will stay open during it.

At the Knights of Momus Parade in Galveston, Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta yelled out “Pray for Victor,” referring to the Rockets’ hope to draft French super prospect Victor Wembanyana in the 2023 NBA Draft, while wrapping up an interview with KPRC 2′s Frank Billingsley.

FBI Houston is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the murder of a 5-year-old girl earlier this month. This is in addition to Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta offering $20,000 and Crime Stoppers’ $5,000 reward.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner and homicide detectives were joined by family members Wednesday to make a plea to the public for additional information on the suspect or suspects involved in the fatal shooting of 5-year-old Khamaya Dior Donelson.

Crime Stoppers of Houston and billionaire Tilman Fertitta are now offering up to $25,000 for information about the road rage shooting that killed beloved Reverend Dr. Ronald K. Mouton Sr. last week.

Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Police Department stood side by side with the family of 14-year-old Axel Turcios, who was shot to death on May 6, to make a public plea to help identify the suspects involved.

Prominent businessman Tilman J. Fertitta and his family have pledged $50 million to the University of Houston College of Medicine to ignite a new era of innovative and equitable health care in Houston and across Texas. In recognition of the legacy-defining support, the medical school is now named the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine.

Houston billionaire and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta showed KPRC 2 inside his luxurious new yacht he docked in Galveston around Mardi Gras.

Adam Levine and Maroon 5 will take the stage at the sold-out annual Tilman Fertitta Family gala, the San Luis Salute, on Feb. 25 at the Galveston Island Convention Center at The San Luis Resort.

Tilman Fertitta’s Post Oak Hotel just opened up a brand-new wine destination, Stella’s Wine Bar - with access to the hotel’s award-winning cellar!

Here are things to know for Wednesday, August 25:

The reward was increased to $100,000 in the fatal shooting of New Orleans Det. Everett Briscoe.

Tilman Fertitta sure knows how to host.

There will be a Houston Rockets reunion in Philadelphia sports leadership with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) announcing Tad Brown as their new CEO, meaning he’ll oversee properties including both the the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA and the New Jersey Devils of the NHL, as well as the Prudential Center.

Nearly nine months ago, Mayor Sylvester Turner’s task force on policing reform released a list of recommendations to improve police performance in key areas. One of those areas involved training. A short time after those recommendations were released, the Houston Police Department opened the Tilman Fertitta Family Tactical Training Center.

Despite a tough 2020, many billionaires, pushed to the limit to remain on Forbes’ prestigious list.

Businessman Tilman Fertitta’s company, Houston’s Post Oak Motor Cars, home to Bentley, Bugatti and Rolls-Royce, accepts Dogecoin as payment for its transactions.

Fertitta Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Golden Nugget and Landry’s, announced Monday it will become publicly listed. According to a news release, owner Tilman Fertitta has entered a merger agreement with FAST Acquisition Corp. valued at approximately $6.6 billion. However, in today’s opportunistic world, I determined that in order to maximize the opportunities in the gaming, entertainment and hospitality sectors, it was preferable to take my company public,” Fertitta said. Fertitta will be the company’s largest shareholder, owning 60% of the company and a roughly $2 billion stake. “At the end of the day, the decision to do a deal with FAST was a no-brainer.”AdAccording to the news release, Golden Nugget and Landry’s management team will continue to lead the company and Fertitta will serve as chairman, president, and CEO.

Rockets owner Charlie Thomas looks up at right. HOUSTON – Charlie Thomas, the former owner of the Houston Rockets, died Friday. Thomas bought Houston’s NBA team in 1982 for about $10 million and sold it in 1993 for about $85 million. Current Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said in a statement posted on Twitter that the team is deeply saddened by Thomas’ passing. “Charlie was a great friend, business partner, and true Texan who loved his Rockets,” Fertitta said in the statement.

““The toxic leadership -- thank God that those leaders at Fort Hood -- 14 of them -- were removed,” Lupe Guillen said. “If Mr. McCarthy actually watches this, I hope you actually endorse the ‘I am Vanessa Guillen’ (Act of 2020),” she said. We are not going to stop.”Read the “I am Vanessa Guillen Act of 2020.”Lupe Guillen said the act will “keep (her) sister’s legacy alive” and it will save lives. “It was widespread at Fort Hood, so things aren’t complete. Officials identified the two suspects tied to Fort Hood solider Vanessa Guillen’s disappearance on July 2.

HOUSTON – The clock is ticking down towards the start of a new training camp and the status of Rockets stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook remains unclear. Russell Westbrook also would like to be traded but his primary focus, even if he remains in Houston, is to be the main piece on offense. Alongside Harden that was not the case this past season and won’t be that way moving forward as long as both are in Houston. The Rockets are in no hurry to deal either player and are more than willing to proceed to camp and the season without making a move. Training camp is set to open on December first.

HOUSTON – Greetings from the Xfinity Sports Desk and KPRC Channel 2 Sports. Here is what’s happening on the sports scene across Houston this week and the days ahead. Top candidates include Jeff Van Gundy who coached the Rockets from 2003 through the 2007 season along with John Lucas. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALLThe regular season is flying by after getting off to a late start. That’s it from the Xfinity Sports Desk and KPRC Channel 2 Sports!

HOUSTON – The Tilman Fertitta family and the King Ranch family are launching a new restaurant in the Galleria area. King Ranch Texas Kitchen is a southern-style steakhouse, which is set to open before the holidays. The menu will include beef cheek Barbacoa tacos, smoked brisket queso, King Ranch fried quail, blackened redfish and smoked brisket Pimento grilled cheese, per the website. While King Ranch, a major agribusiness with interests in farming, luxury retail goods, and recreational hunting, will supply meats and other products. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday.

FILE - This is a July 26, 2019, file photo showing Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey during an NBA basketball news conference, in Houston. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON – Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord, a little over a year after sparking a rift between the NBA and Chinese government. Fertitta added that Morey is helping him through the transition and they'll promote vice president of basketball operations Rafael Stone to general manager. Morey worked as Houston's assistant general manager for one season under Carroll Dawson before he retired after the 2007 season and Morey was promoted to his job.

HOUSTON – Ten Houstonians have made Forbes’ list of the richest people in America this year. According to Forbes, these ten people are worth about $44.3 billion. The richest of the Houston moguls, according to the list, is Richard Kinder, who came in at No. The 75-year-old chairman of Kinder Morgan, one of the largest energy infrastructure firms in the U.S., and leader of the Kinder Foundation, has an estimated net worth of $6.2 billion. The 46-year-old has an estimated net worth of $3.3 billion.

HOUSTON – The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston has set the bar high for other luxury hotels in the city. Forbes Travel Guide awarded the hotel five-stars, making it the first in Houston and second in the state to earn a perfect rating. The luxury hotel houses six restaurants in total, as well as amenities including a spa, salon, fitness center, and meeting and event space. On top of the 38-story tower sits a helipad, offering guests the opportunity to depart directly from the hotel for private helicopter excursions. The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston is located at 1600 W Loop S, Houston, Texas.

HOUSTON – Forbes released a list of the world’s richest people around the globe and a few Houstonians made the cut. Among the wealthiest, local billionaires are Tilman Fertitta and Richard Kinder. Forbes said the list was a drastic change compared to 2019, as 51% of billionaires lost value this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Richard Kinder (Courtesy of Forbes)Tilman FertittaLandry’s Inc., Houston RocketsRank: 414Wealth: $4.2 billionTilman Fertitta owns the Houston Rockets, Landry’s Restaurants (including Saltgrass Steakhouse and Bubba Gump Shrimp), and Golden Nugget Casinos. Tilman Fertitta (Courtesy of Forbes)Janice McNairHouston TexansRank: 451Wealth: $4.0 billionJanice McNair is the widow of Bob McNair, the owner of the Houston Texans, inheriting 80% of the team.

“What I’m most happy about is putting employees back to work!” he added. “That’s the greatest thing in the world.”Fertitta disagreed strongly at first when officials shut down the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and other venues. He later agreed that it was the right move at the right time. “Everybody seems to have made the right decision along the way,” Fertitta said. “I wouldn’t want to open there.”Letting states decide when and how to reopen is "the way it should be,” he said.

Abbott announced Friday an Executive Order to create a strike force team in an effort to reopen Texas. Many of the members appointed by Abbott are from Houston. The strikeforce team was formed to aid in “strategically restarting” various sectors and infrastructures in Texas such as education, culture, and work. The team will be led by retired COO of Hilltop Holdings James Huffines and veteran lobbyist Mike Toomey. Abbott’s strikeforce team and to see a full list of members can visit the State of Texas webpage.

Billionaire businessman Tilman Fertitta said in an interview he did his workers a “favor” by furloughing them quickly to help them receive unemployment benefits amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Hill reports. Fertitta, who owns the Houston Rockets, Golden Nugget Casinos, and Landry’s, appeared on Fox News’s “Ingraham Angle" to discuss business. “But I’ve got 45,000 employees out there that we’ve had to furlough that is so tremendously unfortunate..."Regarding the furlough, Fertitta was asked by Kilmeade “how hard” it was to come to that decision. The billionaire cited his experience in operating businesses through several crises, saying employers like himself are doing their employees a “favor” by furloughing them quickly. “You’re doing the people a favor if you get them furloughed first because you have them first to unemployment line after the severance that you give them.

The Houston Rockets showed their appreciation to those working the frontlines in response to COVID-19 at hospitals in Houston. On Sunday, the team sent meals prepared and donated by owner Tilman Fertitta’s Post Oak Hotel and La Griglia Italian restaurant to the staff at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Greater Heights and Katy.

HOUSTON – The coronavirus pandemic has forced businesses big and small across the country to close locations because they are non-essential or simply because they cannot afford to stay open with the dramatic drop in customers. Over 3 million people have filed for unemployment due to being laid off or furloughed. Here are just a few of the businesses that have had to make tough calls. Phillips 66: According to the company’s website, it is making a $700 million spending cut. The company is also reducing operating and administrative costs by $500 million, and multiple projects will be deferred.

HOUSTON – Houston restaurateur and owner of the Rockets Tilman Fertitta is adding another restaurant to the Landry’s Inc. empire. Late on Wednesday Fertitta announced his company, Landry’s Inc., completed the acquisition for the Palm steakhouse chain from Just One More Restaurant Corp., which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019. The chain of fine-dining restaurants was purchased for $45 million, according to the Houston Business Journal. The Palm in Houston is located across the street from The Galleria at 6100 Westheimer Road. Fertitta’s acquisition now makes him the owner of the 21 Palm restaurants located in the U.S.

HOUSTON – The University of Houston announced Thursday that the school is expanding a program that will allow students with a family income under $65,000 to get free tuition starting in the Fall 2020 semester. Before the expansion, the program only helped those with family incomes of up to $50,000. In 2008, only those with a family income of up to $30,000 were eligible. “Your family’s income bracket shouldn’t limit your ability to achieve a college degree," said Tilman Fertitta, chairman of the UH System Board of Regents. "Talented people come from all socioeconomic backgrounds, so I’m thrilled there will be more financial aid available for those UH students who need it most.”In order to qualify, students must be first-time freshmen and meet other requirements.

SPRING, Texas – Investigators arrested a 28-year-old mother of two and confiscated computers, credit cards and other items at her Spring home after they said she stole billionaire Tilman Fertitta’s identity. Lifelock, an identity theft protection company, caught the suspicious account activity, alerted Fertitta and he called police before Hunter bought anything, according to court documents. According to court documents, Hunter opened the fraudulent accounts on Sept. 2, 2019, and investigators arrested her about a month later on an unrelated charge, and she confessed. In early February, investigators arrested Hunter and confiscated three laptops, four desktop computers, an iPad, six credit cards, a driver’s license and a social card, each with different names. Hunter said she worked for Apple tech support and that the confiscated computers were used for work or old and unused.

HOUSTON – Houston Rockets owner, Tilman Fertitta, is a businessman mogul and a world leader in the dining, hospitality, entertainment and gaming industries. Galveston and commented on the success of his new book “Shut Up & Listen!”Tilman Fertitta Shut Up and Listen! Fertitta, who grew up in Galveston, found another way to bring people back to the island with the annual Knights of Momus Parade. The successful businessman also announced he will be tossing Mardi Gras 2020 basketball caps from some of his floats during the Knights of Momus parade this Saturday. You can watch the Knights of Momus parade live, on KPRC Channel 2 beginning at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 22.

HOUSTON – The passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant has brought with it many tributes from those all across the NBA, the nation and the world. Bryant, 41, who played 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, died in a helicopter crash just outside of Los Angeles Sunday morning. In all, nine people died, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna. KPRC 2 caught up with those that knew Bryant well in Houston, including Rockets legend and broadcaster Calvin Murphy, UH head coach Kelvin Sampson and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. Sports director Randy McIlvoy spoke with Fertitta about the impact of losing Bryant to the entire sports world.

HOUSTON – Seniors at Santa Fe High School have been offered free tickets to Thursday night's Game 5 Western Conference Finals by Houston Rockets owner and Galveston County native Tilman Fertitta. WATCH: Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta on offering Game 5 tickets to Santa Fe HS seniors"I have roots in Galveston County. I played on that football field before in Santa Fe," Fertitta said. "We just wanted to step up and I talked to Tad (Brown) and said, 'Hey, we need to find 300 tickets for the Santa Fe High School seniors on Thursday.'" Tribute on court and team will wear a Santa Fe HS ribbon #SantaFeStrong @KPRC2 — Randy McIlvoy (@KPRC2RandyMc) May 22, 2018The team also said that it's 50/50 Raffle & First Shot for Charity will benefit the Santa Fe Strong Memorial Fund.

HOUSTON – When Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby revealed that the Big 12 had voted to explore expansion for the ten team conference, many schools across the country wanted to be at the front of that line. University of Houston Board of Regents chairman Tilman Fertitta spoke with KPRC Channel 2 on Wednesday about the opportunity for Houston. ESPN conducted an anonymous survey of Big 12 coaches having them choose their top two candidates, not currently in a Power 5 conference, for expansion. For some reason they want to hold the eyeballs against us like they already own them in the Big 12, which I think the SEC does. "I don't care if there is 2 or 4, I just want the University of Houston in," Fertitta added.