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Sam Nazarian
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Sam Nazarian
Sam Nazarian (Persian: سام نظریان; born 1975) is an Iranian American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of SBE Entertainment Group, a lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages, and operates hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs globally. In 2023, Nazarian expanded his ventures by launching HQ Hotels & Residences, a hospitality brand in alliance with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Nazarian was born into a Persian Jewish family in Tehran, Iran, in 1975. Following the Iranian Revolution, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Beverly Hills, California. He is the son of Younes Nazarian, an early investor in Qualcomm. Nazarian attended Beverly Hills High School, graduating in 1993, and later studied at the University of Southern California. In recognition of his support, the Beverly Hills High School basketball court was renamed Sam Nazarian Court after he donated $200,000 to the Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Association.
In 1998, Nazarian founded Platinum Wireless, a telecommunications company specializing in the distribution of Nextel products. After selling the company in 2001, he ventured into real estate with his father, establishing 3Wall Development in 1999. In 2002, he founded SBE Entertainment Group, focusing on hospitality ventures.
Under Nazarian's leadership, SBE expanded to include brands such as SLS Hotels, Hyde Lounge, and Katsuya. In 2020, he sold the remaining 50% stake of SBE's hotel platform to Accor Hotels but retained its food and beverage operations.
In 2023, Nazarian re-entered the hotel industry by launching HQ Hotels & Residences through an alliance with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. This initiative focuses on hospitality experiences through dining, nightlife, and wellness.
The first HQ Hotels & Residences locations are planned in Montreux, Switzerland, and Detroit, Michigan. The Montreux property, The HQ Montreux Hotel & Spa, will feature 155 rooms and 42 residences. The Detroit property, HQ Detroit Hotel & Spa, will offer 174 guestrooms.
In December 2014, Sam Nazarian faced scrutiny from the Nevada Gaming Control Board during his bid for a gaming license related to his ownership of the SLS Las Vegas hotel and casino. The investigation revealed Nazarian had used cocaine during a trip to Mexico and made approximately $3 million in payments to convicted felon Derrick "Smokey" Armstrong, whom Nazarian described as an extortionist. Some of these payments were allegedly funneled through associates including Suge Knight and Hai Waknine. As a result, Nazarian was granted only a one-year limited gaming license, which required him to submit to random drug testing and removed him from daily casino operations. Operational control of the SLS was transferred to Stockbridge Capital, though Nazarian retained a 10% stake.
The Nevada investigation also uncovered that Nazarian had paid around $3 million to Armstrong and his affiliates over several years, which Nazarian claimed were extortion payments made under duress. He reported Armstrong to Los Angeles police but continued making payments due to fear and reputational concerns. Armstrong denied the extortion claims and maintained he was a legitimate business partner.
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Sam Nazarian
Sam Nazarian (Persian: سام نظریان; born 1975) is an Iranian American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of SBE Entertainment Group, a lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages, and operates hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs globally. In 2023, Nazarian expanded his ventures by launching HQ Hotels & Residences, a hospitality brand in alliance with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Nazarian was born into a Persian Jewish family in Tehran, Iran, in 1975. Following the Iranian Revolution, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Beverly Hills, California. He is the son of Younes Nazarian, an early investor in Qualcomm. Nazarian attended Beverly Hills High School, graduating in 1993, and later studied at the University of Southern California. In recognition of his support, the Beverly Hills High School basketball court was renamed Sam Nazarian Court after he donated $200,000 to the Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Association.
In 1998, Nazarian founded Platinum Wireless, a telecommunications company specializing in the distribution of Nextel products. After selling the company in 2001, he ventured into real estate with his father, establishing 3Wall Development in 1999. In 2002, he founded SBE Entertainment Group, focusing on hospitality ventures.
Under Nazarian's leadership, SBE expanded to include brands such as SLS Hotels, Hyde Lounge, and Katsuya. In 2020, he sold the remaining 50% stake of SBE's hotel platform to Accor Hotels but retained its food and beverage operations.
In 2023, Nazarian re-entered the hotel industry by launching HQ Hotels & Residences through an alliance with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. This initiative focuses on hospitality experiences through dining, nightlife, and wellness.
The first HQ Hotels & Residences locations are planned in Montreux, Switzerland, and Detroit, Michigan. The Montreux property, The HQ Montreux Hotel & Spa, will feature 155 rooms and 42 residences. The Detroit property, HQ Detroit Hotel & Spa, will offer 174 guestrooms.
In December 2014, Sam Nazarian faced scrutiny from the Nevada Gaming Control Board during his bid for a gaming license related to his ownership of the SLS Las Vegas hotel and casino. The investigation revealed Nazarian had used cocaine during a trip to Mexico and made approximately $3 million in payments to convicted felon Derrick "Smokey" Armstrong, whom Nazarian described as an extortionist. Some of these payments were allegedly funneled through associates including Suge Knight and Hai Waknine. As a result, Nazarian was granted only a one-year limited gaming license, which required him to submit to random drug testing and removed him from daily casino operations. Operational control of the SLS was transferred to Stockbridge Capital, though Nazarian retained a 10% stake.
The Nevada investigation also uncovered that Nazarian had paid around $3 million to Armstrong and his affiliates over several years, which Nazarian claimed were extortion payments made under duress. He reported Armstrong to Los Angeles police but continued making payments due to fear and reputational concerns. Armstrong denied the extortion claims and maintained he was a legitimate business partner.