Sam Nazarian Explained

Sam Nazarian
Native Name:	سام نظریان
Native Name Lang:	fa
Birth Place:	Tehran, Imperial State of Iran
Alma Mater:	University of Southern California
Occupation:	CEO of Umami Burger Founder & CEO of SBE Entertainment Group
Spouse:	Emina Cunmulaj
Website:	SBE.com
Parents:	Younes Nazarian
Relatives:	Izak Parviz Nazarian (uncle) David Nazarian (brother) Angella Nazarian (sister-in-law) Shulamit Nazarian (sister)

Sam Nazarian (born 1975) is an 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. He was raised in Beverly Hills, California, where he attended Beverly Hills High School, graduating in 1993, and later studied at the University of Southern California. 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. He sold the company three years later, and began investing in real estate with his father,^[4] and founded 3Wall Development in 1999.^[5] In 2002, he founded SBE Entertainment Group.

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 Fortunes 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]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Nazarian: Sam I Am - Young tycoon Sam Nazarian has big dreams for himself, L.A. and the world. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043435/http://www.wmagazine.com/people/2005/08/sam_nazarian . March 4, 2016 . W Magazine . Christopher. Bagley. Aug 2005.
2. https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/magazine/sam-nazarian-wants-you-to-sleep-with-him-12012011.html Bloomberg: "Sam Nazarian Wants You to Sleep with Him" By Karl Taro Greenfeld
3. News: Ceasar . Stephen . February 3, 2015 . Along with his name on Beverly Hills campuses, donor buys controversy . en-US . Los Angeles Times . August 10, 2017 . 0458-3035.
4. Web site: May 10, 2015 . Checking Back In . April 7, 2022 . Los Angeles Business Journal . en-US.
5. Web site: December 5, 2008 . Exclusive Podcast Interview: Iranian Jewish Entrepenuer Sam Nazarian . April 7, 2022 . Jewish Journal . en-US.
6. Web site: accorgroup . June 9, 2022 . Accor takes full ownership of sbe hotel brands . February 7, 2023 . Accor – Newsroom . en-EN.
7. Web site: Bockmann . Rich . November 24, 2020 . Sam Nazarian Sells Hotels Stake To Accor . October 30, 2023 . The Real Deal . en.
8. Web site: jwilliams . February 20, 2008 . Local Dudes Make Good: Caruso to USC, Nazarian to SCI-Arc . August 10, 2017 . Curbed LA.
9. Web site: SCI-Arc Board of Trustees . https://web.archive.org/web/20101222173939/http://sciarc.edu/portal/people/board/index.html . December 22, 2010 . May 24, 2023 . SCI-Arc.
10. October 2014 . 40 Under 40 . Fortune.
11. Web site: Sam Nazarian - Rotten Tomatoes . July 31, 2023 . www.rottentomatoes.com . en.
12. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/king-clubs-plays-ace-wedding-article-1.2267286 New York Daily News: "King of clubs Sam Nazarian throws an ace party for Mexico wedding to model Emina Cunmulaj" BY Marianne Garvey