Frank Fertitta III

Early Life

Frank Joseph Fertitta III was born on February 24, 1962, in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Frank Fertitta Jr. and Victoria (née Broussard) Fertitta. He attended Bishop Gorman High School and later graduated from the University of Southern California in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts/Science degree in Business Administration.

Rise to Success

Fertitta's career in the casino industry began in 1985 when he joined Station Casinos as an officer and general manager. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a director, executive vice president, and chief operating officer in 1986. In 1989, he was appointed president of Station Casinos, a position he held until July 2000. Since July 1992, Fertitta has served as the chief executive officer of Station Casinos. Frank and Lorenzo led Station Casinos to its first IPO in 1993, raising $294 million.

Key Business Strategies

Frank Fertitta III, along with his brother Lorenzo, significantly impacted the sports and entertainment industries. They acquired the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2001 for $2 million. Under their leadership, the UFC transformed into a global sports phenomenon. The brothers sold a majority stake in 2016 for $4 billion and completed their divestment in 2021 with an additional $1.7 billion sale. Fertitta and his brother took their casino business, Red Rock Resorts, public in 2016. They each own substantial holdings in Station Casinos.

Philanthropy

Frank Fertitta III has been involved in philanthropy, including significant contributions to the University of Southern California. In 2016, he and his brother each pledged $7.5 million to NYU's Stern School of Business for a scholarship for veterans. Fertitta and his wife are major donors to the Republican Party and Republican candidates.