Sam Nazarian

With an uncompromising entrepreneurial instinct and personal style, SBA founder, cairman and CEO Sam Nazarian has been a transformative force in revolutionizing contemporary hospitality. In only a decade, Nazarian has defined "the scene" in Los Angeles and beyond, driving SBE to become the creative wellspring for some of the world's most sought-after luxury lifestyle brands in North America, including SLS Hotels and Casinos, Katsuya by Starck, The Bazaar by José Andrés and Hyde Lounge.

Nazarian's career began in the tech industry with a wireless company he co-founded and later sold after leading its rapid growth and record sales. In 2001, Nazarian began to hone his expertise in development and hospitality by successfully diversifying his family's assets into real estate holdings across virtually all sectors of the market. It was during this phase of his career that Nazarian began to see a demand for a different approach to hospitality - one that would fundamentally change the industry moving forward. From the launch of SBE's first nightclub in 2003, Nazarian has evolved the privately-held SBE into the definitive name in luxury with a collection that includes some of the most exclusive and high-profile hospitality and lifestyle destinations in the world. To create SBE's award-winning portfolio, Nazarian has aligned with internationally acclaimed design and culinary talents such as Philippe Starck and Matthew Rolston and chefs José Andrés and Katsuya Uechi. Nazarian's business savvy and creative vision have also attracted the interest of Wall Street, as well as active participation from a "who's who" of financial institutions, including Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, Lowe Enterprises, Colony Capital and Stockbridge Real Estate Funds.

Recently named on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 2014 List, Nazarian also was one of the youngest executive to be included in the "Top 100 Most Powerful People in Southern California" by West, the Los Angeles Times' magazine. Nazarian was also named among "The Influentials" in Los Angeles Magazine and was recently honored with the Mondavi Wine & Food award and named the "Hotelier of the Year" two years in a row by HotelChatter.com. He is an active member of the Southern California Institute of Architecture's Board of Directors and a generous supporter of the Beverly Hills Education Foundation. In July 2009, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointed Nazarian to the Board of Airport Commissioners of Los Angeles World Airports.

Nazarian studied at New York University and the University of Southern California and currently divides his time between residences in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Miami.