CNBC’s reality TV show Billion Dollar Buyer and it stars none other than successful business mogul, and sole shareholder of Landry’s Inc, Tilman J. Fertitta. So what goes on in the show exactly? In the life of the series, the show concentrates on twelve entrepreneurs and their businesses.
Fertitta travels to meet all of these business owners (who are potential suppliers for his business) to decide whether or not they have the chops to join his vast empire. It’s called “Billion Dollar Buyer” because Fertitta’s potential order could make these businesses substantial money and because Fertitta’s team has the ability to spend over $2 billion a year.
In case you’re not familiar with Landry’s, this is the restaurant company that owns Morton’s Steakhouse chain of restaurants, five Golden Nugget Casinos and a whole lot more.
For more information, check out this press release from last year and let us know what you think of the show.
Billionaire hospitality mogul Tilman J. Fertitta can make small businesses big with just one life-changing order. In CNBC’s newest primetime series, “Billion Dollar Buyer,” premiering Tuesday, March 22 at 10pm ET/PT, he’ll travel the country to meet twelve potential suppliers─ and decide if they have what it takes to partner with his empire.
Chairman, CEO, and sole shareholder of Landry’s, Inc., Fertitta oversees more than 500 properties and over 50 leading restaurant, hotel, and entertainment brands, ranging from high-end properties like Mastro’s and Morton’s The Steakhouse, to such mainstream destinations as Rainforest Cafe, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Saltgrass Steak House, and five Golden Nugget Casinos. With an annual supply spend of $2 billion, his buying power is second to none. Now, he’s personally scouting the country for the most innovative new products America’s entrepreneurs have to offer – everything from food and drink for his restaurants and casinos, to linens and spa products for his hotels.
In each hour-long episode, Fertitta will spend time with two small businesses, sample their goods, get to know the owners, and assess their compatibility with Landry’s, Inc. He’ll point out flaws in their product and operations, share his expertise, and push for improvements. In the end, he’ll decide whether to place a transformative purchase order with one of the companies, both, or neither.
The small businesses featured this season:
- Bravado Spice — Houston, TX
- East Side Glass Studio — Austin, TX
- Further Products — Los Angeles, CA
- Galanter & Jones — San Francisco, CA
- iPourIt — Lake Forest, CA
- Liber Cocktails — Austin, TX
- Linoto Linens — New York, NY
- Macaron By Patisse — Houston, TX
- Manveena’s Solutions — New York, NY
- Marcellino New York — Huntington Village, Long Island
- Rossmore LA — Los Angeles, CA
- The Jam Stand — Brooklyn, NY
On the series premiere, Fertitta meets with two local Houston businesses to find products that will spice up his booming restaurants, hotels, and casinos. First up is Macaron By Patisse, a sibling-owned specialty dessert shop financed by their parent’s retirement fund. Next up is Bravado Spice, an award-winning hot sauce company run by two hard-headed friends who turned their hobby into a full-time career. If they impress, they could win an order that will transform their business and their lives. But failure could mean the end of the road. Will either duo be able to strike a deal with the Billion Dollar Buyer?
