SAM NAZARIAN
TRUSTEE
Sam Nazarian, Founder and CEO of sbe, is a visionary entrepreneur, global hospitality leader, culinary disruptor, and architect of modern luxury and lifestyle experiences. With an uncompromising entrepreneurial instinct, he has consistently anticipated and shaped evolving consumer trends, redefining hospitality on a global scale.
In 2002, Sam founded sbe Entertainment Group, which grew into one of the world’s most influential lifestyle hospitality companies, renowned for iconic brands including SLS Hotels, Mondrian Hotels, Delano and Hyde Lounge. In 2020, he executed a landmark $850 million transaction with Accor, selling the remaining 50% stake in sbe’s hotel platform to focus on expanding his next-generation ventures, including C3 (Creating Culinary Communities) and Disruptive Restaurant Group (DRG).
Expanding his vision into the culinary sector, Sam built Disruptive Restaurant Group into a premier collection of high-impact dining and nightlife concepts. The portfolio features celebrated destinations such as Katsuya, Casa Dani, S Bar, Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails, Kumi, Life Rooftop in New York City, and Sa’Moto at Doheny Room—each defined by innovation, world-class talent, and elevated guest experiences.
In 2020, Sam launched C3 (Creating Culinary Communities), a transformative food-tech platform designed to reimagine the global food ecosystem. Through the integration of culinary talent, technology, ghost kitchens, and digital-first delivery models, C3 is reshaping how consumers experience dining worldwide.
Continuing to pioneer the future of hospitality, Sam introduced two groundbreaking concepts in 2024. HQ Hotels & Residences - developed in partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts - represents a new category of “smart lifestyle” hospitality, blending technology, culture, and design to create immersive, connected experiences for modern travelers. The brand debuted in Antigua in early 2025 and has a robust pipeline of projects in development globally.
That same year, Sam co-founded The Estate alongside Tony Robbins, Marc Anthony, and Richard Attias, uniting luxury hospitality, residential living, and preventative, precision longevity into the world's first global longevity ecosystem. Developed in partnership with Fountain Life — the world's leading AI-powered longevity diagnostics platform — The Estate is positioned to redefine how the world lives longer, and better, with a planned portfolio of hotels, residences, and private longevity clubs anchored by its flagship at Century Plaza, Los Angeles.
Sam’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including Fortune’s “40 Under 40,” “Hotelier of the Year” (twice), and “Man of the Year” from the Diabetes Foundation. He was also the youngest executive named to the Los Angeles Times Magazine’s “Top 100 Most Powerful People in Southern California,” and has been recognized among Los Angeles Magazine’s “Influentials.”
Deeply committed to giving back, Sam supports a range of educational and philanthropic initiatives. His contributions include Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, Beverly Hills High School, and the Beverly Hills Education Foundation, as well as organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Oscar De La Hoya Foundation. Much of Sam’s philanthropic work is carried out through the Younes & Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation, reflecting his family’s enduring commitment to education, community, and meaningful social impact.
Sam studied at New York University and the University of Southern California. He currently resides in Miami with his family.