Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta is in discussions to acquire Caesars Entertainment, a Las Vegas-based casino company, in a deal valued at approximately $7 billion, according to a March 12 report by the Wall Street Journal. The talks involve an offer of about $34 per share for Caesars, but remain preliminary and may not result in a finalized transaction.
The potential acquisition is significant as it would greatly expand Fertitta’s hospitality holdings. Caesars operates more than 50 resorts and casinos across the United States, including major properties on the Las Vegas Strip and other regional gaming markets.
Fertitta Entertainment already manages over 600 hospitality venues worldwide, including restaurant chains such as Morton’s The Steakhouse and Saltgrass Steak House, as well as hotels, casinos, and entertainment properties. If completed, the acquisition would add dozens of gaming resorts to its portfolio and create one of the largest privately controlled hospitality platforms in the country.
Caesars has also received an offer from Carl Icahn’s New York-based Icahn Enterprises at roughly $33 per share. Icahn has increased his presence in Houston’s energy sector through investments in companies like CVR Energy, Occidental Petroleum, and Cheniere Energy.
Fertitta previously attempted to merge his Golden Nugget casino chain with Caesars in 2018 but was rejected. He reportedly considered another bid in 2019. In November 2024, Fertitta became Wynn Resorts’ largest shareholder after increasing his stake to 9.9 percent. Earlier this year he stepped back from daily leadership roles after being confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino by President Donald Trump but retained passive ownership stakes.
