Current Controlling Owner and Ownership Structure
The Houston Rockets are controlled by Tilman Fertitta, chairman and CEO of Landry's, Inc., through Fertitta Entertainment. Fertitta purchased the team in September 2017 from a group led by Leslie Alexander for a reported $2.2 billion, setting a then-record price for an NBA team Forbes. The franchise operates as part of Fertitta Entertainment, which also oversees the Toyota Center, restaurant brands, and hospitality assets in Houston and beyond Forbes.
Tilman Fertitta holds a controlling interest in the Rockets and serves as the principal owner, with Landry's, Inc. functioning as the primary operating entity. The ownership structure keeps the team, arena management, and related business ventures under one corporate umbrella based in Houston, Texas Forbes.
Previous Ownership and Sale Details
Before Fertitta's purchase, the Rockets were owned by Leslie Alexander, a New York-based real estate investor who acquired the team in 1993. Alexander led the franchise for 24 years, during which the Rockets won two NBA championships in 1994 and 1995 and reached the NBA Finals in 1986 NBA.com.
The sale from Alexander to Fertitta closed in September 2017 after league approval. The transaction valued the Rockets at roughly $2.2 billion, reflecting the NBA's rapid valuation growth across the league Forbes.
Franchise Operations and Business Context
The Rockets operate as a professional basketball team in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference, with Tilman Fertitta overseeing major business decisions through Fertitta Entertainment. The organization manages the Toyota Center, a multi-purpose arena in downtown Houston that hosts NBA games, concerts, and events Forbes.
As of the latest public reporting, the Rockets remain one of the NBA's most valuable franchises, with Forbes and other valuation outlets ranking the team among the top tier in the league by enterprise value Forbes. Fertitta continues to lead the franchise's business strategy, arena operations, and long-term planning from Houston NBA.com.