Harnessing an uncompromising entrepreneurial instinct and personal style, Sam Nazarian has vastly redefined contemporary hospitality and luxury lifestyle in Los Angeles and beyond. In doing so, Nazarian has established SBE as one of the most prominent hospitality, lifestyle and development companies in North America.

From the launch of SBE’s first nightclub, Shelter, in 2003, to the grand unveiling of the award-winning SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills in 2008, which today is one of the most talked about destinations in Los Angeles, Nazarian has evolved the privately-held SBE into the definitive name in luxury with a collection of holdings that include some of the most exclusive and high-profile hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and events in the world.

In less than a decade, Nazarian has grown SBE from an initial team of like-minded individuals to its current roster of over 2,000 employees. Following the highly successful launch of SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, Nazarian has continued to bolster SBE’s hotel portfolio with the recent launch of The Redbury located in the heart of Hollywood, and the acquisitions of Las Vegas’ legendary Sahara Hotel & Casino, the Ritz Plaza in Miami’s South Beach and the Sheraton Four Points at LAX. As evidence of Nazarian’s distinctive sensibilities, he’s established partnerships with visionaries including iconic designer Philippe Starck, who is exclusive to Nazarian in North America.

Under Nazarian’s leadership, SBE has earned a reputation for consistently delivering the very best in high-end nightlife experiences. In 2006 the uber-exclusive Hyde Lounge opened on the famed Sunset Strip and today SBE has added new Hyde locations at Staples Center and Mammoth Mountain. Additionally, SBE’s nightlife portfolio includes Industry, MI-6, the world-famous Abbey Food & Bar and a new, highly anticipated Hollywood nightlife experience, Colony, opening in May 2010.

To create SBE’s award-winning restaurant portfolio, Nazarian has aligned with some of the world’s most renowned culinary talents, such as chefs José Andrés, Michael Mina and Katsuya Uechi. What has resulted is a collection of the most talked about dining experiences in the U.S., including Michael Mina’s XIV, José Andrés’ The BAZAAR, the four Katsuya locations in Brentwood, Hollywood, LA Live and Glendale, and the iconic Gladstone’s Malibu.

Nazarian’s business savvy and foresight have also attracted the interest of Wall Street, as well as active participation from a “who’s who” of financial institutions, including Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, Lowe Enterprises and Stockbridge Real Estate Funds. Expanding his reach into the entertainment industry, Nazarian launched SBE’s Element Films, which has financed a range of independents in association with Lionsgate.

Honored as the youngest executive to be named one of 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. He is an active member of the Southern California Institute of Architecture’s Board of Directors, and generous supporter of the Beverly Hills Education Foundation.

In 2001, Nazarian began his development career by establishing 3Wall Development and successfully diversifying his family’s assets into real estate holdings across virtually all sectors of the market. Under his watch, 3Wall secured partnerships with the country’s leading developers and investors, quickly becoming one of Southern California’s largest owners of multi-family housing.

In addition to his various real estate holdings, Nazarian has personally invested in several other boutique hotels and flagged properties, among them Viceroy Hotels and Resorts in Santa Monica, Palm Springs and Anguilla; Chamberlain West Hollywood; Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica; Sheraton Gateway LAX, and Hilton Garden Inns in Southern California and Florida resort locales.

Nazarian’s first entrepreneurial venture was set in motion in 1998, when he founded Platinum Wireless, a telecommunications business specializing in the distribution of Nextel software. Within one year of its founding, Nazarian guided Platinum Wireless to prominence, and earned ranking as the number one Nextel distributor in Southern California.

Nazarian studied at New York University and the University of Southern California and currently resides in Los Angeles.