President-elect Donald Trump will appoint an NBA team owner as the next US ambassador to Italy.
Trump will take the oath of office for the second time on January 20.
And Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta is expected to work for the Trump administration as US ambassador to Italy, according to a report from Jennifer Jacobs of CBS News.
Fertitta, 67, has owned the Rockets since 2017 and is currently worth $10.9 billion according to Forbes.
He made his fortune as chairman of Landry’s, a company that includes casinos, hotels and restaurants such as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Fertitta was born in Galveston, Texas, but is of Sicilian descent.
It’s not clear how Fertitta’s appointment — if final — would affect his day-to-day duties with the Rockets.
Before his latest administration, Trump named Jets owner Woody Johnson as his pick for British ambassador, leaving his brother Chris in control of the team.
However, Woody will not serve a second term in the role as billionaire Warren Stephens was selected this time.
More to follow