Paige Fertitta is best known as the first wife of Tilman Fertitta, the Houston billionaire who owns the Houston Rockets and now serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Italy. She was part of the Fertitta story for many years, but she has always kept her own life quiet.
Many people search for her name because they want to know who she is, how long she was married, and what she does today. This article answers those questions in simple words. It uses facts from trusted sources where possible, and it tells you clearly when a detail is not confirmed.
Quick Bio Table
| Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| Full name | Paige Fertitta (born Paige Farwell) |
| Best known as | Tilman Fertitta’s ex-wife |
| Birth year | 1958 (reported by several profile websites) |
| Based in | Houston, Texas |
| Work | No public job. Known for charity and community events |
| Marriage date | November 2, 1991 (reported) |
| Ex-husband | Tilman Fertitta |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Children | Four: Michael, Patrick, Blayne and Blake |
| Public profile | Low. She gives very few interviews |
| Social media | Not known to be active |
Note: Her birth year and marriage date come from profile websites, not from a major news report. Treat them as “reported” facts.
Who Is Paige Fertitta?
Paige Fertitta was born Paige Farwell. She became widely known in Houston after she married Tilman Fertitta in 1991. Wikipedia lists her as his first wife and says they have four children together: three sons and one daughter.
She is not a business owner or a TV personality. Most profiles describe her as a Houston philanthropist, which means someone who gives time and money to good causes. She is also called a society figure, because her name appeared at charity events and parties in Houston for many years.
There is not much official information about her early life. Some websites share details about her parents and school years, but those pages often copy each other, and none of them link to a strong source. For that reason, this article does not repeat them. She is also a private person, so it is fair to leave her family details alone.
Her Marriage to Tilman Fertitta
Paige and Tilman married in 1991. According to several profile websites, Tilman asked her to marry him three times before she said yes. That story is told in many places, but it comes from a few small sites, so it is best seen as a nice piece of family lore and not a proven fact.
At that time, Tilman was already building his business. He had taken over the Landry’s restaurant company and was growing it step by step. According to Wikipedia, he became the sole owner of Landry’s Restaurants in 1988 and took the company public in 1993. Paige was married to him through those growth years.
In a 2011 interview with the Galveston County Daily News, Tilman called Paige his wife of 20 years. He also said they enjoyed going to the movies together. It was a small, normal detail from a man who is often shown as a very busy boss.
The couple were a familiar pair at Houston events. They hosted parties and fundraisers, and they supported groups in Houston and Galveston. Tilman was born in Galveston, so that city has always been close to the family story.
Her Four Children
Paige and Tilman have four children:
- Michael
- Patrick
- Blayne
- Blake
Blayne is their daughter. The three others are sons. Because the children grew up in a famous family, Paige is said to have tried to protect their privacy. You will not find many interviews or posts from her about them.
Some of the Fertitta sons have appeared at public events with their father in recent years. For example, a Houston society website showed Patrick and Blake with Tilman at an art museum event linked to his role as ambassador.
Charity and Community Work
Charity is the main thing people link to Paige Fertitta. Profile websites say she worked with groups such as MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, the Houston Children’s Charity, and the Houston Police Foundation. These are reported details, and we could not match each one to a news story, so please read them as general information.
What we can confirm is that the Fertitta family has a long record of giving in Houston:
- Tilman has been chairman of the board of the Houston Children’s Charity.
- He has served as chairman of the Houston Police Foundation, which helps buy gear for police officers.
- The family gave a large gift to the University of Houston’s medical school. In 2022 it was renamed the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine.
- The Fertittas hosted a charity event called Gathering of Champions, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Another event often linked to the couple is the San Luis Salute gala in Galveston, which raised money for the medical school there. One profile site says Paige led the event as chair.
Style and Public Image
Paige is also known for her fashion taste. A few profile sites say she was added to the Houston Chronicle’s Best Dressed Hall of Fame in 2018. The same sites say she likes designers such as Brunello Cucinelli, Gucci and Ralph Lauren. We could not check these details with the newspaper, so they are best treated as reported.
Even with that attention, she is not someone who talks to the media a lot. Several articles describe her as calm and low-key. She does not appear to use public social media, and she has not written a book or started a TV career. In a world where many ex-spouses of famous people give interviews, she has chosen to say very little.
The Divorce: What We Know and What We Don’t
This is the part most people want to know about, so let’s be clear.
What is confirmed: Wikipedia says Tilman Fertitta married Paige Farwell in 1991 and that the marriage ended in divorce. He is now married to Lauren Ware, a Houston attorney.
What is not clear: The year of the divorce. Some profile websites say 2017. Others say 2021. Since the sources do not agree and none of them point to court papers or a major news story, we cannot give you a sure date.
What is not public: The reason for the split and the money terms. Several websites claim to explain how much she received, but they do not show real documents. Some say only that the breakup was friendly, and that the family still came together for events. That is also unconfirmed. Because the details are private, it is wise to avoid guessing.
Life After the Marriage
Paige has kept a private life since the divorce. Reports say she still takes part in charity and social circles in Houston, but there is no sign that she runs a public business or has a media career.
Tilman, on the other hand, has stayed in the news. He and Lauren have a young daughter, and Wikipedia lists five children for him in total. They are often seen together at official events in Italy and Houston.
A Quick Look at Tilman Fertitta Today
Since many readers also want to know about her ex-husband, here is a short update based on reliable sources:
- Born: June 25, 1957, in Galveston, Texas.
- Business: He owns Landry’s, a large group of restaurants, hotels and casinos. This includes the Golden Nugget casinos.
- Sports: He bought the Houston Rockets in 2017 for a then-record $2.2 billion, according to ESPN and Wikipedia.
- TV: He starred in the CNBC show Billion Dollar Buyer.
- Diplomat: President Donald Trump chose him as ambassador to Italy and San Marino in December 2024. The U.S. Senate approved him on April 29, 2025, by a vote of 83 to 14. He presented his papers to the Italian president on May 6, 2025.
- Money: Wikipedia gave his net worth as about $10.7 billion in May 2025.
In July 2026, major news outlets reported that he toured the Italian coast on his large yacht, the Boardwalk, and that some people protested during a stop in Venice.
Why Do People Search for Paige Fertitta?
There are three main reasons:
- Curiosity about a billionaire’s past. Tilman Fertitta is in the news often, so people want to know about his first marriage.
- Questions about the divorce. Many ask how much money she received. As explained above, no real figure has been shared.
- Interest in her charity work. Paige is linked to Houston causes, and some readers want to learn more about the good work behind the name.
A Note About Sources
Information about Paige Fertitta is limited. Most of it comes from small profile websites that repeat one another. The details in this article that come from stronger sources, such as Wikipedia, the U.S. Senate, the Houston Chronicle, Texas Tribune and Nation’s Restaurant News, are stated plainly. Details from weaker sources are marked as “reported.”
If you plan to share her story, please respect her privacy. She is not a public official, and she has not chosen to speak about her private life.
Final Thoughts
Paige Fertitta’s story is a quiet one. She was a key part of the Fertitta family for many years, raised four children, and supported causes in Houston. While her ex-husband became a famous billionaire and diplomat, she chose a private life.
There are still gaps in the public record, especially about her early life and the divorce. Until she or a trusted news source shares more, it is best to stick with the facts we can check.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Paige Fertitta? She is a Houston philanthropist and the ex-wife of billionaire Tilman Fertitta. Before marriage, her name was Paige Farwell.
2. When did Paige and Tilman Fertitta marry? Wikipedia says they married in 1991. Several profile websites give the exact date as November 2, 1991.
3. How many children do they have? They have four children: Michael, Patrick, Blayne and Blake. There are three sons and one daughter.
4. Are Paige and Tilman Fertitta divorced? Yes. Wikipedia says the marriage ended in divorce.
5. When did they divorce? It is not clear. Some sources say 2017 and others say 2021. We could not find a trusted source that confirms the year.
6. How much did Paige Fertitta get in the divorce? No reliable source has shared a number. Be careful with websites that claim to know the amount.
7. Who is Tilman Fertitta married to now? He is married to Lauren Ware Fertitta, a Houston attorney.
8. What does Paige Fertitta do? She is known for charity work and for taking part in Houston social events. She does not have a public job or business.
9. Is Paige Fertitta on social media? We found no sign that she has an active public account. Reports say she stays out of the spotlight.
10. What is Tilman Fertitta famous for? He owns Landry’s and the Houston Rockets, starred in Billion Dollar Buyer, and has been the U.S. Ambassador to Italy and San Marino since May 2025.
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