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Dan Friedkin

Dan Friedkin
Born
Thomas Dan Friedkin

(1965-02-27) February 27, 1965 (age 60)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Alma materGeorgetown University
Rice University
Occupation(s)Businessman, Film producer
TitleOwner and CEO of Gulf States Toyota
CEO of The Friedkin Group
Owner and chairman of Everton F.C.
Owner and president of AS Roma
SpouseDebra Lynn Friedkin
Children4
ParentThomas H. Friedkin

Thomas Dan Friedkin (born February 27, 1965) is an American businessman and film producer. He is the chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group. He is also the owner and chairman of Serie A club Roma and Premier League club Everton. As of December 2024, his estimated net worth is US$7.8 billion.

Early life

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Dan Friedkin was born in San Diego, California on February 27, 1965,[1][2] the son of Thomas H. Friedkin, founder of Gulf States Toyota Distributors, and grandson of Kenny Friedkin, founder of Pacific Southwest Airlines.[3] He earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, and a master's from Rice University.[4]

Career

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After his father, Tom, turned 65, he turned over responsibility for running the holding firm and its 3,000 employees to Dan, but remained chairman and continued to dispense advice.[5] At age 35, Dan Friedkin was the CEO of Gulf States Toyota and Friedkin Group.[6]

Since 2013, Friedkin has been chairman of Auberge Resorts, a portfolio of luxury resorts, hotels and vacation properties in the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, Europe, and the Caribbean.[7]

In December 2019, Friedkin started negotiations to purchase the Italian football club AS Roma, and, on August 6, 2020, signed the preliminary contract to agree to pay $591 million to James Pallotta, the main shareholder of Roma.[8]

In July 2024, Friedkin started negotiations to purchase English football club Everton.[9] He agreed to buy the 94.1% share of the club owned by Farhad Moshiri in September 2024.[10] On December 19, 2024, the deal was completed, and he became the majority owner of Everton at 99.5%.[11]

In March 2025, it was reported that Friedkin met with the NHL regarding placing an expansion team in Houston.[12]

Film work

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In 2017, Friedkin co-formed 30West, an independent film production, distribution company and sales agency. In 2018, Friedkin and 30West acquired majority ownership in Neon, a theatrical marketing and distribution company that distributed the Academy Award-winning film Parasite.[13][14] In 2023, Friedkin successfully negotiated Neon’s purchase of Michael Mann’s Ferrari.[15]

Friedkin is the co-founder and principal at Imperative Entertainment, a studio specializing in the development, production and financing of original and branded entertainment across all platforms focusing on film, television and documentaries.[16]

Friedkin was a producer on over a dozen Imperative Entertainment films, including: The Square (Palme d'Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival), Killers of the Flower Moon (ten-time nominee at the 96th Academy Awards)[17] All the Money in the World, The Mule, Hot Summer Nights, Arizona, The Last Vermeer, The Bay of Silence, Triangle of Sadness, and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.[18][19][20] He also executive produced the films Destroyer, The Mauritanian, The Contractor, Ben Is Back, The Crow and Wildcat as well as television series such as Treadstone, Landman and Black Bird.[20] Friedkin was the director of the 2019 film The Last Vermeer.[21][22]

Additionally, Friedkin won a Taurus Stunt Award for Best Specialty Stunt for his work in the film Dunkirk.[15] Friedkin piloted an authentic Spitfire through an aerial dogfight, landing on the beach at Dunkirk, France.[23]

Personal life

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He and his wife have four children.[3][4] Friedkin is “an avid outdoorsman and dedicated conservationist” active both in Texas and internationally.[24]

Friedkin is the founder and chairman of the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation and "one of nine civilian Heritage Flight pilots qualified to fly in formation with US. Air Force single-ship demonstration teams".[citation needed] Friedkin flies a variety of high-performance vintage military aircraft, performing in aerobatic air shows across North America and Europe with the U.S. Air Force and the Horsemen P-51 Flight Team.[2]

An avid golfer, Friedkin built the Congaree golf course in South Carolina that was designed by Tom Fazio.[25] Congaree is ranked No. 42 on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses.[26] He is owner of Diamond Creek Golf Club in North Carolina which he purchased from Wayne Huizenga in 2012.[27] Diamond Creek Golf Club is ranked as one of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses by Golf Digest.[28]

In August 2019, Friedkin was voted chair of Project Recover, a collaborative effort to enlist 21st century science and technology in a quest to find and repatriate Americans missing in action since World War II.[29][30]

Conservation

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Friedkin is involved in conservation efforts through the Friedkin Conservation Fund, which works to protect millions of acres of endangered wildlife areas and stimulate community development in East Africa. FCF also conducts research and monitoring in order to make effective wildlife management decisions and promote long-term sustainability of wildlife and their wilderness.[31][32] The family also leases 3.2 million acres of protected wildlife areas across Tanzania for conservation.[33] Friedkin owns Mwiba Lodge, a luxury secluded lodge, located in a private wildlife reserve in the southern part of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.[34]

He served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission,[35] which manages and conserves the natural and cultural resources of Texas,[36] from 2005 to 2018, including serving as chairman from 2011 to 2013 and again from 2015 to 2018.[24] Friedkin is currently the Chairman-Emeritus of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.[35] The Friedkin Group has been a supporter of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation for over 20 years.[35]

In 2014, Friedkin and Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, along with other conservation organizations, made the largest conservation investment in Texas history when they purchased the 17,351-acre Powderhorn Ranch to preserve one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled coastal prairie in Texas.[37][38] Subsequent to Friedkin’s purchase, the ranch was being considered for a new wind farm project.

He was also instrumental in the success of the $100 million Keeping it Wild Campaign, originally launched in 2014.[35][39]

Friedkin was among landowners and conservationists who supported a Texas legislative bill that would regulate the siting of wind and solar power projects in Texas.[40] Environmentalists criticized the bill, saying it unfairly targets renewable energy and undermines climate change mitigation.[40] Supporters of the bill stated that SB 624 was not meant to stop renewable projects but felt that “there are some areas of the state that should be off limits to turbines”.[41] As Chairman Emeritus for Texas Parks and Wildlife, Friedkin’s support for such legislation was prompted after multiple renewable projects were planned in close proximity to Texas State Parks and natural areas; such examples included a proposed wind farm development adjacent to Pecos Canyon and Devil’s River, which would have negatively impacted migratory pathways of birds and monarch butterflies, and a NextEra Energy windfarm next to Palo Pinto Mountains State Park.[42][43][44]

In 2023, Friedkin sought to prevent an electric transmission line being built on his sprawling ranch in West Texas.[40] That same year, Friedkin was inducted into the Texas Conservation Hall of Fame.[24]

References

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  1. ^ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VLM8-ZDH?lang=en
  2. ^ a b "Dan Friedkin – Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation". Airforceheritageflight.org. December 6, 2010. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Forbes profile: Dan Friedkin". Forbes. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "T. Dan Friedkin | Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute". Ckwri.tamuk.edu. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  5. ^ Forbes: "Under the Radar" by Doug Donovan October 1, 2001
  6. ^ Luck, Marissa (June 17, 2022). "Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin's conglomerate grows, diversifies as Toyota sales soar". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Agee-Aldridge, Jenny. "Houston billionaire named chairman of luxury resort development company". bizjournals.com. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  8. ^ "Official statement regarding the ownership of AS Roma". A.S. Roma. August 6, 2020. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  9. ^ Flo Clifford (July 19, 2024). "Everton takeover talks with Friedkin Group end without deal, Premier League club continue to look for new buyers". TNT Sports. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  10. ^ Patrick Boyland; David Ornstein (September 23, 2024). "Friedkin Group agrees Everton takeover deal". NYT. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  11. ^ Shamoon Hafez (December 19, 2024). "Friedkin Group completes Everton takeover". BBC. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  12. ^ Rajan, Greg (March 20, 2025). "Billionaire Dan Friedkin expresses interest in bringing NHL franchise to Houston, per report". Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle.
  13. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 13, 2018). "How 30West Is Fueling Indie Films & Progressive Media Businesses— Deadline Disruptors". Deadline. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  14. ^ Brent Lang, Justin Kroll (February 14, 2020). "'Parasite' Oscar Win Leaves Hollywood Desperate to Work With Bong Joon Ho and Neon". Variety. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Patrick Boyland (September 26, 2024). "Meet Dan Friedkin: Pilot, stuntman, billionaire businessman – potential Everton saviour?". NY Times. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  16. ^ "Dan Friedkin, Tim Kring, Zak Kadison and Bradley Thomas Form Imperative Entertainment". Variety. March 12, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  17. ^ Natalie Jarvey (February 20, 2024). "Meet the Producers Who Took Killers of the Flower Moon From Book to Oscar Nominee". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  18. ^ "Imperative Entertainment Wins 'Killers Of The Flower Moon' Auction With Bombshell $5M Bid". Deadline. March 11, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  19. ^ Justin Kroll (February 8, 2024). "Neon International To Rep International Sales On Imperative Entertainment, 30West And Kogonada's 'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey' Starring Margot Robbie And Colin Farrell At EFM". Deadline. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Dan Friedkin". IMDB. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  21. ^ Dawson, Angela. "Guy Pearce Headlines Dan Friedkin's Post-War Art Forgery Drama 'The Last Vermeer'". Forbes. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  22. ^ "Sony Pictures Classics Taking North America + On Dan Friedkin-Directed Post-WWII Drama 'Lyrebird' – Toronto". Deadline. September 11, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  23. ^ "2018 Taurus World Stunt Awards – Winners & Nominees". Taurus World Stunt Awards. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  24. ^ a b c "Texas Conservation Hall of Fame Honors Dan Friedkin in 2023" (PDF). Texas Parks & Wildlife. 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  25. ^ Matuszewski, Erik. "Congaree: A First Look At The Golf Club Built By Billionaires On A Model Of Philanthropy". Forbes. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  26. ^ "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  27. ^ Mildenberg, David (August 29, 2016). "Town square: Savory Avery". BusinessNC.com. Business North Carolina Magazine. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  28. ^ "Diamond Creek Golf Club". Golf Digest. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  29. ^ "ABOUT PROJECT RECOVER". Project Recover. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  30. ^ "Found Wreckage of WWII Aircraft Brings Hope for ID of 7 MIA Americans". Military.com. March 9, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  31. ^ Potter, Everett. "5 Great Tanzanian Game Lodges". Forbes. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  32. ^ Roberts, Sophy (January 11, 2017). "How a Few Adventurous Philanthropists Are Changing the Face of Conservation". Robb Report. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  33. ^ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index". Bloomberg. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  34. ^ Life, Forbes. "Mwiba Lodge Luxury: Outstanding In Africa". Forbes. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  35. ^ a b c d "Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission". Texas.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  36. ^ "Mission & Philosophy". Texas Parks & Wildlife. Texas.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  37. ^ "Conservationists team up to buy Texas bayside ranch with $30M from BP's 2010 oil spill fund bug". Texas Fish & Game Magazine. August 22, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  38. ^ "Powderhorn Ranch". The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  39. ^ "Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation". TPWD. November 7, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  40. ^ a b c "Why Texas, a clean energy powerhouse, is about to hit the brakes". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.
  41. ^ Tom Abrahams (April 17, 2023). "Texas Senate Bill would add oversight, regulations to wind and solar power". ABC. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  42. ^ "Foreign Renewable Energy Company Poses Threat to Preserved West Texas Land and River Basins with Proposed Wind Farm". Devils River Conservatory. January 17, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  43. ^ "Statement from TNC in Texas on the Proposed Blue Hills Development". Nature.org. February 23, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  44. ^ "Nonprofit Digital Newspaper Covers Fight Over Wind Farms in Stephens County with Palo Pinto County Ramifications". Mineral Wells Area News. November 22, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
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