Maloof family
An American business family of Lebanese descent whose ventures have included beverage distribution, casinos, professional sports, entertainment, and skateboarding events.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Maloof family is an American business family associated with Las Vegas, Nevada, and with a portfolio of privately held and sports-related ventures across the western United States. The family's name is an anglicized form of Maalouf, and the family is of Lebanese descent. Its commercial success began in New Mexico, where the family obtained distribution rights for Coors Brewing Company in the Southwest in 1937. Beverage distribution provided the capital base for later investments in hospitality, entertainment, and professional sports. The family became particularly visible through its ownership of sports franchises. It owned the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association from 1979 to 1982, during which the team reached the 1981 NBA Finals. The family later acquired a minority interest in the Sacramento Kings in 1998 and assumed majority control in 1999. Joe and Gavin Maloof were the most prominent operators of the franchise. The Kings' ownership also included the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs, which the family operated until the league could not secure a new owner and the franchise folded in 2009. The family's tenure in Sacramento was marked by repeated disputes over arena development and relocation. Proposals involving the California Exposition grounds and Anaheim were pursued at different points, while local officials and supporters organized to retain the team in Sacramento. A proposed sale and relocation to Seattle in 2013 was rejected by the NBA Board of Governors. The Maloofs subsequently sold their controlling interest to a Sacramento group led by Vivek Ranadive, ending the family's control of the Kings. In Las Vegas, the family opened the Fiesta Rancho hotel-casino in North Las Vegas in 1994 and sold it in 2000. The proceeds were reinvested in the Palms Casino Resort, which became the family's most prominent hospitality project. Financial pressure surrounding the Palms and its related towers led to a 2011 restructuring in which TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners obtained majority interests, leaving the Maloofs with a small minority stake. The family's beer-distribution interests were also sold during efforts to support the casino business. The Maloofs diversified into media through Maloof Productions. Its television activities included the reality programs Bullrun and Living Lohan, while its film activities included the 2005 horror film Feast. The family also promoted action sports. Joe and Gavin Maloof founded the Maloof Money Cup in 2008, a professional and amateur skateboarding competition that expanded from Southern California to New York and South Africa before later concentrating on the South African world championship event. The competition and related Maloof branding appeared in the Skate video-game series. The family has also held a minority interest in the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League. Individual family members have appeared in reality television, music videos, and other popular-culture settings, but the family's public identity has primarily been shaped by its casino, sports, and entertainment activities. George J. Maloof Sr. formerly headed the family business interests; after his death, leadership was associated with his wife Colleen and their children, including Joe, Gavin, Adrienne, George Jr., and Phillip. The family remains an active business family, although its current holdings and operating structure are not comprehensively documented in the supplied reference material.
History
The Maloof family's business history is rooted in New Mexico and in the family's Lebanese heritage. The original family name was Maalouf. In 1937, the family secured Southwest distribution rights for Coors Brewing Company. That operation became the foundation for a broader family enterprise, and beverage distribution remained an important source of commercial influence for decades. The family entered professional sports ownership in 1979 by acquiring the Houston Rockets. The Rockets reached the NBA Finals in 1981, but the family sold the franchise to Charlie Thomas in 1982. The Maloofs later returned to the NBA through the Sacramento Kings. They purchased a minority interest in 1998 and gained majority control in 1999. Joe and Gavin Maloof became the public-facing operators of the team. The Kings acquisition also brought control of the Sacramento Monarchs, the team's WNBA sister franchise. The Monarchs operated under Maloof ownership until 2009, when the franchise folded after the league was unable to find a new owner. Arena development and the future location of the Kings became defining issues during the family's Sacramento ownership. A proposal involving the California Exposition grounds was accepted by the Cal Expo board in 2009 but subsequently collapsed. The family later negotiated with Anaheim officials and explored moving the team there. Sacramento supporters, city officials, and Mayor Kevin Johnson organized a campaign to retain the franchise and develop a new arena. Plans were approved by the Sacramento City Council in 2012, and the NBA eventually stopped the Anaheim relocation effort. In early 2013, the Maloofs agreed in principle to a transaction involving Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer, who sought to move the Kings to Seattle. Sacramento assembled a competing ownership group led by Vivek Ranadive. On May 15, 2013, the NBA Board of Governors rejected the Seattle relocation proposal by a 22–8 vote. The next day, the Maloofs agreed to sell to the Sacramento group. The transaction ended the family's controlling interest in the Kings. The arena project that followed became Golden 1 Center, with construction beginning in 2014 and completion before the 2016–17 NBA season. Hospitality became another central pillar of the family enterprise. In 1994, the Maloofs opened Fiesta Rancho in North Las Vegas and sold it in 2000. Proceeds from that sale were reinvested in the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The Palms and its associated towers later experienced financial stress. In 2011, TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners each acquired a 49 percent interest in a restructuring, leaving the Maloofs with approximately 2 percent. The family also sold its beer-distribution interests in an effort connected with supporting the casino properties. The family expanded into film and television through Maloof Productions. Maloof Television produced or participated in reality programming including Bullrun and Living Lohan, while Maloof Motion Pictures produced Feast and developed additional film projects. Joe and Gavin Maloof broadened the family's action-sports profile by establishing the Maloof Money Cup in 2008. The event included professional and amateur skateboarding competitions, initially in Orange County, with later events in New York and South Africa. By 2012, the family concentrated on the South African world championship event. The Maloof brand also appeared in the Skate video-game franchise. The family's sports interests later included minority ownership of the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL. Public accounts identify George J. Maloof Sr. as the former head of the family and Colleen as the later family head. The children—Joe, Gavin, Adrienne, George Jr., and Phillip—have held varying roles in business, politics, entertainment, and public representation. The family's current complete portfolio is not established by the supplied sources, so its present business structure should be treated as only partially documented.
- 2014
Golden 1 Center construction begins
[1]Construction began on the Sacramento arena project that followed the ownership dispute.
- 2013
Kings control sold
[1]Following the NBA's rejection of relocation to Seattle, the family sold its controlling Kings interest to a Sacramento-led group.
- 2011
Palms ownership restructuring
[1]TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners became majority owners of the Palms, substantially reducing the family's stake.
- 2009
Sacramento Monarchs fold
[1]The WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs ceased operations after the league could not find a new owner.
- 2008
Maloof Money Cup launched
[1]Joe and Gavin Maloof founded the Maloof Money Cup skateboarding competition.
- 2000
Fiesta Rancho sold
[1]The family sold Fiesta Rancho and redirected the proceeds toward the Palms Casino Resort project.
- 1999
Majority control of Kings obtained
[1]The family increased its Kings ownership to majority control.
- 1998
Minority stake in Sacramento Kings acquired
[1]The Maloofs acquired a minority interest in the Sacramento Kings.
- 1994
Fiesta Rancho opens
[1]The family opened the Fiesta Rancho hotel-casino in North Las Vegas.
- 1982
Houston Rockets sold
[1]The family sold the Rockets to Charlie Thomas.
Products and positioning
A family-controlled, diversified business group historically positioned around hospitality, sports ownership, entertainment, and action-sports promotion.
Beverage distribution · 1937
Coors Southwest distribution
The family's foundational business was the distribution of Coors Brewing Company products across the Southwest United States. The distribution rights, obtained in 1937, helped establish the family's commercial base before its later expansion into casinos, sports, and entertainment.
Hotel casino · 1994
Fiesta Rancho
Fiesta Rancho was a hotel-casino opened by the family in North Las Vegas in 1994. It was sold in 2000, with the reported proceeds used in the family's subsequent investment in the Palms Casino Resort.
Hospitality and gaming
Palms Casino Resort
The Palms Casino Resort was the family's principal Las Vegas hospitality project. The family reinvested proceeds from the Fiesta Rancho sale into the resort and its towers. A 2011 restructuring transferred majority ownership to private-equity firms, leaving the Maloofs with a small minority position.
Professional basketball franchise · 1998
Sacramento Kings
The Maloof family held a minority interest in the NBA's Sacramento Kings from 1998, obtained majority control in 1999, and operated the franchise through a prolonged arena and relocation controversy. The family sold its controlling stake in 2013 after the NBA rejected a proposed move to Seattle.
Professional women's basketball franchise
Sacramento Monarchs
The WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs were acquired as the Kings' sister franchise. The Maloofs operated the team until 2009, when the franchise folded after the league was unable to find a new owner.
Film and television production
Maloof Productions
Maloof Productions represented the family's move into entertainment. Its television division was associated with reality programming such as Bullrun and Living Lohan, while Maloof Motion Pictures produced the 2005 film Feast and developed further projects.
Skateboarding competition · 2008
Maloof Money Cup
Founded by Joe and Gavin Maloof in 2008, the Maloof Money Cup combined professional and amateur skateboarding competitions. Events were held or planned in Orange County, New York, and South Africa, with the program later focusing on a South African world championship.
Professional hockey franchise ownership
Vegas Golden Knights interest
The family is identified as a minority owner of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights. The supplied material does not specify the exact ownership percentage or the current representatives of the family.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Sacramento Kings retention and arena campaign
Sacramento, California
After the Maloofs explored an Anaheim move, Sacramento supporters and officials promoted a new arena plan and organized local backing for retaining the Kings.
Outcome. The NBA delayed relocation consideration, Sacramento approved arena plans, and the Anaheim move was ultimately halted.
- 2008Maloof Money Cup
United States · South Africa
The family created a branded professional and amateur skateboarding competition, initially centered in Orange County and later expanded with a New York date and a South African event.
Outcome. By 2012, the family focused on the South African world championship and canceled the Orange County event because of logistical problems.
Brand decisions
2013
Sell controlling interest in Sacramento KingsM&ABackground
The family faced competing proposals to sell or relocate the Kings, including a Seattle proposal led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer and a Sacramento proposal led by Vivek Ranadive.
Action taken
After the NBA rejected the Seattle relocation bid, the Maloofs agreed to sell their reported 65 percent stake to the Sacramento group.
Aftermath
The family's control of the Kings ended, and the Sacramento arena project proceeded. The reported transaction value was $347 million for the stake, corresponding to a reported $534 million team valuation.
Reported sale value and implied valuation. $347 million reported for the 65% stake; $534 million implied team valuation (2013)
2011
Restructure Palms ownershipStrategyBackground
The Palms and related towers faced financial pressure, and the family had already sold its beer-distribution interests in an effort connected with supporting the properties.
Action taken
The family accepted a restructuring in which TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners each obtained a 49 percent interest, leaving the Maloofs with approximately 2 percent.
Aftermath
The family ceased to be the controlling owner of the Palms.
Recent events
- 2013
Maloof family sells controlling interest in Sacramento Kings[1]
M&A
The family agreed to sell its controlling stake in the Sacramento Kings to a Sacramento ownership group led by Vivek Ranadive after the NBA rejected a proposed relocation to Seattle.
- 2013
NBA rejects Sacramento Kings relocation to Seattle[1]
Regulation
The NBA Board of Governors voted against the proposed relocation of the Kings to Seattle, preventing the planned transaction with the Seattle investor group.
- 2011
Palms restructuring reduces Maloof ownership[1]
M&A
A restructuring transferred majority ownership of the Palms to TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners, leaving the Maloof family with a minority position.
- 2011
Maloof family pursues Anaheim relocation[1]
Other
The family pursued a possible move of the Sacramento Kings to Anaheim, prompting local and league-level efforts to keep the franchise in Sacramento.
Sources1 sources
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