Robert De Niro builds multi-million dollar Nobu empire

Robert De Niro has transitioned from a prominent film career into a multi-million dollar business empire, primarily through the global Nobu brand. The venture began after De Niro became interested in the cuisine of Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa.

Despite initial hesitation from Matsuhisa regarding expansion, De Niro successfully persuaded the chef to partner with producer Meir Teper and restaurateur Drew Nieporent. This collaboration led to the 1994 opening of the first Nobu restaurant in Manhattan’s TriBeCa neighborhood.

The brand eventually expanded into an international gastronomic network and diversified into the hospitality sector. A major milestone in this diversification occurred in 2013 with the opening of the first Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.