Alex Meruelo — Meruelo Group

Founder

THE LATEST: Meruelo owns a number of radio stations in Los Angeles, including KLOS-FM, KDAY-FM and Spanish-language station KLLI-FM. His TV stations in Southern California include Spanish-language KWHY (Channel 22). In 2018, Meruelo acquired the SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and renamed it the Sahara, in a throwback to an earlier era in Las Vegas. He also owns the National Hockey League’s Arizona Coyotes.
BACKGROUND: The son of Cuban immigrants, Meruelo was born in New York but raised in L.A. He attended Long Beach State. In his 20s, Meruelo opened a chain of pizza parlors catering to Latinos and offering toppings like chorizo and jalapenos. Before Meruelo reached the age of 30, his company, La Pizza Loca Inc., had expanded to 12 locations and had $10 million in sales. He founded the Downey-based Meruelo Group in 1986. In addition to entertainment properties, the company’s portfolio includes construction businesses, engineering firms, private equity and food services.
YEARS ON THE LA500: 6
Return to the 2021 edition of the LA500.