George Joseph Maloof, Sr. (11 April 1923 Las Vegas, New Mexico - 29 November 1980 in Albuquerque, New Mexico [1]) was a businessman and, at the time of his death, owner of the Houston Rockets.
His father, Joseph, an immigrant from Lebanon, was a Coors beer distributor in New Mexico.
Taking over after his father suffered a heart attack in 1944, Maloof expanded into hotels, trucking and banking. After Maloof's death, his sisters sued to force a liquidation of the family's holdings.[2] Business Week estimated the family's net worth in 2000 to be more than $1 billion.[3]
Maloof was the father of Adrienne Maloof-Nassif, Phil Maloof, Joe Maloof, Gavin Maloof and George J. Maloof, Jr..