Lee “Big Poppa” Najjar, the real estate investor known as the mysterious benefactor of The Real Housewives of AtlantaHe has died at the age of 68.
His death was confirmed Tuesday by his daughter, Katelin, who shared a touching tribute on her Instagram Story with a video of the couple dancing in a car.
While the specific cause of the businessman’s death has not yet been made public, he leaves behind his wife, Kimberly, and their four children, Katelin, Jeremy, Jared and Jamen.
Najjar became a central figure in reality television history during the first season of ROA in 2008, although his face never appeared on screen at the time.
Kim Zolciak, one of the show’s original breakout stars, kept his identity a secret and referred to him only by the nickname “Big Poppa.”
Viewers knew him as the man who financed Zolciak’s extravagant lifestyle, providing him with the financial backing for his luxury cars and designer wardrobe as they navigated a complicated, on-again, off-again romance.
Their relationship was the subject of much debate among the Atlanta Housewives, particularly because Najjar was still legally married to his wife while dating Zolciak, although the reality star maintained that they were separated.
Before the Season 1 reunion, Zolciak revealed that they had been engaged and described him as a great person who was wonderful with his daughters.
She admitted at the time that she was crazy about him and that he remained an important part of her daily life, even as they struggled to move their relationship forward.
The couple finally split for good in 2009 after Zolciak referred to him as the love of her life, but acknowledged it was time to move on.
She later married Kroy Biermann in 2011, a relationship that ended in a high-profile separation in 2023.
Despite the years that have passed since his time in the Bravo spotlight, Najjar remains a legendary figure to longtime fans of the franchise.
His daughter’s tribute, put on the track dancing in the skymarks a quiet end for a man whose presence once loomed so large in the world of reality TV.
