Lee “Big Poppa” Najjar, the real estate investor famously known as the mystery benefactor on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, has died at the age of 68.
His death was confirmed on Tuesday by his daughter, Katelin, who shared a touching tribute on her Instagram Story featuring a video of the pair dancing in a car.
While a specific cause of death for the businessman 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 RHOA in 2008, though his face was never actually shown on screen at the time.
Kim Zolciak, one of the show’s original breakout stars, famously kept his identity a secret, referring to him only by the nickname “Big Poppa.”
He was well-known to viewers as the man who funded Zolciak’s extravagant lifestyle, providing the financial backing for her luxury cars and designer wardrobe while 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, though the reality star maintained they were estranged.
Before the Season 1 reunion, Zolciak revealed that they had been engaged and described him as a great person who was wonderful to her daughters.
She admitted at the time that she was crazy about him and that he remained a significant part of her daily life, even as they struggled to move their relationship forward.
The couple eventually 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 moved on to marry 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 for long-time fans of the franchise.
His daughter’s tribute, set to the track Dancing in the Sky, marks a quiet end for a man whose presence once loomed so large over the world of reality TV.
