Nazarian was born to an Iranian Jewish family in Tehran in 1975. The Nazarian family immigrated to the United States following the Iranian Revolution. He is the son of Younes Nazarian who was an early investor in Qualcomm. He was raised in Beverly Hills, California, where he attended Beverly Hills High School, graduating in 1993, and later studied at the University of Southern California.Â
In 1998, Nazarian founded Platinum Wireless, a telecommunications company that distributed Nextel products. He sold the company three years later, and began investing in real estate with his father, and founded 3 Wall Development in 1999. In 2002, he founded SBE Entertainment Group.
In 2020, Nazarian sold the remaining 50% stake of sbe's hotel platform to Accor Hotels but retained SBE's food and beverage business.
From 2008 to 2011, Nazarian served on the board of trustees of the Southern California Institute of Architecture.
In July 2009, Los Angeles Mayor appointed Nazarian to the Board of Airport Commissioners of Los Angeles World Airports. In 2014, Nazarian was named to Fortune's 40 Under 40 list.