{"id":10450,"date":"2026-04-22T21:25:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T21:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/atlanta-real-estate-investor-lee-najjar-known-as-kim-zolciaks-big-poppa-dies-at-68\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T21:25:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T21:25:28","slug":"atlanta-real-estate-investor-lee-najjar-known-as-kim-zolciaks-big-poppa-dies-at-68","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/atlanta-real-estate-investor-lee-najjar-known-as-kim-zolciaks-big-poppa-dies-at-68\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlanta Real Estate Investor Lee Najjar, Known as Kim Zolciak\u2019s \u2018Big Poppa,\u2019 Dies at 68"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lee Najjar, the affluent Atlanta real\u2011estate mogul who quietly funded Kim Zolciak\u2019s lavish lifestyle on The Real Housewives of Atlanta<\/em> (RHOA), passed away on Saturday, April 18. The 68\u2011year\u2011old died in his home in the city, though the exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed. The news was first confirmed by Najjar\u2019s daughter, Katelin, who posted a series of Instagram Stories featuring family photos and a heartfelt tribute. Miami\u2011Dade Medical Examiner\u2019s office later verified the death and relayed the information to TMZ.<\/p>\n

From Mystery Man to Reality TV Legend<\/h2>\n

Najjar\u2019s public persona began long before he ever appeared on camera. In the early seasons of RHOA, the show\u2019s producers introduced the enigmatic \u201cBig Poppa\u201d as the unseen benefactor behind Zolciak\u2019s opulent purchases\u2014designer gowns, luxury cars, and a sprawling estate. Despite never being shown on screen, his presence became one of the show\u2019s most talked\u2011about storylines, adding a layer of intrigue that kept viewers glued to their televisions.<\/p>\n

While the cameras never captured him, the audience could feel his influence. He was known to be a wealthy real\u2011estate investor in Atlanta, with a portfolio that included high\u2011end properties and commercial developments. His financial support allowed Zolciak to maintain a lifestyle that matched the drama and glamour of the show, making the \u201cBig Poppa\u201d narrative a pivotal element of RHOA\u2019s early success.<\/p>\n

A Life Behind the Scenes<\/h2>\n

Outside the realm of reality television, Najjar led a private life that was markedly different from the on\u2011screen drama. He was married to a woman named Marissa<\/strong> and together they raised two children: Katelin and Jeremy Najjar. The family\u2019s close bond was evident in the photos shared by Katelin on social media, where she often posted candid moments with her father and brother.<\/p>\n

Despite his public image as a \u201csugar daddy,\u201d Najjar\u2019s personal life was grounded in family values and a commitment to his business ventures. His real\u2011estate empire in Atlanta was built on a combination of strategic acquisitions and a keen eye for market trends, earning him respect among his peers in the industry.<\/p>\n

Kim Zolciak\u2019s Reflections on Their Relationship<\/h2>\n

After their romance ended in 2009, Zolciak publicly acknowledged the impact of Najjar\u2019s support on her life. In an interview, she said, \u201cHe will always be the love of my life, but it\u2019s time for me to move on.\u201d This statement underscored the emotional complexity of their relationship\u2014an affair that began on the show and evolved into a real\u2011world partnership that lasted several years.<\/p>\n

Even after their split, Zolciak\u2019s memories of Najjar remained vivid. She often referenced the luxurious gifts and the sense of security he provided, which helped her navigate the challenges of fame and family life. The public\u2019s fascination with the \u201cBig Poppa\u201d narrative only grew as the years passed, cementing Najjar\u2019s legacy in the annals of reality television history.<\/p>\n

Key Facts About Lee Najjar<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Age at death: 68<\/li>\n
  • Occupation: Atlanta real\u2011estate investor<\/li>\n
  • Known as: Kim Zolciak\u2019s \u201cBig Poppa\u201d sugar daddy<\/li>\n
  • Family: Married to Marissa; children Katelin and Jeremy<\/li>\n
  • Cause of death: Unknown (pending further investigation)<\/li>\n
  • Death confirmed by: Daughter Katelin (Instagram) and Miami\u2011Dade Medical Examiner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Legacy and Impact<\/h2>\n

    Lee Najjar\u2019s passing marks the end of an era for RHOA fans who followed the show\u2019s early seasons with avid interest. His<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Lee Najjar, the affluent Atlanta real\u2011estate mogul who quietly funded Kim Zolciak\u2019s lavish lifestyle on The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA), passed away on Saturday, April 18. The 68\u2011year\u2011old died in his home in the city, though the exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed. The news was…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3510,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10450"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10450\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}