Lee Najjar, the wealthy Atlanta real estate investor best known to Real Housewives of Atlanta fans as Kim Zolciak-Biermann’s mysterious benefactor “Big Poppa,” has passed away at the age of 68.
He died on Saturday, April 18, 2026, with the news confirmed by his daughter, Katelin Najjar, through Instagram Stories featuring family tributes.
Najjar’s off-camera presence loomed large over the early seasons of RHOA, becoming one of the franchise’s most enduring scandals and symbols of the luxury, secrecy, and drama that defined Bravo’s breakout Atlanta series.
The Man Behind the Money
A Puerto Rican-born real estate mogul with significant holdings in Atlanta, Najjar was already a successful (and at times controversial) figure in the city’s property scene before reality TV fame found him.
Fans first heard whispers of “Big Poppa” in Season 1 as Kim Zolciak described a generous, older man funding her lavish lifestyle—designer clothes, luxury cars, a sprawling home, and more—while she navigated single motherhood and the Housewives spotlight.
Kim kept his identity under wraps on camera, referring to him only by the affectionate (and meme-worthy) nickname.
The secrecy fueled endless speculation among viewers and castmates alike. Nene Leakes famously slipped up and mentioned “Lee” on more than one occasion, adding fuel to the fire.
When details eventually emerged, the story proved even juicier: Najjar was married to his wife, Kimberly Najjar, during much of his relationship with Kim.
The pair were reportedly engaged at one point, with Kim flashing a massive diamond ring on Season 2, but the romance was on-again, off-again and ultimately ended by 2009. Kim later described him as “the love of my life” but said it was time to move on.
A Storyline That Defined Early RHOA
Big Poppa embodied the aspirational-yet-messy glamour of early Housewives: private jets, high-end shopping sprees, and the blurred lines between genuine romance and financial support.
The storyline highlighted themes of secrecy, infidelity rumors, and the price of the luxe life many Housewives pursued.
Najjar largely stayed out of the public eye, but his notoriety peaked again in 2012 when a mugshot surfaced after his arrest related to a court date and financial matters—another tabloid moment that cemented his place in Bravo lore.
Even years later, at BravoCon panels and in fan discussions, the mention of “Big Poppa” still elicits laughs, gasps, and nostalgia for the wilder, less filtered days of RHOA.
Kim herself has reflected on the relationship with a mix of fondness and finality, noting in later interviews that she hadn’t spoken to him in years after finding lasting love (and marriage, though later divorced) with Kroy Biermann.
Tributes and Legacy
Family members, including daughter Katelin, have shared heartfelt tributes remembering Najjar as a devoted father and larger-than-life personality.
Kim Zolciak has not yet publicly commented as of the latest reports, but fans have flooded social media with memories of the iconic storyline.
At the time of his death, reports placed Najjar’s net worth in the millions from his real estate ventures, a far cry from the $50 million figures sometimes floated in earlier tabloid coverage but still reflective of a successful career in Atlanta’s booming (and occasionally busting) property market.
Lee Najjar may have preferred the shadows during his time in the Housewives universe, but his larger-than-life persona left an indelible mark.
For a generation of Bravo fans, “Big Poppa” wasn’t just a sugar daddy reference—it was a shorthand for the scandalous, over-the-top drama that made early RHOA appointment television.
Rest in peace to a name that will forever live in Real Housewives infamy.
