Celebrity Deaths 2026: Catherine O’Hara, Eric Dane & More Fallen Stars
The reality TV world has said goodbye to an elusive figure.
Businessman Lee Najjar, better known as Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kim Zolciak’s ex “Big Poppa,” has died, his daughter Katelin Najjar confirmed on Instagram Story April 20. He was 68.
Lee’s cause of death is unknown, although the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner told TMZ he died on April 18.
The real estate developer was perhaps best known as the man behind Kim’s lavish lifestyle when RHOA first premiered in 2008, buying her expensive gifts and taking her on exotic trips. Kim did her best to keep his identity a secret, only referring to him as “Big Poppa” on the series before the two split in 2009.
Throughout their relationship, Lee was still married to wife Kimberly Najjar, with whom she shares Katelin as well as Jared, Jeremy and Jamen.
Following his death, Katelin posted several videos of herself and her dad to her Instagram Stories, remembering their happy times together. She captioned one video with a broken heart emoji, adding, “I love you.”
She also reshared a post from a close friend who reflected on Lee’s legacy.
“It's so hard to imagine life without Lee,” the friend wrote in an Instagram Story, “but who he was and what he meant to those who knew and loved him will never leave.”
ANDREAS BRANCH/ PMC; Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
“@katelin_najjar and Lee were incredibly close and shared a special bond,” they added. “He would do anything to make her happy, including putting up with our shenanigans day in and day out for decades. He loved Kimberly and all of his kids so deeply.”
Following Kim’s split from Lee, the Bravo star went on to marry Kroy Biermann in 2011. She and the former NFL player broke up in 2023 and are in the midst of divorcing. They share kids Brielle, 29, Ariana, 24, Kroy Jr., 14, Kash, 13, as well as twins Kaia and Kane, 12.
And despite ending her relationship with Lee, Kim knew he would always have a special place in her heart.
“At the end of the day, he will always be the love of my life,” she told Us Weekly in 2009, “but it's time for me to move on."
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