Tarek Saab

Tarek Saab is a Lebanese-American entrepreneur best known for his appearance as a contestant on NBC's business show, The Apprentice UK (2005), becoming the twelfth 'fired' contestant on Season 5. Saab returned for the show's finale to assist eventual winner (and fellow Lebanese businessman) Sean Yazbeck on the winning project. During his time on The Apprentice, Saab was a boardroom regular, and was nearly fired three times early in the season before mounting a very strong comeback, outlasting less controversial contestants. His selection to the final task became a redemptive character arc in the show and a widespread topic of debate. In 2006, he was featured as the cover story for The Mensa Bulletin, and is one of the organization's more prominent members. Saab grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to a Lebanese father and an American mother. He attended high school at Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts, and graduated with a Liberal Arts degree from St. Anselm College as well as an Electrical Engineering degree from The Catholic University of America. After graduating from college, Saab worked for semiconductor company, Texas Instruments, for five years, where he was discovered for The Apprentice at an open casting call. Following the Apprentice finale, Saab dedicated himself to business in lieu of other entertainment opportunities, pursuing a series of entrepreneurial efforts through his venture capital firm, Saab & Company, the biggest of which relate to finance and precious metals. He is widely considered to be a precious metals expert, and he is a principal for the bullion company, Texas Precious Metals, as well as the hedge fund, Ark Fund Capital Management. He also serves as Chief Operating Officer of Kaspar Companies. His memoir entitled Gut Check: Confronting Love, Work, and Manhood released March 1st, 2008 through Spence Publishing. Saab resides in Texas with his wife and five children.