THE
HOUDINI ESTATE
LOS ANGELES
THE HOUDINI ESTATE
The legacy lives on.
Jose Nazar and the remarkable revival of the Houdini Estate.
“Magic is the sole science not accepted by scientists, because they can’t understand it.”
Harry Houdini
AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY
A vision without barriers.
José Luis Nazar is a Chilean-American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and preservationist. Born in Santiago, he founded his first business at 17 and immigrated to Miami in 1972 at age 22. To finance college, he sold English courses door-to-door, gaining insight into the needs of Spanish-speaking immigrants.
In 1976, he acquired a small publisher, renamed it Lexicon, and in Los Angeles created Inglés sin Barreras, a revolutionary multimedia program. With 1,100 employees, it became the best-selling English course for Spanish speakers in the Americas, helping millions integrate and advance.
After selling Lexicon, he moved into real estate and philanthropy, supporting 70 organizations. A dedicated preservationist, he restored the Houdini Estate in Los Angeles and Chile’s icebreaker Piloto Pardo. He is married to archaeologist Dr. Kathleen Martinez-Nazar.
His business success was built on the ability to recognize possibility where others saw limitations. That same instinct would later guide his extraordinary revival of the Houdini Estate.
A HISTORIC ESTATE REBORN
He saw what the Estate could become.
When Jose Nazar took responsibility for the Houdini Estate, he understood that he was preserving more than a property. He was protecting a piece of Los Angeles history and the legacy of one of the world’s most enduring cultural figures.
Through years of personal attention, investment, and care, Jose brought the Estate back to life. Its architecture, gardens, pathways, hidden spaces, and unmistakable atmosphere were renewed without sacrificing the mystery that has always defined it.
Under his stewardship, the Houdini Estate has become a living historic setting for artists, filmmakers, photographers, performers, historians, community gatherings, and charitable events. It is once again a place where imagination and history meet.
THE COLLECTOR
History, art, and objects from beyond the Earth.
Jose Nazar's fascination with Houdini extends far beyond the Estate. He has assembled and preserved Houdini memorabilia with the same curiosity and determination that shaped the property's revival. When he is not collecting Houdini memorabilia or traveling the world with his wife, Kathleen Martinez, Jose collects art and meteorites. His collections reflect a lifelong interest in rarity, history, science, mystery, and the stories carried by extraordinary objects.
A LEGACY OF GIVING
His connection to Chile has never faded.
Jose’s success in the United States never diminished his connection to Chile. For decades, he has used his personal resources and public presence to support the Chilean Teletón and its work on behalf of children and families.
In 2008, Jose made a personal donation of one billion Chilean pesos, one of the largest individual contributions in the campaign’s history at that time. His philanthropy has also encouraged others to participate. During the 2012 Teletón, Jose pledged to match the donations made during a designated hour, turning his contribution into a broader fundraising challenge.
He continued his support with donations of one million dollars in both 2016 and 2018. His repeated participation has made him one of the most recognized individual supporters in the history of Chile’s Teletón. For Jose, philanthropy is an extension of the same principle that has guided his business career and his stewardship of the Houdini Estate: success carries a responsibility to create opportunities for others.
ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR
An immigrant story recognized on a national stage.
In 2026, Jose Luis Nazar received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, recognizing his contributions to the United States, the Hispanic community, and the enduring promise of the immigrant experience.
The recognition reflects a life defined by enterprise, cultural preservation, philanthropy, and a willingness to turn ambitious ideas into lasting achievements.
Kathleen Martinez was also recognized in 2026 for her own distinguished work as an attorney and archaeologist.
THE HOUDINI LEGACY
Preserved for the future.
Jose Nazar did more than restore the Houdini Estate. He gave it a future.
With Kathleen Martinez by his side, he has protected an irreplaceable piece of history and transformed it into a living expression of imagination, generosity, and possibility.
The Estate endures because Jose believed its story was not finished.