Lee "Big Poppa" Najjar, the former boyfriend of The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak, has died at the age of 68.
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Najjar, a real estate investor who became widely known through the reality series, had his death confirmed by his daughter Katelin on Tuesday.
She shared the news in a series of emotional posts on Instagram.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Mystery Man 'Big Poppa' Dies at 68
Katelin paid tribute to her father by sharing a video of the two dancing together in a car.
The clip was captioned "I love you," alongside a dove and broken-heart emoji, and featured the 2016 song "Dancing in the Sky" by Dani and Lizzy.
She also posted another image showing Najjar dressed in a black suit, reflecting on his life as a businessman.
Najjar's cause of death has not been made public.
He is survived by his wife Kimberly and their children Katelin, Jeremy, Jared, and Jamen.
Relationship With Kim Zolciak Became Early RHOA Storyline
Najjar rose to public attention during the first season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2008, where he was referenced as Zolciak's wealthy, off-camera partner known only as "Big Poppa."
Although he never appeared on-screen, his presence became a major storyline, particularly as he was portrayed as funding Zolciak's lavish lifestyle.
At the time of their relationship, Najjar was still legally married, though reportedly separated from his wife.
The couple had an on-and-off relationship before initially splitting in 2009, with his identity eventually becoming public.
"We were engaged. And he's a great person," Zolciak previously told PEOPLE. "He's still a part of my everyday life at this point. I don't know what the future holds. I'm crazy about him. And he's great to my girls."
"He is legally married, but he's estranged from his wife. Sometimes things take a while to move forward."
The pair briefly reconciled in 2010 before parting ways for good.
According to TMZ, Zolciak once referred to Najjar as "the love of my life" following their split, before later adding, "But it's time for me to move on."
Zolciak was previously married to Daniel Toce from 2001 to 2003 before marrying Kroy Biermann in 2011. The couple separated in 2023.
