Elie Samaha, a producer and nightlife entrepreneur with a controversial past, is in talks to purchase the Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars telecast. The 3,400-seat theater is currently owned by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and managed by investment firm Canyon Partners. Samaha, known for his involvement in L.A. nightlife and distribution deals with Warner Bros. Pictures, has faced legal troubles and criminal charges in the past, including a $97 million fraud suit settlement and safety issues at his Hollywood nightclub Project. Despite his checkered history, Samaha continues to expand his entertainment empire, with holdings including iconic Hollywood venues like the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Fox Theatre. The U.S.-Lebanese citizen is also known for his legal battles against senior Lebanese political figures. Samaha's latest endeavor is his production and distribution firm, Luminosity Entertainment.