Baton Rouge Auto Dealer Builds Billion-Dollar Empire with Unlikely Partner

Joe Agresti's gamble on a failing Mercedes-Benz dealership and partnership with Nick Saban has transformed into a diverse business empire.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 10:15am

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In 2004, local auto dealer Joe Agresti bet everything on a struggling Mercedes-Benz dealership in Baton Rouge that had lost $600,000 the previous year. Two decades later, the 53-year-old billionaire has transformed that gamble into a $2.2 billion business empire built alongside an unlikely partner: legendary college football coach Nick Saban. Their Dream Motor Group operates 11 dealerships across five states, and the partnership has expanded into hospitality, bourbon, and a stake in the Nashville Predators NHL team.

Why it matters

Agresti's success story highlights the potential for bold entrepreneurial bets, even in challenging economic conditions. His unconventional business strategies, like personally cooking dinner for customers, have helped him build a loyal customer base and diversify his operations beyond just auto sales. As Agresti considers a run for the U.S. Senate, his journey provides insights into the mindset and skills required to grow a small business into a billion-dollar enterprise.

The details

In 2004, Agresti used his life savings and his parents' home as collateral to purchase a failing Mercedes-Benz dealership in Baton Rouge that had lost $600,000 the previous year. Despite his mother's concerns, Agresti's father encouraged him, saying 'Trust this guy. He's a winner.' Agresti's combination of accounting expertise and genuine customer connection, along with his 'will to be weird' business strategies, allowed him to turn the dealership around. This led to a partnership with Nick Saban, the legendary college football coach, and the creation of the Dream Motor Group, which now operates 11 dealerships across five states and generates $2.2 billion in annual revenue. The partnership has expanded beyond cars into hospitality, bourbon, and a stake in the Nashville Predators NHL team.

  • In 2004, Agresti purchased the failing Mercedes-Benz dealership in Baton Rouge.
  • Over the past two decades, Agresti has transformed the dealership into a $2.2 billion business empire.

The players

Joe Agresti

A 53-year-old billionaire who in 2004 bet his life savings and his parents' home on a failing Mercedes-Benz dealership in Baton Rouge, which he has since transformed into a $2.2 billion business empire through his partnership with Nick Saban.

Nick Saban

The legendary college football coach who has partnered with Joe Agresti to build the Dream Motor Group, a diverse business empire that extends beyond just auto sales.

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What they’re saying

“Trust this guy. He's a winner.”

— Joe Agresti's father

What’s next

Agresti is considering running for the U.S. Senate, which would be his riskiest move yet.

The takeaway

Agresti's success story demonstrates the potential for bold entrepreneurial bets, even in challenging economic conditions. His unconventional business strategies and willingness to partner with an unlikely ally have allowed him to transform a struggling dealership into a billion-dollar business empire, providing insights into the mindset and skills required to grow a small business into a major enterprise.