On The Real Housewives of Atlanta , “Big Poppa” was the nickname used for Kim Zolciak’s then‑mystery boyfriend, whose real identity is widely reported to be Atlanta real estate developer Lee Najjar.

Who “Big Poppa” Was

  • Big Poppa was portrayed as Kim Zolciak’s wealthy, mostly off‑camera sugar daddy during seasons 1–2 of RHOA, funding her luxury cars, townhouse, and gifts.
  • Multiple entertainment outlets and fan discussions identify Big Poppa as Lee Najjar , a Puerto Rican‑born or American‑based real estate investor and TV personality who worked in Atlanta’s high‑end property market.

On the Show RHOA

  • On the series, Kim referred to him only as “Big Poppa,” and his face was rarely shown, which helped fuel years of speculation and online sleuthing among fans.
  • Storylines centered on his lavish spending, rumored engagement to Kim, and the drama with other Housewives who questioned both his marriage status and Kim’s reliance on him.

His Real Life Background

  • Reports describe Najjar as a successful real estate developer who owned a massive Atlanta mansion that later appeared on MTV Cribs with his family, highlighting the lifestyle viewers associated with “Big Poppa.”
  • Coverage also notes that during his relationship with Kim, he was married to another woman, Kimberly Najjar, and that they reportedly remained together even after his time in the RHOA spotlight.

Later Headlines and Status

  • After his RHOA era, Najjar mostly stepped back from public reality‑TV fame, though articles still reference him as the iconic “Big Poppa” whenever Kim Zolciak’s past relationships are revisited.
  • He has occasionally resurfaced in news for real‑estate legal issues and fan retrospectives about “where is Big Poppa now,” but no major new reality‑TV role has replaced his brief, infamous RHOA run.

TL;DR: Big Poppa from RHOA wasn’t a separate character; it was the on‑screen nickname for Kim Zolciak’s wealthy, off‑camera boyfriend, widely reported to be real estate developer Lee Najjar , who bankrolled much of her early‑show lifestyle and became a minor reality‑TV legend because of the secrecy around him.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.