The Fortunate 500: Literary and media stars

People who wrote the book on the literary and media scenes

By Katy Barron
May 12, 2005

Photo by Kelly West/AA-S EDDAICSA AND ZARGHUN DEAN media/fashion/arts/charity/food
THE FORTUNATE 500
All stars	Art stars
Music stars	Education/Charity stars
Food stars	Literary/Media stars
Heritage stars	Film stars
Business/High Tech stars	Politics/Law stars
Sports stars	Fashion stars
Part-time Austinites

Tribeza editor and publisher Zarghun Dean was born in Afghanistan but grew up mostly in Houston. He started his magazine, which oozes with class, style, luxury goods and party pictures, when he was 29 with no prior experience in publishing. Based on these facts, it's easy to make assumptions. Could it be he was a well-connected heir to an oil fortune seeking a social outlet for meeting attractive women?

No.

Dean, 32, has been working since he was 13. His father was a pilot who fled Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion and drove a truck for 20 years in the United States. Dean started Tribeza with $10,000 while he was finishing the University of Texas Law School, and he lost all of that investment when his printer went bankrupt. He spent a year working odd jobs, including a stint at a car dealership, to pay back the advertisers who took a gamble on his start-up. While he was penniless, he met a woman who supported his dream with both compassion and elbow grease. They finally saw the dream realized: the first issue of Tribeza.

That was three years ago. Today, the supportive woman is Dean's wife and fashion editor, Eddaicsa. Zarghun Dean, who is inspired by the philosophies of Ayn Rand, views Tribeza as a medium for influencing people's lives. From the beginning, the goal was to celebrate Austin's cultural wealth by showcasing progressive ideas in art, music, cuisine, fashion and architecture. Tribeza events that include monthly happy hours that draw hundreds, fashion shows and "Tribeza Nights," evenings out pairing food and culture, are part of the concept. "The point is to link creative ideas and creative people. Everything has to feed that core mission," he says.

He thinks Austin is "probably one of the most well-intentioned cities ever," and does his part by profiling small nonprofits in Tribeza's community section and donating proceeds from Tribeza events to local causes. This year, the magazine is launching its first young philanthropist award.

Dean balks at the notion that Tribeza is a socialite's magazine, pointing out that the party pictures weren't introduced until Tribeza's third year and that they cover a broad range of events, not just charity balls. Although during the busy fall and winter social season he sometimes spends four nights a week at parties, he says he's no social butterfly. He enjoys tinkering with his Travis Heights home and is selective about the events he and his wife attend. "We don't go to just make appearances," he says.

More literary and media stars

Lidia Agraz media/charity/business/arts
John Aielli media/arts/charity
Sammy Allred media/music/politics
Philip Bobbitt education/literary
Sarah Bird literary/media
Olga Campos media/charity
Fred Cantú media/charity
Gary Cartwright literary/media/charity
Elizabeth Christian and Bruce Todd media/politics/arts/business
Bob Cole media/sports/politics/food/charity
Jody Denberg media/music/charity
Ron Deutsch media/politics/food
Betty Sue Flowers education/literary
Robert Hadlock media/charity
Steve Harrigan literary
Mary Herman literary/charity
Donna and Steve Hicks media/business/charity/education
Jim Hornfischer literary/business
Rebecca and Phillip Hudson media/business/heritage
Molly Ivins media/politics/charity
Brette Lea media/arts/education
David Lindsey literary/charity/politics
Jill McGuckin media/business/music
Judy Maggio media/charity
Libby and Bruce Malone media/business
Theresa May literary/arts
Lance Avery Morgan media/arts
Mark Murray media/music/charity
Jeff Nightbyrd media/music/heritage
Joe Nick Patoski media/music/literary
Steven Phenix media/literary/arts
Kevin Phinney media/music/arts
Cactus Pryor media/charity/heritage
Wayne Slater media
Jim Spencer media/arts/charity
Tom Spencer media/arts/charity
Tom Staley literary/education/arts
Bart Stephens media
Bruce Sterling literary/media
Bill Stotesbury media/business/charity
Maury Sullivan media/education
Kerry Tate media/business/charity/arts
Sally and Bill Witliff literary/movies/charity/education/arts
Roberta and Larry Wright literary/arts/charity