Casino moguls

Posted on July 4, 2008
Filed Under Casino |

Here is just a short list of introductions to some of the major online and land-based casino owners in the world. The fascinating histories of these casino moguls are often entertaining and motivational for many of us.

Stanley Ho, the “King of gambling”

Also known as “Ho Hung-sun”, Ho is a famous entrepreneur in Honk Kong and Macau. Sometimes labeled the “King of gambling”, Ho held a government-mandated monopoly on the gambling in China for over 35 years. Ho was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 151st richest man in the world in 2005 with an estimated wealth of $3.6 billion. He owns eight casinos outright including the biggest in Macau, Casino Lisboa, controls 15 of the city’s 17 casinos, and continues to invest and diversify his portfolio through attachment with airlines, banking, tourism, shipping and other industries.

Donald Trump, “The Donald”

Also known as “The Donald”, Donald Trump is well-known for his development projects, TV show, and the skyscrapers in NYC which bear his name but he is also a major figure in the casino industry with his publicly-held “Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts” company. Donald Trump is the owner of 4 casinos, the most notable being the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. Although Trump has struggled in this business venture as of late - and had to “fire” himself even as CEO - he remains one of the most prominent and easily-recognizable figures in the business. His estimated wealth is worth over $2.6 billion.

Sheldon Adelson

Sheldon Adelson is the leader on Forbe’s list of gaming billionaires, having a net worth of over $11.9 billion. He has built The Venetian, Sands Expo convention center and Sands Macau, and is currently building Palazzo, a new mega resort across the street from The Venetian in Vegas, and a new Venetian Macau. He is also developing six new casinos along the Macau strip. The son of a taxi driver, Adelson really hit the jackpot with the December offering of his Las Vegas Sands. The stock rose 61% in one day but has since come back to earth.

Kirk Kerkorian

Worth approximately $9.5billion, the former WWII pilot and director of MGM Mirage recently took over the Mandalay Resort Group and now controls nearly half of all Las Vegas hotel rooms. Kerkorian is credited by many as having been the main driver behind the Las Vegas boom. Forbes ranks Kerkorian 41st on its list of the world’s richest people.

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