Top 10 Richest Casino Owners
Naturally, following his death, Adelson is no longer the richest casino owner. That title currently goes to Lui Che Woo. Let’s look at the wealthiest casino owners today.
1 – Lui Che Woo $12.1 billion
Lui Che Woo currently tops the list of the richest casino owners in the world.
Lui is a Hong Kong-based casino owner with an estimated fortune of around $21 billion. Lui is famously known as the chairman of both K Wah International Holdings, a property development company, and the Galaxy Entertainment Group, a casino operator in Macau.
He is the owner of Galaxy Macau, one of the most profitable casino resorts, bringing around $8 billion each year in revenues.
The casino complex has six hotels within the property, offers over 2,200 guest rooms, and a large gaming floor with 600 table games and over 1,500 slot machines.
2 – Tilman Fertita 8.9 Billion
Tilman Fertitta is an American billionaire businessman, entrepreneur, and owner of the restaurant corporation Landry’s, Inc. He was born on June 25, 1957, in Galveston, Texas. Fertitta is known for his extensive portfolio of businesses, which includes restaurants, casinos, hotels, and entertainment ventures.
Fertitta gained widespread recognition as the star of the reality TV show “Billion Dollar Buyer,” where he used his expertise to mentor small businesses and negotiate deals. He is also the owner of the Houston Rockets, an NBA basketball team, which he acquired in 2017 for a reported $2.2 billion.
3 – Johann Graf $4.9 billion
If you have never heard of Johann Graf, you are not alone. The billionaire owns and founded Novomatic, an Austrian gambling firm that operates numerous casinos and offers gambling products such as slot machines, video poker games, and electronic table games.
He ditched the life of a butcher shop owner to own one of the most respected names in the gambling industry. Graf went from a pinball machine importation business to working for a slot company in the UK. He established Novomatic in 1980
4 – Pansy Ho $3.8 billion.
Stanley Ho was one of the wealthiest casino owners until his demise in 2020. By then, his net worth was around $7 billion.
He was the founder and chairman of Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau (STDM) and SJM Holdings, which operates 20 Macau-based casinos, including Grand Lisboa Macau. His casinos offer more than 2,400 slot machines and over 1,700 table games.
Pansy Ho is the daughter and heiress of the late billionaire Stanley Ho’s casino empire. She took over her father’s global gambling empire.
5 – Philipp Gene Ruffin $3.5 billion.
Phil Ruffin is one of the most recognized billionaire casino owners in Las Vegas. He co-owns Trump International Las Vegas and wholly owns Circus Circus Hotel & Casino and Treasure Island Hotel & Casino.
6 – John Paulson $3.5 billion.
John Paulson is an American billionaire hedge fund manager and investor. He was born on December 14, 1955, in Queens, New York City. Paulson gained widespread fame and fortune for his role in correctly predicting and profiting from the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007-2008.
Paulson founded his hedge fund, Paulson & Co., in 1994, which became one of the most successful hedge funds in the world. His firm specializes in event-driven investing and has been involved in various high-profile deals and transactions.
Paulson’s most notable success came from his bet against the housing market bubble in the mid-2000s. He made billions of dollars for himself and his investors by effectively shorting subprime mortgage securities through credit default swaps.
Despite his early success, Paulson’s hedge fund has faced challenges in recent years, including losses in certain investments and investor redemptions. Nevertheless, he remains a prominent figure in the world of finance and investing, known for his bold investment strategies and significant wealth.
7 – Steve Wynn $3.3 Billion
Stephen Wynn (also Steve Wynn) is an art collector, property developer, and casino mogul. He built some of the most recognizable casinos and resorts in Las Vegas with Elaine Wynn, his ex-wife. The duo is responsible for Wynn Las Vegas, Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, Treasure Island, and many more.
Steve Wynn played one of the most significant roles in developing Las Vegas to become one it is today. He currently owns numerous casinos in Las Vegas and worldwide under the umbrella of Wynn Resorts.
8 – James Douglas Packer $3.2 Billion
James Packer is the richest gambling owner in Australia. He is the largest shareholder in Crowns Resorts, a gambling conglomerate with a significant presence in London and Australia.
James comes from a long line of famous people. He is the son of media tycoon Kerry Packer and grandson of Sir Frank Packer.
The tycoon inherited Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, Consolidated Media Holdings, and Crown Resorts in 2005. He currently runs his Australian gambling business with her sister.
9 – Elaine Wynn $1.7 billion
Elaine Wynn is the former wife of the gambling billionaire Steve Wynn. Together, the husband and wife created some of the most prominent casinos in the Las Vegas scene. She co-founded Wynn Resorts and Mirage Resorts.
10 – Frank Fertitta III $1.25 billion
Frank Fertitta III is the current CEO of Stations Casinos, a hotel, and casino firm that operates Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Sunset Station, Boulder Station, and Santa Fe Station. He was the former owner and founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Honorary Mention
Sheldon Adelson R.I.P. $36.2 billion
Sheldon Gary Adelson was the richest casino owner in the world. His company portfolio and net worth stand at $39 billion. He established the most prominent gambling empire, Las Vegas Sands Corp.
At its peak, during the pre-pandemic era, Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands earned more than $13.74 billion in annual revenue. At one point, the casino earned more than $32 million a day, making him one of the wealthiest casino owners in gambling history.
Adelson ran a huge gambling business that spanned many destinations, from Las Vegas to Macau. He entered the gambling scene in 1989 when he purchased the Sands Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas for a whopping $110 million. He then demolished the Sands Casino & Hotel and built The Venetian, which is currently the second-biggest casino resort property in the world.
Las Vegas Sands Corporation owns and operates the Sands Expo and Convention Center, The Venetian Las Vegas, and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
Political Contributions
Adelson was an active philanthropist, mostly donating to the Republican Party and initiatives. He made contributions to well-known Republican politicians, including Donald Trump. Reports show that he gave a minimum of $17 million to Newt Gingrich during his 2012 GOP primaries. He also made political contributions of at least $25 million to former President Donald Trump.
Adelson gave well over $120 million in 2020 alone to Republican candidates and causes, including Donald Trump campaigns.
Personal Life
Born in 1933, Adelson was brought up in a relatively poor household in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester. He was the son of Arthur Adelson, a taxi driver of Ukrainian Jewish and Lithuanian Jewish ancestry, and Sarah, a knitting shop operator.
These humble beginnings encouraged him to find ways to make money at a young age. In fact, Adelson is said to have earned his first wage at the age of 10, when he started selling newspapers on the streets of Boston. By 15, he already owned a candy vending machine business.
With such business suave, Sheldon made around $5 million as a young adult by 1968. He routinely invests in high-risk assets and start-ups. He has invested in the toiletries industry, IT sector, and exhibition segment in his colorful investment career and has collaborated with big tech companies like Microsoft and Apple.
He also owned or had shares in many media houses and news sites, including Las Vegas Review-Journal and Israel Hayom. In the course of his entrepreneurial career, Adelson is thought to have created more than 58 businesses.
Adelson married Sandra in 1970, adopting her three children—Mitchell, Gary, and Shelley—in the process. They divorced in 1988. A year later, he met Miriam Farbstein Ochshorn and married her in 1991.
He was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in 2001 and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2019.
He died in 2021 at the age of 87 in his Malibu home after a long-term illness, leaving the casino empire to his three kids and wife, Miriam Adelson.
What casinos did Adelson own?
The family of the late Adelson owns numerous casinos under Las Vegas Sands Corporation, including:
- The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino: Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, The Venetian offers luxury accommodations and upscale gambling facilities.
- The Palazzo: Alongside The Venetian, The Palazzo forms a part of the larger resort complex, offering a similar blend of luxury and high-stakes gaming.
- Sands Expo and Convention Center: Adjacent to The Venetian and The Palazzo, this facility supports the resorts with expansive event and convention space.
Outside of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Sands Corp. expanded its reach to international markets with notable establishments such as:
- Marina Bay Sands: An iconic part of Singapore’s skyline, the Marina Bay Sands combines a luxury hotel, casino, mall, convention center, and the famous SkyPark.
- Sands Macao: This was Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s first venture outside the U.S., establishing a strong presence in Macao.
- The Venetian Macao: One of the largest casino resorts in the world, located on the Cotai Strip in Macao, offers a massive selection of gaming options in an Italian-themed environment.
- The Londoner Macao: An integrated resort on the Cotai Strip reflecting the elegance of London, inclusive of gaming facilities.
He also owned numerous magazines and publications in Israel and the US.
Which casino is considered the richest globally?
Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, owned by Las Vegas Sands Corporation, is often cited as one of the most profitable and richest casino properties in the world.
Who owns most of Vegas?
VICI Properties is now the largest landowner on the Las Vegas Strip, possessing over 660 acres, including prominent resorts. Their strategic acquisitions, such as the MGM Grand Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay, have solidified their standing, marking a significant presence in Vegas’s real estate landscape.
What casino makes the most money in America?
MGM Resorts International leads as America’s most profitable casino, generating $13.13 billion in revenue in 2022. This figure surpasses its nearest rival, Caesars Entertainment, which earned $10.82 billion, marking MGM as the top earner in the U.S. casino industry.