Sheldon Adelson

Sheldon Gary Adelson (August 4, 1933 – January 11, 2021) was an American businessman, casino developer, and conservative political donor who founded the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and pioneered large-scale integrated resorts worldwide.

Born to Ukrainian Jewish immigrant parents in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, Adelson rose from poverty through early entrepreneurial efforts, including founding the COMDEX computer trade show in 1979, which he sold in 1995 to fund his entry into the casino industry. In 1988, he acquired the historic Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for $128 million, later demolishing it to construct The Venetian Resort in 1999, an innovative mega-resort blending hotel, casino, and convention facilities that redefined Las Vegas hospitality.

Under his leadership as chairman and CEO, Las Vegas Sands expanded internationally, developing the Venetian Macao in 2007—the largest casino in the world at the time—and the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore in 2010, which featured the iconic SkyPark infinity pool. These ventures propelled the company to generate billions in revenue and elevated Adelson's net worth to approximately $35 billion by 2021, ranking him among the richest individuals globally.

Adelson's business philosophy emphasized non-union operations and high-stakes innovation, though it drew labor disputes in Las Vegas. Politically active from the 2010s, he and his wife Miriam Adelson donated over $424 million to Republican candidates and super PACs, including substantial support for Donald Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns, prioritizing pro-Israel policies and limited government. His philanthropy through the Adelson Family Foundations funded Jewish causes, drug addiction research, and medical initiatives, reflecting his commitment to community welfare despite criticisms of his political influence. Adelson died from complications related to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment, leaving a legacy of transformative risk-taking in gaming and unapologetic advocacy for his values.