Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
💻

Sheldon Adelson

technology Maturity 11-13 death dying war conflict Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: death_dying, war_conflict. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Sheldon Gary Adelson was a prominent American businessman, investor, and political donor.

Sheldon y Miriam Adelson reciben Woodrow Wilson Awards
Sheldon y Miriam Adelson reciben Woodrow Wilson Awards

He was a serial entrepreneur, a term used for someone who starts many different businesses. Over his long career, he created almost 50 different companies. He was most famous for being the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. This company managed massive luxury resorts and casinos in several different countries. His business activities influenced the tourism and hospitality industries on a global scale.

Adelson's journey into business began very early in his life in Boston. He was born on August 4, 1933, to Sarah and Arthur Adelson. His father worked as a taxi driver, and his mother ran a knitting shop. At age 10, he borrowed $200 from his uncle to buy a newspaper license. By age 15, he borrowed $10,000 to start a candy vending-machine business. After attending trade school and serving in the United States Army, he launched several other ventures. These included a business selling toiletry kits and a company called De-Ice-It, which sold chemical spray for windshields.

One of his most significant business successes involved the computer industry. In the late 1970s, Adelson and his partners developed COMDEX trade shows. These shows began in 1979 and became some of the largest computer events in the world. In 1995, the partners sold the Interface Group Show Division, which included COMDEX, to the SoftBank Group of Japan. The sale price was $862 million, and Adelson's personal share was over $500 million. This success provided the capital for his future massive construction projects.

Adelson's most visible legacy is his development of large-scale luxury resorts. In 1988, he and his partners purchased the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for $110 million. After a honeymoon in Venice with his wife, Miriam, he decided to build a mega-resort. He spent $1.5 billion to build The Venetian, a Venice-themed hotel that opened on May 3, 1999.

The Parisian 2016
The Parisian 2016

He also expanded to Pennsylvania, where his company built a casino resort in Bethlehem. This project opened on May 22, 2009, and was later sold in 2019 to Wind Creek Hospitality for $1.3 billion.

His influence extended far beyond the United States through projects in Asia. In 2004, he opened the Sands Macao, which was China's first Las Vegas-style casino.

Venetian Macau
Venetian Macau

This venture caused his personal wealth to multiply more than fourteen times. In 2007, he opened the $2.4 billion Venetian Macao Resort Hotel on the Cotai Strip.

The Parisian 2016
The Parisian 2016

He also led the construction of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Marina Bay Sands in the evening - 20101120
Marina Bay Sands in the evening - 20101120

When it opened in 2010, the Marina Bay Sands complex was the most expensive building in the world. It cost approximately S$8 billion, including the price of the land.

Adelson was also a major figure in politics and media. Because of the size and frequency of his donations, he was often called a "kingmaker." He was a major contributor to the Republican Party and a massive supporter of Donald Trump. In 2016 and 2020, he was Trump's largest donor, supporting his campaign, inauguration, and defense fund.

President Trump at the Israeli American Council National Summit (49193133993) (cropped)
President Trump at the Israeli American Council National Summit (49193133993) (cropped)

He also supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the media sector, he owned several newspapers, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Israeli daily Israel Hayom. His ownership of these papers sometimes led to debates regarding editorial independence and political influence.

Beyond business and politics, Adelson focused on philanthropy through the Adelson Foundation. Created in 2007, this private charity focuses on healthcare and supporting the Jewish people and Israel. His financial success was immense; in 2020, Forbes listed his net worth at US$29.8 billion. He passed away on January 11, 2021. His life was defined by large-scale investments that connected the business worlds of Las Vegas, Macau, and Singapore.

639 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Palazzo-at-night.JPG
Palazzo-at-night.JPG
File:Venetian Macau.jpg
Venetian Macau.jpg
File:Marina Bay Sands in the evening - 20101120.jpg
Marina Bay Sands in the evening - 20101120.jpg
File:The Parisian 2016.jpg
The Parisian 2016.jpg
File:President Trump at the Israeli American Council National Summit (49193133993) (cropped).jpg
President Trump at the Israeli American...
File:President Donald J. Trump Presents Medal of Freedom to Miriam Adelson - 45863432542.jpg
President Donald J. Trump Presents Medal...
File:Sheldon y Miriam Adelson reciben Woodrow Wilson Awards.JPG
Sheldon y Miriam Adelson reciben Woodrow...
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.