Nevadans dot Forbes’ richest Americans list
Eight Las Vegas Valley residents have made the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans released Tuesday.
At No. 14 is the richest man in Nevada, Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson, worth about $35.4 billion.
His worth increased by $5 billion since he made the magazine’s annual list of international billionaires in March.
Adelson operates The Venetian, Palazzo and properties in Macau. Those Asian investments pushed the company past $3 billion in revenue in the company’s second-quarter earnings.
In September Adelson signed a new employment agreement for a 400 percent raise and the highest salary among S&P 500 chief executives.
Adelson is also a major donor to the Republican Party. The 84-yearold is worth about $2 billion more than former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and about $3 billion less than Alice Walton, daughter of discount retail giant Wal-mart founder Sam Walton.
Alice Walton’s cousin, Nancy Walton Laurie, 66, of Henderson is worth $4.9 billion. She ranks at
No. 122.
Panda Express founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng, No. 226, are worth $3.3 billion. In September, they bought a four-building, 210,000-square-foot office complex at Town Center and Covington Cross drives in Summerlin for $47.9 million.
Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn, No. 248, is worth $3.1 billion. The 75-year-old opened Wynn Palace in Macau in August 2016 and broke ground that month on the $2.4 bil
FORBES
lion Wynn Boston Harbor.
He developed The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio and Wynn
Las Vegas. Wynn and Adelson also appeared on a recent Forbes list for top business minds.
His ex-wife, Elaine, ranked at No. 350 with $2.3 billion. Both Wynns are 75 years old.
Steve Wynn has broken a tie he had with fellow casino mogul Phil Ruffin, ranked No. 315 with $2.6 billion. Wynn and Ruffin had posted $2.5 billion in March.
Ruffin, 82, co-owns Trump International in Las Vegas and doubled the value of Treasure Island after he bought it in 2009.
Frank Fertitta III and his brother, Lorenzo, tied with 11 other billionaires for No. 388. Frank, 55, and Lorenzo, 48, are worth $2 billion each.
They bought the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts promoter in 2001 for $2 million and sold it for $4 billion in 2016.
The brothers are also known for Station Casinos and Red Rock Resorts, which announced a $191 million
investment in two properties earlier this year.
The Fertitta brothers were topped by cousin Tilman Fertitta, of Houston, ranked No. 212 for $3.5 billion. The Texas-based billionaire owns Golden Nugget Casinos as well as restaurants Landry’s Seafood and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
In August, his company bought Joe’s Crab Shack and Brick House Tap and Tavern. He also bought the Houston Rockets NBA team.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 61, is the richest American with $89 billion. He lives in Medina, Washington.
The Review-journal is owned by the family of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson.
Contact Wade Tyler Millward at wmillward@reviewjournal. com or 702-383-4602. Follow @ wademillward on Twitter.