Life stories of great magnates
American Steve Wynn is a businessman known for his investments in the casino world. With a fortune estimated at $2.5 billions, he is a true legend among the casinos in Las Vegas.
The 70-year old American Steve Alan Wynn, by his full name, was born on January 27, 1942 in New Haven, Connecticut. He is recognized to be one of the famous investors in the casino world. In the 70’s, he developed the Las Vegas Strip. It was his company that renovated and built the most far-famed resorts in Las Vegas, such as Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio and Wynn Hotel. This hotel was erected in 2005 and it cost $2.7 billions.
Large scale business
In June 2000, Mirage Resort was sold to MGM Grand Inc. for $6.6 billions. Steve Wynn used that money to build a new resort, Wynn Las Vegas, the most expensive back then. Now, it is the property of Wynn Resort Limited, where Steve is both CEO and President. The casino magnate reached a seven-figure fortune in 2004. In September 2006, the American businessman became the owner of Wynn Macau.
Fear of discrimination set off name change
Michael, Steve’s father, decided to change their surname from Weinberg to Wynn. It happened in 1946, when Steve was only 6, in his attempt to avoid a possible discrimination towards them as Jews. Steve majored in Anthropology and English literature at the University of Pennsylvania. His father was a bingo addicted. In 1963, when he passed away, he left behind debts of $350,000 from gambling.
An impressive art collection
Steve Wynn is a familiar name among the art market, since he is a great collector of paintings done by the world best painters, such Rembrandt and Picasso. The American magnate is a proud owner of more works signed by Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Julian Hatton, Edouard Manet, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol and Johannes Vermeer.
Customized restaurants
The American billionaire has initiated a practice to exhibit some of the art objects in his hotels and casinos, which is a source of enjoyment for everyone visiting those locations. An entire restaurant owned by Steve Wynn, Botero, is dedicated to the Columbian artist Fernando Botero, where people can catch a sight of a few sculptures and paintaings of this artist. Another restaurant celebrates Frank Sinatra, where the objects there remind of the Oscar that the former Hollywood star once won.
A topsy-turvy family life
The revered businessman tied the knot with Elaine Farrell Pascal in 1963, divorced in 1986, married again in 1991 and divorced a second time in 2010. They raise two girls together, Kevyn and Gillian. In 1993, Kevyn was kidnapped and Steve paid a $1.45 million ransom to free his daughter. The magnate of the casinos in Las Vegas suffers from an eye disorder that has almost left him blind, namely retinis pigmentosa. Nevertheless, he has never stopped taking care of his mega-business. On April 29, 2011, Steve Wynn married Andrea Hissom.
