Who is Steve Wynn? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Stephen A Wynn, Stephen A. Wynn

Age: 82 Years, 82 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Andrea Hissom, Elaine Wynn

father: Michael Weinberg

mother: Zelma Wynn

children: Gillian Wynn Early, Kevyn Wynn

Philanthropists Hoteliers

U.S. State: Connecticut

City: New Haven, Connecticut

Founder/Co-Founder: Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts

More Facts

education: University of Pennsylvania, Manlius Pebble Hill School

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1

What is Steve Wynn known for?

Steve Wynn is known for being a prominent American real estate developer and art collector, particularly in the hospitality and entertainment industry.
2

How did Steve Wynn make his wealth?

Steve Wynn made his wealth primarily through his successful ventures in the casino and hotel industry, founding and leading companies such as Mirage Resorts and Wynn Resorts.
3

Has Steve Wynn faced any controversies in his career?

Yes, Steve Wynn has faced controversies related to allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment, which led to his resignation from Wynn Resorts in 2018.
4

What impact has Steve Wynn had on the Las Vegas Strip?

Steve Wynn is credited with transforming the Las Vegas Strip through his innovative and luxurious casino resorts, setting new standards for hospitality and entertainment in the city.
5

What is the current status of Steve Wynn's involvement in the business world?

After stepping down from Wynn Resorts, Steve Wynn has maintained a relatively low profile in the business world, focusing on personal ventures and legal matters related to his past controversies.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born as Stephen Alan Weinberg in New Haven, Connecticut on January 27, 1942. His father Michael ran a string of bingo parlors while his mother Zelma was a dedicated homemaker who took care of Steve and his younger brother Kenneth. His father changed the family’s last name from "Weinberg" to "Wynn" when Steve was six months old.

In spite of being an enterprising and successful businessman, Michael developed an addiction to gambling and lost much of his wealth. Nonetheless he was determined to give his sons a good life and encouraged Steve to study well so that he could pursue a more stable profession instead of getting into the bingo business.

Steve Wynn went to the Manlius School from where he graduated in 1959. Then he enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania.

His father died in March 1963 during open-heart surgery. He was only 46 years old. Though heartbroken at the loss of his beloved father, Steve managed to graduate with a B.A. in English literature the very same year.

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Career

The Wynn family was plunged into financial crisis after the death of his father who left behind gambling debts that totaled $350,000. Since Kenneth was just ten years old at that time, the burden of providing for his family fell upon Steve’s shoulders.

Steve, along with his new wife, took charge of the family business and worked hard to re-establish it. Within a year he had expanded the business and transformed it into a profitable one.

He moved to Las Vegas in 1967 and was able to purchase a small stake in the Frontier Hotel and Casino. He became acquaintances with E. Parry Thomas who was known to be one of the most influential bankers in Las Vegas. Thomas, who was the president of the Bank of Las Vegas, which was the only bank at the time that would extend loans to Las Vegas casinos, helped Wynn in procuring several land deals.

Steve Wynn acquired a controlling interest in the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, a landmark downtown casino, in 1971. He renovated and expanded the casino from a gambling hall to a resort hotel and casino. The revamped Golden Nugget became a huge tourist attraction.

During the 1980s, he built the Mirage, a 3,044 room Polynesian-themed hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip. It was the first time Wynn was involved with the design and construction of a casino. The hotel, which opened in November 1989, featured innovative and extravagant themes such as an erupting volcano which made it one of the most lucrative casinos in Las Vegas.

He worked on building an even more luxurious resort, Bellagio, in the 1990s. Estimated to have cost around $1.6 billion, the resort is undoubtedly one of the world’s most spectacular hotels. Opened in 1998, the Bellagio was the most expensive hotel in the world at the time it was built.

In 2005, the luxury resort and casino, Wynn Las Vegas, was opened. The resort covers 215 acres and includes a casino, a convention center and several thousand square feet of retail space. It has 45 floors, with 2,716 rooms.

Major Works

The Mirage, which opened in 1989, is considered one of the most luxurious hotels built by Steve Wynn. With a cost of US $630 million, it was the most expensive hotel-casino in history. Actual gold dust was used in the tinting process of the hotel’s distinctive gold windows.

The Bellagio is another one of his opulent luxury resorts and hotels. Famed for its elegance, the Bellagio features an artificial lake which houses the Fountains of Bellagio, a large dancing water fountain synchronized to music. The two towers of Bellagio collectively have over 4,000 rooms.

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Awards & Achievements

The Association of Travel Marketing Executives awarded Steve Wynn the ATLAS Lifetime Achievement Award for his innovation in building resorts in Las Vegas in 2005.

He received the Manfred Steinfeld Humanitarian Award at the 22nd Annual Platinum Circle Awards in 2009.

Personal Life & Legacy

Steve Wynn married Elaine Pascal in 1963. The couple divorced in 1986 only to remarry in 1991. They divorced again in 2010. They have two daughters, Kevyn and Gillian.

He married Andrea Danenza Hissom in a ceremony at the Wynn Las Vegas in 2011.

Philanthropic Works

He made an anonymous donation of $2 million to the United Way of Southern Nevada in 2012, a fact which he later admitted to.

Facts About Steve Wynn

Steve Wynn is an avid art collector, known for his impressive collection of masterpieces by renowned artists such as Picasso, Van Gogh, and Matisse.

He is a passionate supporter of the arts and has donated significant amounts of money to various cultural institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania's Institute of Contemporary Art.

Steve Wynn is a skilled poker player and has participated in high-stakes tournaments, showcasing his strategic thinking and competitive spirit.

Despite his busy schedule as a successful businessman, Wynn also finds time to indulge in his love for sailing and has been spotted enjoying the open waters on his yacht.

Wynn is known for his charismatic personality and gift for storytelling, often entertaining friends and colleagues with his humorous anecdotes and quick wit.

Steve Wynn Biography

You wanted to know

What is Steve Wynn known for?

How did Steve Wynn make his wealth?

Has Steve Wynn faced any controversies in his career?

What impact has Steve Wynn had on the Las Vegas Strip?

What is the current status of Steve Wynn's involvement in the business world?