Steve Wynn, born Stephen Alan Weinberg on January 27, 1942, is an American real estate developer and former casino owner known for his significant contributions to the Las Vegas Strip. Wynn is widely regarded as a major figure in the casino and hospitality industry, with a career spanning several decades.
Wynn's father, Michael Weinberg, was a bingo-parlor operator, which exposed Wynn to the gambling business early in his life. Steve Wynn attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. After his father's death in 1963, Wynn took over the family's bingo operation in Maryland.
In the late 1960s, Wynn moved to Las Vegas and began investing in the casino industry. He started by purchasing a small stake in the Frontier Hotel and Casino. Wynn's first major project came in 1971 when he bought a controlling interest in the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, which he transformed into a luxurious, top-tier resort.
Wynn's success with the Golden Nugget allowed him to expand his business. In 1989, he opened The Mirage, the first mega-resort on the Las Vegas Strip, complete with an artificial volcano, tropical rainforest atrium, and a large marine habitat for dolphins and white tigers. The Mirage was a groundbreaking project that set the standard for future resorts on the Strip.
In 1993, Wynn opened Treasure Island, another innovative resort that featured a massive pirate ship and nightly battles in front of the hotel. In 1998, he unveiled the opulent Bellagio, famous for its dancing fountains and extensive art collection. The Bellagio was sold to MGM Mirage (now MGM Resorts International) in 2000.
After selling the Bellagio, Wynn founded Wynn Resorts and began the development of the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, two high-end resorts that opened in 2005 and 2008, respectively. Wynn Resorts also expanded internationally, with the opening of Wynn Macau in 2006 and Encore at Wynn Macau in 2010.
However, Steve Wynn's career has been marred by controversy. In 2018, multiple allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him. As a result, Wynn resigned as CEO and Chairman of Wynn Resorts, and later sold his entire stake in the company. The allegations have significantly tarnished Wynn's reputation, and he has largely retreated from the public eye since then.
Despite the controversy surrounding his personal life, Steve Wynn's impact on the casino and hospitality industry is undeniable. His innovative approach to resort design and development has shaped the landscape of Las Vegas and set new standards for luxury and entertainment in the industry.
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