Steve Wynn Biography

Fast Facts

• On the opening night of the Bellagio, he hosted a charity dinner to benefit research for retinitis pigmentosa, an eye condition from which he suffers
• Was inducted into the American Gambling Association Hall of Fame in 2006
• Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English Literature in 1963, and also studied Cultural Anthropology
• After graduating from college, he took over his family's bingo business in Maryland
• Moved to Las Vegas in 1967 and renovated the Golden Nugget hotel, which brought in a new, more upscale clientele
• Quote: "(On Las Vegas): "This is a business that thrives on competition․ For 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the strip hosts the most violent competition in business in America․""
• Best known as the billionaire chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts
• Opened the Wynn Las Vegas in 2005 and the Wynn Macau in 2006
• Built the Mirage and Bellagio resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, the latter of which is credited with reinventing Las Vegas as a luxury destination
• Owns a private yacht called the Aquarius, which has a staff of 200 people