Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, the mogul behind Las Vegas casinos, Hollywood’s MGM Studios, and Chrysler motors, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 98.
More than any person, he is credited with making Vegas … Vegas.
As the founder of MGM Resorts, his company purchased more than half of the rooms on the whole Strip, acquiring Mirage Resorts and Mandalay Resorts.
He is also responsible for luring huge names like Elvis Presley and Barbra Streisand to perform in Vegas, boosting the once-fledgling city’s cachet.
Kerkorian bought and sold MGM Studios, made a fortune from the purchase of the James Bond franchise, and merging United Artists with MGM.
James Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, said:
“In his 98 years, Kirk Kerkorian probably did more, while receiving less attention than anyone else in Las Vegas history."
"He worked for the betterment of our city, industry, and company.”
Born in Fresno, Calif., the high-school dropout and onetime welterweight boxer rose from working as a civilian transport pilot in World War II.
He went on to build a financial empire that included investments in the casinos, hotels, as well as Chrysler, Ford Motor and General Motors.
Kirk’s latest net worth was $4.2 billion. He is survived by two daughters, and he reportedly married his longtime girlfriend Una Davis last year.