Sheldon Adelson was born on August 6, 1933, in Boston, Massachusetts, and died on January 11, 2021. He was an American businessman and casino magnate who served as chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp., the global resort and casino company behind properties in Las Vegas, Macau, and Singapore. Beyond business, he became one of the most influential political donors in the United States and a major philanthropist focused on Jewish and Israeli causes.
From Boston to Las Vegas
Adelson grew up in a working-class Jewish immigrant family in Boston. At age 12 he borrowed money to start a newspaper delivery business, an early sign of his entrepreneurial drive. He later served in the U.S. Army and worked in various ventures before entering the technology trade show industry.
In 1979 he co-founded COMDEX, a computer trade show that became one of the largest technology conventions in the world. The success of COMDEX generated substantial wealth, especially after it was sold in the mid-1990s for hundreds of millions of dollars. That capital enabled him to expand aggressively into the casino and resort sector.
Through Las Vegas Sands Corp., Adelson developed major integrated resorts, including The Venetian and The Palazzo in Las Vegas, and later large-scale operations in Macau and Singapore. His strategy emphasized convention-driven tourism combined with luxury hospitality, reshaping the business model of casino resorts.
Political influence and major donations
Adelson became one of the most significant donors in American politics, primarily supporting Republican candidates and conservative causes. He and his wife, Miriam Adelson, contributed tens of millions of dollars to political action committees, including substantial support for Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns. Public filings show that he was among the largest individual political donors in U.S. history.
He strongly supported policies aligned with the Israeli government and maintained close ties with Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Adelson also funded Israel Hayom, a widely distributed free daily newspaper in Israel.
Philanthropy and Jewish causes
In 2007, Sheldon and Miriam Adelson formalized their philanthropic efforts through the Adelson Family Foundation. A central focus of their giving was Taglit-Birthright Israel, the program that provides free educational trips to Israel for young Jewish adults worldwide. Adelson became one of its principal benefactors.
He also donated to Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to Holocaust victims, and funded medical research initiatives, including programs related to addiction and neurological science. After experiencing personal loss within their family, the Adelsons expanded their support for medical research and treatment facilities.
Business wealth and global ranking
Forbes regularly listed Adelson among the wealthiest individuals in the world. At various points, he ranked among the richest Americans and in the global top tier of billionaires. The bulk of his fortune derived from Las Vegas Sands, particularly its highly profitable operations in Asia.
Later years and legacy
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Adelson publicly opposed large-scale layoffs within his casino operations, signaling a commitment to maintaining employment during crisis conditions. His death in 2021 prompted statements of recognition from political leaders in the United States and Israel, reflecting both his influence and the controversies surrounding his political involvement.
Sheldon Adelson’s legacy combines large-scale commercial expansion, significant political financing, and sustained philanthropic engagement focused primarily on Jewish identity, Israel, and medical research.
