MGM Resorts Chair Reportedly Interested in Nicole Kidman, Keith Not Thrilled — Tabloids
Posted on: February 20, 2026, 11:52h.
Last updated on: February 20, 2026, 11:52h.
- The tabloids are reporting that MGM chairman Paul Salem has expressed interest in Nicole Kidman, though sources stress they have never met one-on-one
- Keith Urban is reportedly irritated by the timing, coming weeks after his finalized divorce from Kidman
- Hollywood‑Vegas romances are rare
Paul Salem, the chairman of MGM Resorts International, has found himself in a storyline that has nothing to do with earnings calls, resort expansions, or shareholder decks. Instead, he’s become the focus of a Hollywood‑meets‑Vegas rumor cycle — one tabloids are feasting on, even if its substance is thin.
TMZ and RadarOnline report that Salem, 62, has privately expressed interest in Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman, 58, just weeks after she finalized her divorce from Keith Urban. Salem and Kidman share mutual friends and have crossed paths twice in group settings, though insiders say they have never met one‑on‑one.
These are unverified claims from anonymous sources. No reports suggest that the two are actually dating, and Kidman is officially single and not pursuing a relationship.
Salem is one of the most powerful figures in Las Vegas — a Harvard Business School alum who spent nearly three decades at Providence Equity before joining MGM’s board in 2018 and rising to chairman in 2020. He also co‑owns the Worcester Red Sox and is known for keeping his personal life almost entirely off the radar. His 2021 divorce from ex‑wife Navyn Salem barely made a ripple.
Cowboy Rage
The mere suggestion of a relationship involving Kidman has reportedly rattled Urban. The tabloids report that sources close to the country singer say it’s the timing — not Salem himself — that stings. Urban and Kidman only finalized their divorce on January 6, 2026 after 19 years of marriage.
Kidman, meanwhile, is focused on her daughters and her work. She spent the holidays in Australia, returned to Nashville, and is gearing up for upcoming projects, including the long‑anticipated Practical Magic sequel.
Hollywood Loves Vegas
If sparks were ever to fly, it wouldn’t be the first time a Las Vegas power broker found himself romantically linked to a Hollywood A-lister. But it’s a very exclusive club containing exactly two documented examples:
1. James Packer & Mariah Carey: Australian billionaire James Packer, owner and executive leader of Crown Resorts, met Mariah Carey at a 2014 movie premiere in Aspen. He was already a devoted fan, having attended multiple Carey concerts. They began dating in 2015 and got engaged in 2016 with a 35‑carat diamond ring reportedly worth $10 million. The relationship fizzled later that year, with both agreeing they weren’t right for each other. Carey kept the ring — later selling it for a loss — and reportedly received a multimillion-dollar payout.
2. Kirk Kerkorian & Yvette Mimieux: Billionaire casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian — founder of the International Hotel and later the original MGM Grand — was romantically involved with movie star Yvette Mimieux in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mimieux — famous for her roles in The Time Machine (1960), Where the Boys Are (1960), and Light in the Piazza (1962) — began seeing Kerkorian while he was rapidly expanding his Las Vegas empire. Their relationship ended before Mimieux married director Stanley Donen in 1972, but the two remained on good terms for years afterward.
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