Miriam Adelson Leads Casino Names on Forbes Billionaires List

Posted on: April 3, 2025, 05:06h. 

Last updated on: April 3, 2025, 05:06h.

Todd Shriber @etfgodfather Read More
Expertise: Financial, Gaming Business, Mergers and Acquisitions.
  • Adeslon again leads gaming names on Forbes list
  • She’s also among the richest women in the world

Dr. Miriam Adelson again leads the names with ties to the gaming industry on Forbes’ latest rankings of global billionaires.

Miriam Adelson Donald Trump Las Vegas Sands
Dr. Miriam Adelson. She’s again the highest-ranked person with gaming ties on the Forbes billionaires list. (Image: Haaretz)

The widow of former Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson, Miriam Adelson ranked 56th on the list with an estimated net worth of $32.1 billion — much of which is attributable to her status as the largest individual shareholder in that gaming company.

A scant number of women outpace Adelson on the list. That lightly populated group includes Alice Walton, the lone daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton; Julia Koch, Jacqueline Mars, owner of a third of the Mars candy and food empire; and Abigail Johnson, the chief executive officer of Fidelity Investments.

Adelson is by far the wealthiest person with ties to the gaming industry. Billionaire businessman Dan Gilbert, who ranks 71st on the list, formerly owned the JACK casinos in Ohio, but those venues were sold in a management-led buyout in 2021 and the bulk of his fortune is attributable to the mortgage business.

Other Gaming Names on Forbes List

In terms of casino ownership, the next-highest name on the Forbes list is Steve Cohen, but that’s a stretch because the New York Mets owner hasn’t officially secured rights to develop a gaming venue in Queens. He ranks 95th on the list.

In a more official capacity, the next highest gaming name after Adelson is Johan Graf. With an estimated net worth of $9.9 billion, the Austrian controls Novamatic, which owns casinos and is one of the largest makers of gaming devices. He ranks 274th on the list and is followed by Karel Komarek of Czechia whose business empire includes some gaming exposure.

After Adelson, the highest-ranking woman is bet365’s Denise Coates with an estimated net worth of $7.3 billion. Rumors recently surfaced that the UK-based sportsbook giant could be a takeover target. Her brother John is also a billionaire.

The next three gaming names on the list made their fortunes in online gaming, machines, or technology.

Where Other Casino Bosses Rank

Regarding direct exposure to land-based casinos, Pansy Ho is next on the Forbes list at 902. The largest individual shareholder in MGM China, she’s worth an estimated $4 billion. She’s followed by former Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN) boss Steve Wynn. Forbes pegs his fortune at $3.7 billion.

The Boyd Family of Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD) fame is said to be worth $2.3 billion while Elaine Wynn — Steve’s ex-wife and the second-largest individual investor in that company — is worth $2 billion.

Speaking of Wynn investors, Tilman Fertitta — the largest individual shareholder in that company — is worth $11.3 billion, ranking him 220 on the Forbes list. That figure includes his Wynn stake and the Golden Nugget casinos as well as his vast real estate holdings, the Houston Rockets, and the sprawling Landry’s restaurants portfolio.