Stephen Alan Wynn, born Stephen Alan Weinberg in 1942, transformed the landscape of the American gaming industry through the development of several luxury resorts in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. His career, spanning decades as an entrepreneur and executive, saw the creation of properties that defined the modern casino experience and influenced regional development across the United States.
Early Development and Career Foundations
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Wynn attended Manlius Pebble Hill School before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1963. Following his father's death, he abandoned plans for law school to manage the family's bingo operation in Maryland. By 1967, he relocated to Las Vegas, where he purchased a stake in the Frontier Hotel and Casino and secured financing through E. Parry Thomas. In 1971, he gained a controlling interest in the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, becoming the city's youngest casino owner by 1973.
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Wynn moved into the Atlantic City market in 1980 with the construction of the Golden Nugget, the city's first locals-oriented casino. Upon selling that property for $440 million, he returned his focus to Las Vegas. He opened The Mirage in 1989, a project financed with high-yield bonds that introduced full-time security camera surveillance for table games. Subsequent major developments included Treasure Island, which launched in 1993, and the Bellagio in 1998.
Corporate Transactions and International Projects
Mirage Resorts was sold to MGM Grand Inc. in 2000 for the formation of MGM Mirage. Wynn subsequently established Wynn Resorts, taking the company public and overseeing the opening of numerous international properties, including Wynn Macau in 2006, Encore Las Vegas in 2008, Encore at Wynn Macau in 2010, and Wynn Palace in 2016. In June 2019, the company opened Encore Boston Harbor. Wynn served as Chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts until his resignation on February 6, 2018.
Investments and Acquisitions
Beyond the hospitality sector, Wynn maintained a portfolio as an art collector, holding pieces by artists such as Picasso and Claude Monet. He also facilitated early-stage funding for business ventures, including a $300,000 investment in Arktronics. He provided further capital support that enabled a hostile takeover of Activision, a firm that eventually merged with Activision Blizzard before its 2023 acquisition by Microsoft for $68.7 billion.
Fast facts
- Born: 1942, New Haven
- Education: University of Pennsylvania; Manlius Pebble Hill School
- Citizenship: United States; Monaco
- Gaming Hall of Fame Induction: 2006
- Distinguished Nevadan: 1999
- Estimated Net Worth: $3.7 billion (as of April 2025)
Questions readers ask
What major Las Vegas resorts were built by Steve Wynn?
Wynn oversaw the construction of The Mirage, Treasure Island, the Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas, and Encore Las Vegas.
When did Steve Wynn leave Wynn Resorts?
Wynn resigned as CEO and Chairman of the Board on February 6, 2018.
Achievements
- Gaming Hall of Fame
- Holdings: Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat, Self-Portrait with Palette and Dunes
- Educated at University of Pennsylvania and Manlius Pebble Hill School
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