Las Vegas is a city of dreams, and for many entrepreneurs, it's a place to make those dreams come true. From Steve Wynn to Sheldon Adelson, the city has been home to some of the most successful businesspeople in the world. In this article, we'll take a look at five of the most influential entrepreneurs who have made Las Vegas their home. The first name that comes to mind when discussing Las Vegas entrepreneurs is Steve Wynn.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English literature, Wynn initially planned to attend Yale Law School. However, he decided to stay in Las Vegas and take over his parents' bingo business instead. He eventually went on to build some of the most impressive casinos on the Strip, making him one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Las Vegas. Another name that is synonymous with Las Vegas is Rafael Rivera.
He can be attributed with giving the city its name, but it was William Andrews Clark who put it on the map. Clark was an American politician and businessman who was heavily involved in the railroad industry. He established Las Vegas as a maintenance stop for his rail network that ran between San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake. By buying and then dividing 110 acres into 1200 lots, Clark laid the foundation for what is now known as Fremont Street.
Sheldon Adelson is another name that appears on the list of the world's richest people. Born in 1933, Adelson's interests in Las Vegas began in 1988 when he and his partners bought the Sands Hotel and Casino. The former meeting place for the rat pack soon became one of the city's most popular places, prompting Adelson to do even bigger and better things. In 1999, he built a mega-resort that included hotel suites, a games room, shops, restaurants, bars, and more.
Dan Western is another successful entrepreneur from Las Vegas. After graduating from Dalhousie University Law School, Western founded Wealthy Gorilla - one of the fastest-growing wealth information and entertainment sites in the world with more than 300 million views worldwide. Finally, we have Ziglar - a motivational speaker who has sold more than 35 million copies of his first book and has continued his lecture tours, released several audio tapes, and published a regular flow of books. Ziglar was born in Detroit and spent most of his childhood in an orphanage.
He served in the military during World War II before becoming a successful salesman for many different companies and eventually becoming vice president of Automotive Performance. These five entrepreneurs are just a few examples of those who have made their mark on Las Vegas. From Steve Wynn to Ziglar, these individuals have used their skills and talents to create something special in this city of dreams.