The Richest People In America: Sheldon Adelson

©AP Photo/Kin Cheung

#15 Sheldon Adelson

$15.0 billion
Source: casinos, hotels

Rough year for Sin City's richest man. America's 3rd-richest man last year has seen fortune dwindle by $13 billion; shares of his Las Vegas Sands (nyse: LVS - news - people ) casino company have fallen 65% since last October as gamblers stay home, Wall Street falls out of love with Macau. Cabdriver's son borrowed $200 from uncle to sell newspapers at age 12. Created computer industry's marquee event, Comdex, mid-1980s; sold show to Japan's Softbank for $862 million 1995. Built $1.5 billion all-suites Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the 1.2-million-square-foot Sands Convention Center 1997. Enticed conventioneers to Sin City midweek, took emphasis off gambling. In January opened $1.9 billion Palazzo resort next to nemesis Steve Wynn's Wynn Las Vegas. Unveiled $2.4 billion Venetian Macau in China last August; 10.5-million-square-foot mega-resort features 3,400 slots, 800 tables, 3,000 suites and a convention center. Owns Israeli newspaper Israel Today.

Complete List The Richest People In America

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