Sheldon Adelson

Sheldon Gary Adelson (pronounced /ˈædəlsən/; born August 4, 1933) is an American business magnate. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which owns the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and is the parent company of Venetian Macao Limited which operates The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Sands Expo and Convention Center. He also owns the Israeli daily newspaper Israel Hayom, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Adelson, a lifelong donor and philanthropist to a variety of causes, founded with his wife's initiative the Adelson Foundation.

As of June 2015, Adelson was listed by Forbes as having a fortune of $28 billion, and as the 18th richest person in the world. He is a major contributor to Republican Party candidates, which has resulted in his gaining significant influence within the party.

Early life and education

Adelson was born into low-income family and grew up in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Sarah (née Tonkin) and Arthur Adelson. His family was of Ukrainian Jewish ancestry. His father drove a taxi, and his mother ran a knitting shop.