Las Vegas Pioneer Kirk Kerkorian Dies At 98

Kirk Kerkorian, one of the most influential casino owners in Las Vegas history, died Tuesday at age 98.

At one point, Kerkorian owned more than half the hotel rooms on the Strip, according to Bloomberg. His MGM Grand Inc. bought Steve Wynn’s Mirage Resorts for $6.4 billion in 2000 and the Mandalay Resort Group for $4.8 billion in 2004.

He was the controlling stakeholder of MGM Resorts International until May 2009.

Kerkorian was born on June 6, 1917, in Fresno, California.

“In his 98 years, Kirk Kerkorian probably did more, while receiving less attention than anyone else in Las Vegas history. He worked for the betterment of our city, our industry, and our company,” MGM CEO Jim Murren said, reported the Wall Street Journal.

Kerkorian, who didn’t graduate from high school, was also once an amateur boxer and a World War II fighter pilot trainer. He died with a net worth of $3.6 billion.

He was the world’s second-oldest billionaire, according to Forbes.

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