Las Vegas philanthropist and Wynn Resorts co-founder Elaine Wynn has died, according to a statement early Tuesday morning from the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation. She was 82.
According to a family spokesperson, Wynn died Monday and “passed away peacefully surrounded by family after a brief illness.”
Wynn, along with her former husband Steve Wynn, played an instrumental role in shaping modern-day Las Vegas. Through Golden Nugget Corp. and Mirage Resorts, she helped design and develop the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio.
After the company was sold in 2000 to the MGM Grand Corp., Elaine Wynn played a key role in developing Wynn Las Vegas and Encore.
Elaine Wynn owned about 9 percent of Wynn Resorts with approximately 9.5 million shares. That ranked just behind Houston billionaire investor Tilman Fertitta, who now holds 12.1 percent of the company after recent purchases.
She remained on the Wynn Resorts board for a short time following Steve Wynn’s departure from the company in 2018 after a decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct was uncovered by the Wall Street Journal.
Elaine Wynn’s reach in the Las Vegas community went far beyond gaming.
Through her foundation, she actively supported community organizations aligned with her passions — education and the betterment of Southern Nevada. She served in various education leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels. In Nevada, the past five governors called upon her to lead education initiatives.
Wynn also had a passion for the arts. Her foundation recently announced plans to develop the Las Vegas Art Museum in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Pritzker Prize-winning architect Francis Kere.
“She understood that Las Vegas was not just a destination; it was an experience—an ever-evolving tapestry woven with threads of art, culture, and the human spirit,” according to a statement from her foundation.
Wynn is survived by her daughters, Kevyn and Gillian, and seven grandchildren.
Updated at 7:59 a.m. on 4/15/2025 with Wynn’s stock ownership.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
