Miriam Adelson

Control of a casino empire, an NBA franchise and a growing slice of Texas politics now runs through one person.

Widow of the late Sheldon Adelson, Adelson sits atop Las Vegas Sands, the Las Vegas-based gambling giant her husband founded in 1988. In recent years, her reach has expanded beyond casinos. She and her son-in-law, Patrick Dumont, acquired a controlling stake in the Dallas Mavericks, reducing Mark Cuban’s ownership to 27 percent and placing the family at the center of Dallas’ sports and development future.

Dumont is now spearheading a potential arena-and-casino anchored development in Dallas. The vision requires a significant political push in a state where casino gambling remains illegal. The family already owns the former site of Texas Stadium in Irving, which has been floated as a possible location for a new Mavs arena. As a result, Adelson has emerged as a top donor in Texas state politics. 

Before inheriting one of the world’s largest gaming fortunes, Adelson trained and worked as a physician specializing in drug addiction. Las Vegas Sands went on to develop Strip landmarks including The Venetian and The Palazzo, while expanding aggressively into Macao and Singapore. The family’s holdings extend beyond gaming into media, including Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom and Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

Politically, Adelson has aligned herself closely with President Trump, backing him big from the start. She was the third-largest donor to his 2024 reelection bid, giving $106 million to the cause. She has also played the digital troll, floating the notion of a $250 million donation to a campaign for a third Trump term.

— Jess Hardin