Kirk Kerkorian Ranks Richer Than Me
So Kerkorian is #7 billionaire in the US&A, says Forbes Magazine. So Simon has some catching up to do – I mean I am only $18.00 billion short but I still have a bit more formal education.
Net Worth $18.0 billion Source MGM Mirage (quote: MGM), Investments, Self made Son of Armenian immigrant fruit farmer dropped out of school in eighth grade. Trained U.S., British fighter pilots during WWII. Flew surplus Air Force planes across Atlantic after war before building charter flights company Trans International Airlines; sold for $104 million profit 1966. Acquired Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas 1967, built International Hotel 1969. Sold both properties to Hilton Hotels 1970. Went Hollywood: made billions buying and selling movie studio MGM, 3 times since 1969. Back to Vegas: nabbed Steve Wynn’s Mirage Resorts for $6.4 billion 2000, then Mandalay Bay Resorts for $7.9 billion 4 years later. Today MGM Mirage owns more than half the hotel rooms on Las Vegas Strip; shares up 140% in past 12 months. Attempted to personally buy Bellagio casino, unfinished 76-acre resort complex CityCenter from MGM Mirage this spring; pulled out after company struck deal with Kerzner International to develop 40 acres of land on Strip. In August sold half of CityCenter, 9.5% chunk of MGM to Middle East investment firm Dubai World for $5 billion. Spent 20 frustrating months fighting to reshape General Motors; believed to have sold entire stake last November.
Billionaire Strategies on 21 Sep 2007 at 8:42 am #
Hats off to Kirk. He’s a self-made man and a gentleman to boot. One of the true greats still going strong in his nineties.
Nor on 09 Mar 2008 at 2:53 am #
Dear Kirk Kerkorian I remove a hat! I Nor Avakyan the businessman from Russia the city of St.-Petersburg me 55. I have good business in Finland but even now I cannot use the capital (always does not suffice). It is necessary to take the credit in large banks. But your level I can not reach. I am proud that there is such ARMENIAN. I wish health to you. Yours faithfully Nor Avakyan