Tributes to Las Vegas philanthropist Elaine Wynn pour in after death
Tributes locally and nationwide poured in Tuesday following the morning announcement of the death of Las Vegas philanthropist Elaine Wynn.
Here is what they’re saying:
Government officials
Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson opened Tuesday’s board meeting with a tribute.
“We’re going to take a moment to reflect on the passing of Elaine Wynn and the incredible and indelible mark she left on our community,” Gibson said. “She was a force, for sure. She was thoughtful, and believe me, she was very convincing. She was a pioneer in a field that was dominated by men. She didn’t just hold her own. She led the way.
“She was a class act from another generation with a driving passion, another generation to so many young people, but not so much, another generation for people like me and Commissioner (Tick) Segerblom and a few others out there today.
“(For her), it was all about giving back to a community, leaving the place better than she found it. Her charitable contributions will last forever, and she will be missed in that regard as well. We’ll miss her voice of advocacy, and she was not shy about seeking out those who were in a place that could make a difference. Sometimes, she even had views about things (through) suggestions, and she wasn’t a person who just brought a problem to you. She was a person who came when there was a problem with a series of solutions, which was an incredibly refreshing thing. We’ll miss her, her voice in advocacy for education, most particularly public education, which she very much believed in, especially as we navigate through some really challenging times that lie ahead.
“On behalf of all of us, we wish to thank her. And we’re grateful for both the contributions she made in the memory we have, getting to know her, following her example, and seeing the results — real results — in a community.”
Gov. Joe Lombardo delivered a tribute message on X.
“Donna and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Elaine Wynn this morning. Not only was Elaine a visionary Las Vegas businesswoman, but she was an unparalleled philanthropist with a deep love for improving education and bettering her community. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with her family and loved ones.”
UNLV Officer in Charge Chris Heavey issued an emailed statement on behalf of the university, where, in 1989, she funded the Lee Pascal Rose Garden in honor of her mother, Lee Pascal. The garden is populated with “Show Biz,” roses, symbolizing the Wynn family’s prominence in the gaming and entertainment world. She also served on the UNLV Foundation board of directors from 1983 to 2008 and was board chair from 1985 to 1991. She was granted trustee emerita status in 2008 and in her years of service to the board, Wynn helped raise millions of dollars for UNLV.
“The UNLV family was profoundly saddened to learn of the passing of business entrepreneur and philanthropist Elaine Wynn today,” Heavey said. “Her advocacy for UNLV and education at all levels in Las Vegas could be seen in her dedication and generosity as a founding member of the UNLV Board of Trustees and active engagement with the university for 25 years, including her tenure as board chair. We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to Elaine’s family at this time.”
Former Mayor Oscar Goodman said Wynn was certainly a member of the Las Vegas royalty, and also a neighbor of he and fellow ex-Mayor Carolyn Goodman in the city’s historic Scotch 80s neighborhood. Among Oscar Goodman’s favorite stories is a dinner party the Goodmans hosted for the crew of the 1995 Vegas classic “Casino,” with the Wynns and cast member Sharon Stone in the home.
“At the end of dinner, Carolyn collected the dishes and went into the kitchen, and Elaine and Sharon Stone also got up to help,” Goodman said. “These three regal women, side-by-side, working together. It was amazing. It’s a memory that is still very vivid to me.”
Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Kirk Hendrick messaged on behalf of the state’s gaming regulatory agencies.
“Elaine Wynn’s remarkable achievements in gaming and her lifelong devotion to education and the arts enriched the lives of countless Nevadans. On behalf of everyone at the Nevada Gaming Control Board, we send our deepest sympathies to all of her family and friends.”
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., posted a tribute on X.
“I’m incredibly saddened to hear about Elaine Wynn’s passing. Elaine was a trailblazer and a role model who showed us how strong women lead the way,” she said. “She played an integral role in helping make Las Vegas the world class-destination it is today and gave back to our community through education and the arts. She was also a dear friend, and this is a tremendous loss. My thoughts are with her loved ones and everyone who knew her.”
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley also posted a tribute on X.
“All of Las Vegas is saddened by the loss of Elaine Wynn,” she said. “I have known Elaine since I was a student at UNLV and she has impacted my life in so very many ways. Elaine has been a force for compassion, the arts and philanthropy in our city for many decades. Her spirit, creativity and caring nature will live on through her foundation, the many projects she has had a hand in and the many lives she has touched. I look forward to the future opening of the Las Vegas Museum of Art that she has partnered with the city to create. I join my fellow citizens in expressing my sincerest condolences to her family, friends and loved ones. She will be missed.”
Las Vegas resorts
MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle posted a tribute on his LinkedIn account.
“The legacy Elaine Wynn leaves behind for the hospitality and gaming industry is powerful and enduring,” he said. “Her incredible foresight, creative vision and business acumen were responsible for the some of the world’s most iconic properties — many of them within the MGM Resorts portfolio. Her leadership helped set the standard for luxury and guest service for integrated resorts.
“Beyond hospitality, Elaine’s philanthropy and advocacy for education and the arts has had a positive and long lasting impact on our community. We honor her memory and remain inspired by her dedication to making a difference. Our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and the employees at Wynn.
The management team of Reno-based Caesars Entertainment Inc. also offered a tribute.
“Beyond her success in gaming, Elaine will be remembered for her generosity and drive to leave the world a better place. Her commitment to advancing education through decades of hands-on work and tremendous philanthropic giving has impacted generations of students across Nevada and beyond. Her deep passion for the arts provided platforms for visual and performing artists and expanded opportunities for arts education and appreciation. The people she championed, programs she envisioned and organizations she funded delivered an outsized impact, the ripples of which we will continue to feel for decades to come.
Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, top executives for Red Rock Resorts’ Station Casinos Inc., issued a joint emailed statement.
“Elaine Wynn was an extraordinary visionary and an accomplished business leader. Her legacy will be most profoundly felt through her philanthropic efforts, especially those aimed at helping children, as she empowered countless young people to reach for their dreams. Our community, state, and nation are better off because of the exceptional life she led and the example she set.”
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas President Joe Lupo is presiding over renovations and expansion of the original Mirage property, to open in 2027.
“Today we mourn the loss of Elaine Wynn, a true Las Vegas icon whose extraordinary vision and compassion transformed the Las Vegas Strip and touched countless lives,” Lupo said in a statement. “I feel privileged to have briefly known her and to have shared in her wisdom. Her legacy will continue to inspire Las Vegas for generations to come.”
Other friends, nonprofits Wynn worked with
Wynn helped found the Elaine Wynn Studio for Arts Education at The Smith Center for the Performing. The programs have provided cultural enrichment to hundreds of thousands of young people throughout Southern Nevada, an endeavor consistent with Wynn’s passionate dedication to arts literacy.
Related: In final message, Elaine Wynn recalled ‘pressure-packed’ resort opening
“Sadly, our dear friend is gone, but her legacy will live on forever,” Smith Center President and CEO Myron Martin said in a statement. “The next time you drive past The Smith Center and see a line of school buses around the block, thank Elaine Wynn. She made this a better place to live.”
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health co-founder Larry Ruvo had known Wynn for nearly 60 years. He met Steve and Elaine Wynn just after they bought the Golden Nugget, and when Ruvo was a desk clerk at Caesars Palace. Elaine Wynn once tipped Ruvo $100, saying, “Any time you come to the hotel we’ll give you an upgrade.”
Ruvo later worked at the Frontier in the days Steve Wynn was a shareholder. The families remained interlocked for decades.
Ruvo said of Wynn, “She was a beautiful woman and a beautiful person.”
“She guided me through my life, helped immensely with the Cleveland Clinic, my personal life when I married Camille, a huge supporter of us,” Ruvo said. “I am an only child, but when she came into my life, I had a sister.”
Communities In Schools of Nevada was one of the organizations Wynn founded and supported and its CEO and state director, Tami Hance-Lehr, issued a statement Tuesday.
“There are legends, and then there is Elaine P. Wynn — a visionary leader who brought Communities In Schools of Nevada to life and changed the course of education for hundreds of thousands of students in our state.
Elaine was not only the founder — she was the heart and soul of CIS of Nevada. Her belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, no matter their background or circumstance, shaped our mission and continues to guide our work today. “
Dallas Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd, a former NBA and Olympic basketball star, was among Wynn’s friends and shared a tribute on X.
“Elaine Wynn was pure gold – full of grace, strength and purpose. I was honored to share my 2008 gold medal with her, but she was the real champion. Her generosity, vision and heart made a lasting impact that will never fade. I will always be grateful for our friendship.”
American journalist and former California First Lady Maria Shriver, founder of the nonprofit organization The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, received support from Wynn.
“This morning, a dear friend passed away,” Shriver said on X. “Elaine Wynn was an iconic figure in Las Vegas, a devoted mom and grandmother. She was also a huge supporter of my work at the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement — and I mean huge. She was always there believing in the work we were doing and could do. She believed in our Women’s Health work and she was always one of the first to step up, but it wasn’t just Women’s Health and Alzheimer’s prevention that she cared about. She cared about children, she cared about the arts, she cared about helping everyone in Las Vegas and just about everywhere else. She was the kind of friend that cared. I will miss her deeply. We were honoring her at our forum next month in Las Vegas. She will continue to be honored in death as she was honored in life. My love goes out to her family for whom she was the rock.”